,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hafe ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #d1 #bjbj,mr4 ,crdenas 7for himself and ,ms4 ,lee of ,california7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,energy to establish a program to provide assistance for low-income solar projects1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,affordable ,solar ,energy for ,our ,communities ,act4 #b4 ,grant program for solar installations located in1 or that serve1 low-income and underserved areas 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,beneficiary ,the term beneficiary means a low-income household or a low-income household in an underserved area4 7#b7 ,community solar facility ,the term community solar facility means a solar generating facility that-- 7,a7 through a voluntary program1 has multiple subscribers that receive financial benefits that are directly attributable to the facility2 7,b7 has a nameplate rating of #e megawatts ,,ac or less2 and 7,c7 is located in the utility distribution service territory of subscribers4 7#c7 ,community solar subscription ,the term community solar subscription means a share in the capacity1 or a proportional interest in the electricity generation1 of a community solar facility4 7#d7 ,covered facility ,the term covered facility means-- 7,a7 a community solar facility-- 7i7 that is located in an underserved area2 or 7ii7 at least #ej percent of the capacity of which is reserved for low-income households2 7,b7 a solar generating facility located at a residence of a low-income household2 or 7,c7 a solar generating facility located at a multi-family affordable housing complex4 7#e7 ,covered ,state ,the term covered ,state means a ,state with processes in place to ensure that covered facilities deliver financial benefits to low-income households4 7#f7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a nonprofit organization that provides services to low-income households or multi-family affordable housing complexes2 7,b7 a developer1 owner1 or operator of a community solar facility that reserves a portion of the capacity of the facility for subscribers who are members of low-income households or for low-income households that otherwise financially benefit from the facility2 7,c7 a covered ,state1 or political subdivision thereof2 7,d7 an ,indian ,tribe or a tribally owned electric utility2 7,e7 a ,native ,hawaiian community-based organization2 7,f7 any other national or regional entity that has experience developing or installing solar generating facilities for low-income households that maximize financial benefits to those households2 and 7,g7 an electric cooperative or municipal electric utility 7as such terms are defined in section #c of the ,federal ,power ,act74 7#g7 ,eligible installation project ,the term eligible installation project means a project to install a covered facility in a covered ,state4 7#h7 ,eligible planning project ,the term eligible planning project means a project to carry out pre-installation activities for the development of a covered facility in a covered ,state4 7#i7 ,eligible project ,the term eligible project means-- 7,a7 an eligible planning project2 or 7,b7 an eligible installation project4 7#aj7 ,feasibility study ,the term feasibility study means any activity to determine the feasibility of a specific solar generating facility1 including a customer interest assessment and a siting assessment1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#aa7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe means any ,indian ,tribe1 band1 nation1 or other organized group or community1 including any ,alaska ,native village1 ,regional ,corporation1 or ,village ,corporation 7as defined in1 or established pursuant to1 the ,alaska ,native ,claims ,settlement ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq4771 that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the ,united ,states to ,indians because of their status as ,indians4 7#ab7 ,interconnection service ,the term interconnection service has the meaning given such term in section #aaa7;d77#ae7 of the ,public ,utility ,regulatory ,policies ,act of #aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bfba7;d77#ae774 7#ac7 ,low-income household ,the term low-income household means that income in relation to family size which-- 7,a7 is at or below #bjj percent of the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 except that the ,secretary may establish a higher level if the ,secretary determines that such a higher level is necessary to carry out the purposes of this section2 7,b7 is the basis on which cash assistance payments have been paid during the preceding #ab-month period under titles ,,iv and ,,xvi of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq41 #acha et seq47 or applicable ,state or local law2 or 7,c7 if a ,state elects1 is the basis for eligibility for assistance under the ,low-,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,act of #aiha 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hfba et seq471 provided that such basis is at least #bjj percent of the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget4 7#ad7 ,multi-family affordable housing complex ,the term multi-family affordable housing complex means any federally subsidized affordable housing complex in which at least #ej percent of the units are reserved for low-income households4 7#ae7 ,native ,hawaiian community-based organization ,the term ,native ,hawaiian community-based organization means any organization that is composed primarily of ,native ,hawaiians from a specific community and that assists in the social1 cultural1 and educational development of ,native ,hawaiians in that community4 7#af7 ,program ,the term program means the program established under subsection 7b74 7#ag7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 7#ah7 ,solar generating facility ,the term solar generating facility means-- 7,a7 a generator that creates electricity from light photons2 and 7,b7 the accompanying hardware enabling that electricity to flow-- 7i7 onto the electric grid2 7ii7 into a facility or structure2 or 7iii7 into an energy storage device4 7#ai7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the #ej ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 ,guam1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 the ,virgin ,islands1 and ,american ,samoa4 7#bj7 ,subscriber ,the term subscriber means a person who-- 7,a7 owns a community solar subscription1 or an equivalent unit or share of the capacity or generation of a community solar facility2 or 7,b7 financially benefits from a community solar facility1 even if the person does not own a community solar subscription for the facility4 7#ba7 ,underserved area ,the term underserved area means-- 7,a7 a geographical area with low or no photovoltaic solar deployment1 as determined by the ,secretary2 7,b7 a geographical area that has low or no access to electricity1 as determined by the ,secretary2 7,c7 a geographical area with an average annual residential retail electricity price that exceeds the national average annual residential retail electricity price 7as reported by the ,energy ,information ,agency7 by #ej percent or more2 or 7,d7 trust land1 as defined in section #cgfe of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7b7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a program to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to-- 7#a7 carry out planning projects that are necessary to establish the