,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bihi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #h1 #bjad ,mr4 ,schatz 7for himself and ,mr4 ,heinrich7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to promote ,federal-,state partnerships for developing regional energy strategies and plans to mitigate risks in changing energy systems1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,promoting ,regional ,energy ,partnerships for ,advancing ,resilient ,energy ,systems ,act or the ,,prepare ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 energy systems in the ,united ,states are in a period of significant change2 7#b7 aging infrastructure1 new technologies1 increasing complexity1 and growing threats are posing new challenges to energy systems and their resilience2 7#c7 the interconnected nature of energy systems means regional energy strategies and plans will be more effective at preparing for challenges and mitigating risks2 7#d7 ,states have distinct needs and unique energy1 environmental1 and economic goals and will play a critical role in developing and implementing regional energy strategies and plans2 7#e7 the views and participation of a broad range of stakeholders in the development and implementation of regional energy strategies and plans is needed for success2 and 7#f7 the ,federal ,government1 in the role of a long-term strategic energy partner1 can effectively-- 7,a7 establish strategic alliances with ,states2 7,b7 convene stakeholders2 7,c7 facilitate the process of developing regional energy strategies and plans2 and 7,d7 provide technical assistance and support in implementation4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,cooperative agreement ,the term cooperative agreement has the meaning given the term in sections #fcjb and #fcje of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,secretaries ,the term ,secretaries means-- 7,a7 the ,secretary of ,energy1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary of the ,office of ,electricity ,delivery and ,energy ,reliability in consultation with the ,assistant ,secretary of ,energy ,efficiency and ,renewable ,energy1 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,fossil ,energy1 and the ,director of the ,office of ,nuclear ,energy1 ,science1 and ,technology ,programs2 and 7,b7 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary for ,land and ,minerals ,management in consultation with the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management1 the ,director of the ,bureau of ,ocean ,energy ,management1 the ,assistant ,secretary for ,indian ,affairs1 and the ,assistant ,secretary for ,fish and ,wildlife and ,parks4 7#c7 ,state ,the term ,state means-- 7,a7 a ,state2 7,b7 the ,district of ,columbia2 7,c7 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico2 and 7,d7 any other territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 #d4 ,regional energy partnerships 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretaries shall provide assistance in accordance with this section for the purpose of developing energy strategies and plans that help harmonize and promote national1 regional1 and ,state energy goals1 including goals for advancing resilient energy systems to mitigate risks and prepare for emerging energy challenges4 7b7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretaries may provide such technical assistance to ,states1 political subdivisions of ,states1 substate regional organizations 7including organizations that cross ,state boundaries71 multistate regional organizations1 ,indian tribes1 and nonprofit organizations as the ,secretaries determine appropriate to promote-- 7#a7 the development and improvement of regional energy strategies and plans that sustain and promote energy system modernization across the ,united ,states2 7#b7 investment in energy infrastructure1 technological capacity1 innovation1 and workforce development to keep pace with the changing energy ecosystem2 7#c7 structural transformation of the financial1 regulatory1 legal1 and institutional systems that govern energy planning1 production1 and delivery within ,states and regions2 and 7#d7 public-private partnerships for the implementation of regional energy strategies and plans4 7c7 ,cooperative agreements 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretaries may enter into cooperative agreements with #a or more ,states and ,indian tribes1 on a regional basis1 to develop and implement strategies and plans to address the energy challenges of ,states1 ,indian tribes1 and regions4 7#b7 ,requirements ,a cooperative agreement entered into under this subsection shall include provisions covering or providing-- 7,a7 the purpose and goals of the cooperative agreement1 such as advancing energy efficiency1 clean energy1 fuel and supply diversity1 energy system resiliency1 economic development1 or other goals to make measurable1 significant progress toward specified metrics and objectives that are agreed to by the ,states or ,indian tribes and the ,secretaries2 7,b7 the roles and responsibilities of the ,states or ,indian tribes and the ,secretaries for various functions of the cooperative agreement1 including outreach1 communication1 resources1 and capabilities2 7,c7 a comprehensive framework for the development of energy strategies and plans for ,states1 ,indian tribes1 or regions2 7,d7 timeframes with associated metrics and objectives2 7,e7 a governance structure to resolve conflicts and facilitate decisionmaking consistent with underlying authorities2 and 7,f7 other provisions determined necessary by the ,secretaries1 in consultation with the ,states or ,indian tribes1 to achieve the purposes described in paragraph 7#a74 7d7 ,staff 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days after the date of the entering into a cooperative agreement under subsection 7c71 the ,secretaries shall1 as appropriate1 assign or employ individuals who have expertise in the technical and regulatory issues relating to the cooperative agreement1 including particular expertise in 7as applicable7-- 7,a7 energy systems integration2 7,b7 renewable energy and energy efficiency2 7,c7 innovative financing mechanisms2 7,d7 utility regulatory policy2 7,e7 modeling and analysis2 7,f7 facilitation and arbitration2 7,g7 energy assurance and emergency