,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #abjg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #f1 #bjae ,ms4 ,hirono introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,energy to establish a grant program under which the ,secretary shall make grants to eligible partnerships to provide for the transformation of the electric grid by the year #bjcj1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,next ,generation ,electric ,systems ,act4 #b4 ,grant program for projects to design and develop transformative next generation electric systems 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,energy 7acting through the ,assistant ,secretary of the ,office of ,electricity ,delivery and ,energy ,reliability7 7referred to in this ,act as the ,secretary7 shall establish a grant program under which the ,secretary shall make grants to eligible partnerships to develop and carry out eligible projects related to achieving the transformation of the future electric grid by the year #bjcj using a comprehensive approach to electric system design and architecture4 7b7 ,eligible projects ,to be eligible for a grant under subsection 7a71 a project-- 7#a7 shall be designed to improve the performance and efficiency of the future electric grid1 while ensuring the continued provision of safe1 secure1 reliable1 and affordable power2 and 7#b7 may include projects to design1 develop1 and test-- 7,a7 feasible1 optimal next generation electricity delivery systems1 from generation through consumption1 including end-use applications2 7,b7 the role that regulated utilities and market-driven entities1 including third-party nonregulated services providers1 may play in an electric system in which distributed energy resources and retail and wholesale level ancillary services expand2 7,c7 optimal and innovative1 comprehensive grid infrastructure designs that would ensure reliable1 cost-effective1 safe1 and secure integration and management of variable and distributed energy resources1 including projects related to distributed generation1 combined heat and power1 microgrids1 energy storage1 electric vehicles1 energy efficiency1 demand response1 and intelligent loads2 7,d7 optimal grid design solutions to ensure grid reliability and resiliency2 7,e7 the integration and interoperability of telecommunications1 information technology1 operational technologies1 or other systems and technologies with the electric grid to support the management of the future1 next generation1 dynamic and changing electric system2 and 7,f7 solutions to overcoming technological1 regulatory1 business model1 and market barriers to achieve the transition and transformation to the future electric grid4 7c7 ,description of eligible partnership ,an eligible partnership referred to in subsection 7a7 means a group of #b or more entities that-- 7#a7 may include any institution of higher education1 ,national ,laboratory1 representative of a ,state or local government1 representative of an ,indian tribe1 ,federal power marketing administration1 industry expert1 or nonprofit industry trade association2 and 7#b7 shall include at least #a of any of the following3 7,a7 ,an investor-owned electric utility4 7,b7 ,a publicly owned utility4 7,c7 ,a technology provider4 7,d7 ,a rural electric cooperative4 7,e7 ,a ,regional ,transmission ,organization4 7,f7 ,an ,independent ,system ,operator4 7d7 ,application ,in order to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible partnership shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such form1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may prescribe1 including details about the partnership and proposed project4 7e7 ,selection committee ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a selection committee1 comprised of technical experts1 to make recommendations1 based on the criteria described in subsection 7f71 to the ,secretary for the award of grants under this section to #b or more eligible partnerships4 7f7 ,selection criteria 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall make grants under subsection 7a7 based on the following criteria3 7,a7 ,the scope and diversity of the eligible partnership with respect to representation of stakeholders and geographic locations4 7,b7 ,the demonstrated ability of the eligible partnership to provide leadership within the industry in promoting transformative innovation in electricity systems1 using a comprehensive or holistic approach1 especially with respect to system design or architecture4 7,c7 ,the extent to which a project would develop and carry out commercially available or emerging technologies that would be scalable and replicable4 7,d7 ,the extent to which a project would-- 7i7 improve electric reliability1 resiliency1 security1 and safety2 7ii7 provide consumer benefits2 7iii7 drive economic growth2 or 7iv7 achieve other grid modernization policy or technical goals4 7,e7 ,the extent to which a project would provide an innovative conceptual or technical approach to the operation of the electric grid looking to the year #bjcj and beyond4 7,f7 ,the demonstrated ability of the eligible partnership to leverage prior ,federal or local investments4 7,g7 ,the extent to which a project would advance a financially viable future model for electricity market participants1 including utilities and third-party entities1 that provides all consumers with fair and equitable options to meet the electric energy needs of the consumers1 while balancing societal1 and individual consumer1 interests4 7#b7 ,priority for projects providing cost share ,in selecting eligible partnerships to make grants to under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible partnerships proposing projects for which a cost-share is to be provided4 #c4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this ,act for each of fiscal years #bjaf through #bjbj4