,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bcfj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #be1 #bjai,mr4 ,ted ,lieu of ,california 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,plaskett1 and ,miss ,gonzlez-,coln of ,puerto ,rico7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,energy and ,commerce1 and ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,agriculture to establish a renewable energy grant program for ,puerto ,rico and the ,virgin ,islands of the ,united ,states1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,renewable ,energy for ,puerto ,rico and the ,u4,s4 ,virgin ,islands ,act4 #b4 ,renewable energy grant program 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall establish a renewable energy program 7in this section referred to as the program7 under which the ,secretary may award grants to covered entities to facilitate projects1 in ,puerto ,rico and the ,virgin ,islands of the ,united ,states1 described in subsection 7c74 7b7 ,applications ,to be eligible for a grant under the program1 a covered entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such form1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,grant uses 7#a7 ,in general ,a covered entity receiving a grant under the program may use grant funds for a project1 in ,puerto ,rico or the ,virgin ,islands of the ,united ,states-- 7,a7 to develop or construct a renewable energy system2 7,b7 to carry out an activity to increase energy efficiency2 7,c7 to develop or construct an energy storage system or device for-- 7i7 a system developed or constructed under subparagraph 7,a72 or 7ii7 an activity carried out under subparagraph 7,b72 7,d7 to develop or construct-- 7i7 a smart grid2 or 7ii7 a microgrid2 or 7,e7 to train residents of ,puerto ,rico or the ,virgin ,islands of the ,united ,states to develop1 construct1 maintain1 or operate a renewable energy system4 7#b7 ,limitation ,a covered entity receiving a grant under the program may not use grant funds to develop or construct a facility that generates electricity using energy derived from-- 7,a7 fossil fuels2 or 7,b7 nuclear power4 7d7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary of ,energy shall ensure that ,department of ,energy national laboratories offer to provide technical assistance to each covered entity carrying out a project assisted with a grant under the program4 7e7 ,report ,not later than two years after the establishment of the program1 and on an annual basis thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report containing-- 7#a7 an estimate of the amount of funds disbursed under the program2 7#b7 an estimate of the energy conservation achieved as a result of the program2 7#c7 a description of challenges encountered in implementing projects described in subsection 7c77#a72 and 7#d7 recommendations as to additional legislative measures to increase the use of renewable energy in ,puerto ,rico and the ,virgin ,islands of the ,united ,states1 as appropriate4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section4 #c4 ,,gao study and report 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,study and report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall-- 7,a7 conduct a study regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency in ,puerto ,rico and the ,virgin ,islands of the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 submit to ,congress a report containing-- 7i7 the findings of the study2 and 7ii7 related recommendations4 7#b7 ,components ,the study conducted under paragraph 7#a7 shall consider1 in relation to ,puerto ,rico and the ,virgin ,islands of the ,united ,states1 the potential-- 7,a7 to modify existing electric power systems to use renewable energy sources2 7,b7 to expand the use of microgrids2 and 7,c7 to improve energy resiliency4 7b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #a1ejj1jjj to carry out this section4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act1 the following definitions apply3 7#a7 ,covered entity ,the term covered entity means a not-for-profit organization determined eligible by the ,secretary of ,agriculture for purposes of this ,act4 7#b7 ,department of ,energy national laboratories ,the term ,department of ,energy national laboratories has the same meaning as the term ,national ,laboratory under section #b of the ,energy ,policy ,act of #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aehja74 7#c7 ,microgrid ,the term microgrid means an electric system-- 7,a7 that serves the local community with a power generation and distribution system2 and 7,b7 that has the ability-- 7i7 to disconnect from a traditional electric grid2 and 7ii7 to operate autonomously when disconnected4 7#d7 ,renewable energy2 renewable energy system ,the terms renewable energy and renewable energy system have the meanings given those terms in section #ijja of the ,farm ,security and ,rural ,investment ,act of #bjjb 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #haja74 7#e7 ,smart grid ,the term smart grid means an intelligent electric grid that uses digital communications technology1 information systems1 and automation to1 while maintaining high system reliability-- 7,a7 detect and react to local changes in usage2 7,b7 improve system operating efficiency2 and 7,c7 reduce spending costs4