preparedness2 and 7,h7 cyber and physical security of energy systems4 7#b7 ,duties ,each individual assigned to carry out a cooperative agreement under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 report to a location in the applicable ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or region not later than #ij days after the date of assignment2 7,b7 be responsible for issues and technical assistance relating to the cooperative agreement2 7,c7 participate as part of the team of personnel working on developing and implementing the applicable regional energy strategy and plan2 and 7,d7 build capacity within the ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or region to continue to implement the goals of this ,act after the expiration of the cooperative agreement4 7e7 ,comprehensive framework ,under a cooperative agreement1 a comprehensive framework shall be developed that identifies opportunities and actions across various energy sectors and cross-cutting issue areas1 including-- 7#a7 end-use efficiency2 7#b7 energy supply1 including electric generation and fuels2 7#c7 energy delivery2 7#d7 transportation2 7#e7 technical integration1 including standards and interdependencies2 7#f7 institutional structures2 7#g7 regulatory policies2 7#h7 financial incentives2 and 7#i7 market mechanisms4 7f7 ,awards 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,application group ,the term application group means a group of ,states or ,indian tribes that have-- 7i7 entered into a cooperative agreement1 on a regional basis1 with the ,secretaries under subsection 7c72 and 7ii7 submitted an application for an award under paragraph 7#b77;,a74 7,b7 ,partner ,state ,the term partner ,state means a ,state or ,indian tribe that is part of an application group4 7#b7 ,applications 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 an application group may apply to the ,secretaries for awards under this subsection4 7,b7 ,individual ,states ,an individual ,state or ,indian tribe that has entered into a cooperative agreement with the ,secretaries under subsection 7c7 may apply to the ,secretaries for an award under this subsection if the ,state or ,indian tribe demonstrates to the ,secretaries the uniqueness of the energy challenges facing the ,state or ,indian tribe4 7#c7 ,base amount ,subject to paragraph 7#d71 the ,secretaries shall provide #f awards under this subsection1 with a base amount of #bj1jjj1jjj for each award4 7#d7 ,bonus amount for application groups 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretaries shall increase the amount of an award provided under this subsection to an application group for a successful application under paragraph 7#b77;,a7 by the quotient obtained by dividing-- 7i7 the product obtained by multiplying-- 7,i7 the number of partner ,states in the application group2 and 7,,ii7 #ajj1jjj1jjj2 by 7ii7 the total number of partner ,states of all successful applications under this subsection4 7,b7 ,maximum amount ,the amount of a bonus determined under subparagraph 7,a7 shall not exceed an amount that represents #e1jjj1jjj for each partner ,state that is a member of the relevant application group4 7#e7 ,limitation ,a ,state or ,indian tribe shall not be part of more than #a award under this subsection4 7#f7 ,selection criteria ,in selecting applications for awards under this subsection1 the ,secretaries shall consider-- 7,a7 existing commitments from ,states or ,indian tribes1 such as memoranda of understanding2 7,b7 for ,states that are part of the contiguous #dh ,states1 the number of contiguous ,states involved that cover a region2 7,c7 the diversity of the regions represented by all applications2 7,d7 the amount of cost-share or in-kind contributions from ,states or ,indian tribes2 7,e7 the scope and focus of regional and ,state programs and strategies1 with an emphasis on energy system resiliency and grid modernization1 efficiency1 and clean energy2 7,f7 a management and oversight plan to ensure that objectives are met2 7,g7 an outreach plan for the inclusion of stakeholders in the process for developing and implementing ,state or regional energy strategies and plans2 7,h7 the inclusion of tribal entities2 7,i7 plans to fund and sustain activities identified in regional energy strategies and plans2 and 7,j7 the clarity of roles and responsibilities of each ,state and the ,secretaries4 7#g7 ,use of awards 7,a7 ,in general ,awards provided under this subsection shall be used to achieve the purpose of this section1 including by-- 7i7 conducting technical analyses1 resource studies1 and energy system baselines2 7ii7 convening and providing education to stakeholders on emerging energy issues2 7iii7 building decision support and planning tools2 and 7iv7 improving communication between and participation of stakeholders4 7,b7 ,limitation ,awards provided under this subsection shall not be used for-- 7i7 capitalization of green banks or loan guarantees2 or 7ii7 building facilities or funding capital projects4 #e4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #bej1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until expended4 7b7 ,allocation ,of the amount authorized to be appropriated under subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 #abj1jjj1jjj shall be used for the base amount of awards under section #d7;f77#c72 7#b7 #ajj1jjj1jjj shall be used for the bonus amount of awards under section #d7;f77#d72 and 7#c7 #cj1jjj1jjj shall be for the administration of this ,act1 including-- 7,a7 the assignment of staff under section #d7;d72 and 7,b7 if the ,secretaries determine appropriate1 the sharing of best practices from regional partnerships by parties to cooperative agreements entered into under this ,act4 7c7 ,state energy offices ,funds provided to a ,state under this ,act shall be provided to the office within the ,state that is responsible for developing the ,state energy plan for the ,state under part ,d of title ,,iii of the ,energy ,policy and ,conservation ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fcba et seq474 7d7 ,maintenance of funding ,the funding provided to ,states under this ,act shall supplement 7and not supplant7 funding provided under part ,d of title ,,iii of the ,energy ,policy and ,conservation ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fcba et seq474