feasibility1 obtain required permits1 identify beneficiaries1 or secure subscribers to install a covered facility2 or 7#b7 install a covered facility for beneficiaries in accordance with this section4 7c7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive assistance under the program1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,inclusion for installation assistance 7,a7 ,requirements ,for an eligible entity to receive assistance for a project to install a covered facility1 the ,secretary shall require the eligible entity to include-- 7i7 information in the application that is sufficient to demonstrate that the eligible entity has obtained1 or has the capacity to obtain1 necessary permits1 subscribers1 access to an installation site1 and any other items or agreements necessary to comply with an agreement under subsection 7g77#a7 and to complete the installation of the applicable covered facility2 7ii7 a description of the mechanism through which financial benefits will be distributed to beneficiaries or subscribers2 and 7iii7 an estimate of the anticipated financial benefit for beneficiaries or subscribers4 7,b7 ,consideration of planning projects ,the ,secretary shall consider the successful completion of an eligible planning project pursuant to subsection 7b77#a7 by the eligible entity to be sufficient to demonstrate the ability of the eligible entity to meet the requirements of subparagraph 7,a77i74 7d7 ,selection 7#a7 ,in general ,in selecting eligible projects to receive assistance under the program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 prioritize-- 7i7 eligible installation projects that will result in the most financial benefit for subscribers1 as determined by the ,secretary2 7ii7 eligible installation projects that will result in development of covered facilities in underserved areas2 and 7iii7 eligible projects that include apprenticeship1 job training1 or community participation as part of their application2 and 7,b7 ensure that such assistance is provided in a manner that results in eligible projects being carried out on a geographically diverse basis within and among covered ,states4 7#b7 ,determination of financial benefit ,in determining the amount of financial benefit for low-income households of an eligible installation project1 the ,secretary shall ensure that all calculations for estimated household energy savings are based solely on electricity offsets from the applicable covered facility and use formulas established by the ,state or local government with jurisdiction over the applicable covered facility for verifiable household energy savings estimates that accrue to low-income households4 7e7 ,assistance 7#a7 ,form ,the ,secretary may provide assistance under the program in the form of a grant 7which may be in the form of a rebate7 or a low-interest loan4 7#b7 ,multiple projects for same facility 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity may apply for assistance under the program for an eligible planning project and an eligible installation project for the same covered facility4 7,b7 ,separate selections ,selection by the ,secretary for assistance under the program of an eligible planning project does not require the ,secretary to select for assistance under the program an eligible installation project for the same covered facility4 7f7 ,use of assistance 7#a7 ,eligible planning projects ,an eligible entity receiving assistance for an eligible planning project under the program may use such assistance to pay the costs of pre-installation activities associated with an applicable covered facility1 including-- 7,a7 feasibility studies2 7,b7 permitting2 7,c7 site assessment2 7,d7 on-site job training1 or other community-based activities directly associated with the eligible planning project2 or 7,e7 such other costs determined by the ,secretary to be appropriate4 7#b7 ,eligible installation projects ,an eligible entity receiving assistance for an eligible installation project under the program may use such assistance to pay the costs of-- 7,a7 installation of a covered facility1 including costs associated with materials1 permitting1 labor1 or site preparation2 7,b7 storage technology sited at a covered facility2 7,c7 interconnection service expenses2 7,d7 on-site job training1 or other community-based activities directly associated with the eligible installation project2 7,e7 offsetting the cost of a subscription for a covered facility described in subparagraph 7,a7 of subsection 7a77#d7 for subscribers that are members of a low-income household2 or 7,f7 such other costs determined by the ,secretary to be appropriate4 7g7 ,administration 7#a7 ,agreements 7,a7 ,in general ,as a condition of receiving assistance under the program1 an eligible entity shall enter into an agreement with the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,requirements ,an agreement entered into under this paragraph-- 7i7 shall require the eligible entity to maintain such records and adopt such administrative practices as the ,secretary may require to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section and the agreement2 7ii7 with respect to an eligible installation project shall require that any solar generating facility installed using assistance provided pursuant to the agreement comply with local building and safety codes and standards2 and 7iii7 shall contain such other terms as the ,secretary may require to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section4 7,c7 ,term ,an agreement under this paragraph shall be for a term that begins on the date on which the agreement is entered into and ends on the date that is #b years after the date on which the eligible entity receives assistance pursuant to the agreement1 which term may be extended once for a period of not more than #a year if the eligible entity demonstrates to the satisfaction of the ,secretary that such an extension is necessary to complete the activities required by the agreement4 7#b7 ,use of funds ,of the funds made available to provide assistance to eligible installation projects under this section over the period of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe1 the ,secretary shall use-- 7,a7 not less than #ej percent to provide assistance for eligible installation projects with respect to which low-income households make up at least #ej percent of the subscribers to the project2 and 7,b7 not more than #ej percent to provide assistance for eligible installation projects with respect to which low-income households make up at least #be percent of the subscribers to the project4 7#c7 ,regulations ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall publish in the ,federal ,register regulations to carry out this section1 which shall take effect on the date of publication4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section #bjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe1 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,amounts for planning projects ,of the amounts appropriated pursuant to this section over the period of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe1 the ,secretary shall use not more than #ae percent of funds to provide assistance to eligible planning projects4 7i7 ,relationship to other assistance ,the ,secretary shall1 to the extent practicable1 encourage eligible entities that receive assistance under this section to leverage such funds by seeking additional funding through federally or locally subsidized weatherization and energy efficiency programs4