,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #becf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #ah1 #bjag,mr4 ,loebsack introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to provide for grants for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy improvements at public school facilities4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,renew ,america's ,schools ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,grants for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy improvements at public school facilities 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a consortium of-- 7,a7 one local educational agency2 and 7,b7 one or more-- 7i7 schools2 7ii7 nonprofit organizations2 7iii7 for-profit organizations2 or 7iv7 community partners that have the knowledge and capacity to partner and assist with energy improvements4 7#b7 ,energy improvements ,the term energy improvements means-- 7,a7 any improvement1 repair1 or renovation1 to a school that will result in a direct reduction in school energy costs including but not limited to improvements to building envelope1 air conditioning1 ventilation1 heating system1 domestic hot water heating1 compressed air systems1 distribution systems1 lighting1 power systems and controls2 7,b7 any improvement1 repair1 renovation1 or installation that leads to an improvement in teacher and student health including but not limited to indoor air quality1 daylighting1 ventilation1 electrical lighting1 and acoustics2 and 7,c7 the installation of renewable energy technologies 7such as wind power1 photovoltaics1 solar thermal systems1 geothermal energy1 hydrogen-fueled systems1 biomass-based systems1 biofuels1 anaerobic digesters1 and hydropower7 involved in the improvement1 repair1 or renovation to a school4 7b7 ,authority ,from amounts made available for grants under this section1 the ,secretary of ,energy shall provide competitive grants to eligible entities to make energy improvements authorized by this section4 7c7 ,priority ,in making grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that have renovation1 repair1 and improvement funding needs and are-- 7#a7 a high-need local educational agency1 as defined in section #bajb of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffjb72 or 7#b7 a local educational agency designated with a metrocentric locale code of #da1 #db1 or #dc as determined by the ,national ,center for ,education ,statistics 7,,nces71 in conjunction with the ,bureau of the ,census1 using the ,,nces system for classifying local educational agencies4 7d7 ,competitive criteria ,the competitive criteria used by the ,secretary shall include the following3 7#a7 ,the fiscal capacity of the eligible entity to meet the needs for improvements of school facilities without assistance under this section1 including the ability of the eligible entity to raise funds through the use of local bonding capacity and otherwise4 7#b7 ,the likelihood that the local educational agency or eligible entity will maintain1 in good condition1 any facility whose improvement is assisted4 7#c7 ,the potential energy efficiency and safety benefits from the proposed energy improvements4 7e7 ,applications ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an applicant must submit to the ,secretary an application that includes each of the following3 7#a7 ,a needs assessment of the current condition of the school and facilities that are to receive the energy improvements4 7#b7 ,a draft work plan of what the applicant hopes to achieve at the school and a description of the energy improvements to be carried out4 7#c7 ,a description of the applicant's capacity to provide services and comprehensive support to make the energy improvements4 7#d7 ,an assessment of the applicant's expected needs for operation and maintenance training funds1 and a plan for use of those funds1 if any4 7#e7 ,an assessment of the expected energy efficiency and safety benefits of the energy improvements4 7#f7 ,a cost estimate of the proposed energy improvements4 7#g7 ,an identification of other resources that are available to carry out the activities for which funds are requested under this section1 including the availability of utility programs and public benefit funds4 7f7 ,use of grant amounts 7#a7 ,in general ,the recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant amounts only to make the energy improvements contemplated in the application1 subject to the other provisions of this subsection4 7#b7 ,operation and maintenance training ,the recipient may use up to #e percent for operation and maintenance training for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements 7such as maintenance staff and teacher training1 education1 and preventative maintenance training74 7#c7 ,audit ,the recipient may use funds for a third-party investigation and analysis for energy improvements 7such as energy audits and existing building commissioning74 7#d7 ,continuing education ,the recipient may use up to #a percent of the grant amounts to develop a continuing education curriculum relating to energy improvements4 7g7 ,contracting requirements 7#a7 ,davis-,bacon ,any laborer or mechanic employed by any contractor or subcontractor in the performance of work on any energy improvements funded by a grant under this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality as determined by the ,secretary of ,labor under subchapter ,,iv of chapter #ca of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly referred to as the ,davis-,bacon ,act74 7#b7 ,competition ,each applicant that receives funds shall ensure that1 if the applicant carries out repair or renovation through a contract1 any such contract process-- 7,a7 ensures the maximum number of qualified bidders1 including small1 minority1 and women-owned businesses1 through full and open competition2 and 7,b7 gives priority to businesses located in1 or resources common to1 the ,state or the geographical area in which the project is carried out4 7h7 ,reporting ,each recipient of a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary1 at such time as the ,secretary may require1 a report describing the use of such funds for energy improvements1 the estimated cost savings realized by those energy improvements1 the results of any audit1 the use of any utility programs and public benefit funds and the use of performance tracking for energy improvements 7such as the ,department of ,energy3 ,energy ,star program or ,,leed for ,existing ,buildings74 7i7 ,best practices ,the ,secretary shall develop and publish guidelines and best practices for activities carried out under this section4 7j7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbc4