,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ccbb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #ah1 #bjai ,mr4 ,loebsack introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,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 #bjai4 #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 improvement ,the term energy improvement means-- 7,a7 any improvement1 repair1 or renovation1 to a school that will result in a direct reduction in school energy costs1 including improvements to building envelope1 air conditioning1 ventilation1 heating systems1 domestic hot water heating1 compressed air systems1 distribution systems1 lighting1 power systems1 and controls2 7,b7 any improvement1 repair1 renovation1 or installation that leads to an improvement in teacher and student health1 including indoor air quality1 daylighting1 ventilation1 electrical lighting1 green roofs1 outdoor gardens1 and acoustics2 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 of a school2 7,d7 the installation of zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure on school grounds for exclusive use of school buses or school fleets2 and 7,e7 the purchase or lease of zero-emissions vehicles1 including school buses1 fleet vehicles1 and other operational vehicles4 7#c7 ,local educational agency ,the term local educational agency has the meaning given the term in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#d7 ,partnering local educational agency ,the term partnering local educational agency1 when used with respect to an eligible entity1 means the local educational agency participating in the eligible entity4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 7#f7 ,zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure ,the term zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure means infrastructure used to charge or fuel-- 7,a7 a zero-emission vehicle 7as defined in section #hh4ajb-id of title #dj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulation772 or 7,b7 a vehicle that produces zero exhaust emissions of any criteria pollutant 7or precursor pollutant7 or greenhouse gas under any possible operational modes or conditions4 7b7 ,authority ,from amounts made available for grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to make energy improvements authorized by this section4 7c7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,contents ,the application submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include 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 eligible entity hopes to achieve at the school and a description of the energy improvements to be carried out4 7,c7 ,a description of the capacity of the eligible entity to provide services and comprehensive support to make the energy improvements4 7,d7 ,an assessment of the applicant's expected needs of the eligible entity 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 7d7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give a priority to eligible entities-- 7#a7 that have renovation1 repair1 and improvement funding needs2 and 7#b7 7,a7 that serve a high percentage1 as determined by the ,secretary1 of students who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agea et seq47 7which may be calculated for students in a high school 7as defined by section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja77 using data from the schools that feed into the high school72 or 7,b7 with a participating local educational agency designated with a school district locale code of #da1 #db1 or #dc1 as determined by the ,national ,center for ,education ,statistics in consultation with the ,bureau of the ,census4 7e7 ,competitive criteria ,the competitive criteria used by the ,secretary to award grants under this section shall include the following3 7#a7 ,the fiscal capacity of the eligible entity to meet the needs for energy improvements of school facilities without assistance under this section1 including-- 7,a7 the current and historic ability of the partnering local educational agency to raise funds for construction1 renovation1 modernization1 and major repair projects for schools2 7,b7 whether such local educational agency has been able to issue bonds or receive other funds to support school construction projects2 and 7,c7 the bond rating of such local educational agency4 7#b7 ,the likelihood that the partnering 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 7f7 ,use of grant amounts 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant amounts only to make the energy improvements described in the application1 subject to the other provisions of this subsection4 7#b7 ,operation and maintenance training ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use not more than #e percent of the grant amounts 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 ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use funds under the grant for a third-party investigation and analysis for energy improvements 7such as energy audits and existing building commissioning74 7#d7 ,continuing education ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use not more than #c 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 eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall ensure that1 if the eligible entity uses grant funds to carry 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 eligible entity receiving 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 funds1 and the use of performance tracking for energy improvements 7such as the ,energy ,star program established under section #cbd;,a of the ,energy ,policy and ,conservation ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fbid;a7 or the ,united ,states ,green ,building ,council ,leadership in ,energy and ,environmental ,design 7,,leed7 green building rating system 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 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbe4