[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1821 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1821
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to modify
provisions relating to the rural energy savings program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 6, 2023
Mr. Welch (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to modify
provisions relating to the rural energy savings program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Energy Savings Act''.
SEC. 2. RURAL ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS.
Section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 8107a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or''
at the end;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (E); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (B)
the following:
``(C) any Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
``(D) any public, quasipublic, or nonprofit entity
that uses innovative financing techniques and market
development tools to accelerate the deployment of clean
energy technology (commonly known as a `green bank');
and''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Energy efficiency measure.--The term `energy
efficiency measure', with respect to any property served by an
eligible entity, means--
``(A) a structural improvement or investment in a
cost-effective, commercial technology to increase
energy efficiency (including cost-effective on- or off-
grid renewable energy or energy storage systems); and
``(B) the replacement of a manufactured housing
unit or large appliance with a substantially similar
manufactured housing unit or appliance, respectively,
if that replacement is a cost-effective option with
respect to energy savings.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and
Grants'' after ``Loans'';
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--Subject to the requirements of this
subsection, the Secretary shall provide--
``(A) loans to eligible entities that agree to use
the loan funds to make loans under subsection (d) to
qualified consumers for the purpose of implementing
energy efficiency measures; and
``(B) at the election of any eligible entity that
receives a loan under subparagraph (A), a grant in
accordance with paragraph (10).'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting
``for loans'' after ``Requirements''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking
``that is'';
(D) in paragraph (5)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and
indenting the clauses appropriately;
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as
so redesignated), by striking ``With respect to
a loan under paragraph (1)'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B),
with respect to a loan under paragraph (1)(A)''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Extensions.--The Secretary may extend the
term of a loan under subparagraph (A)(i), or the
deadline for the repayment of an advance under
subparagraph (A)(ii), as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.'';
(E) in paragraph (7)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``paragraph
(1)(A)''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), in the matter
preceding clause (i), by striking ``Repayment
of the special advance'' and inserting
``Subject to an applicable extension under
paragraph (5)(B), repayment of a special
advance under this paragraph'';
(F) in paragraph (8), by striking ``paragraph (1)''
and inserting ``paragraph (1)(A)''; and
(G) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) Grants.--
``(A) In general.--At the election of an eligible
entity that receives a loan under this subsection, the
Secretary shall provide to the eligible entity a grant
to pay for a portion of the costs incurred in--
``(i) applying for the loan;
``(ii) making a loan to a qualified
consumer under subsection (d);
``(iii) making repairs to the property of a
qualified consumer that facilitate the energy
efficiency measures for the property financed
through a loan provided to the qualified
consumer under subsection (d);
``(iv) entering into a contract under
subsection (e); or
``(v) carrying out any other duties of the
eligible entity under this section.
``(B) Amount.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), the amount of a grant provided to
an eligible entity under this paragraph shall
be equal to not more than 5 percent of the
amount of the loan provided to the eligible
entity under this subsection.
``(ii) Persistent poverty counties.--The
amount of a grant provided under this paragraph
to an eligible entity that will use the grant
to make loans under subsection (d) to qualified
consumers located in a persistent poverty
county (as determined by the Secretary) shall
be equal to 10 percent of the amount of the
loan provided to the eligible entity under this
subsection.'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``or grant'' before
``funds'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking ``(B) shall
finance'' and inserting the following:
``(B)(i) may have a term and amortization schedule
the length of which is the useful life of the energy
efficiency measures implemented using the loan,
provided that the loan to the qualified consumer does
not exceed 20 years; and
``(ii) shall finance''; and
(II) in clause (ii) (as so
designated), by striking ``a loan term
of not more than 10 years'' and
inserting ``the applicable loan term
described in clause (i)''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``unless the personal property is or becomes
attached to real property (including a
manufactured home) as a fixture;'' and
inserting ``unless the personal property--
``(i) is a manufactured housing unit or
large appliance described in subsection
(b)(2)(B); or
``(ii) is or becomes attached to real
property as a fixture;''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Clarification of eligibility.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of law (including regulations), an eligible
entity may make a loan under this subsection to any qualified
consumer located within the service territory of the eligible
entity, regardless of whether the qualified consumer is located
in a rural area.'';
(4) in subsection (e)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting
``Outreach,'' after ``Training,'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and
technical assistance of the program'' and
inserting ``outreach, and technical assistance
relating to the program under this section'';
and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting
``, outreach,'' after ``technical assistance'';
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Funding.--Of the amounts made available under
subsection (i), the Secretary may use such sums as are
necessary to provide outreach, training, and technical
assistance under this subsection.''; and
(5) in subsection (i), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2033''.
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