S. 4038 — Introduced in Senate

II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4038 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 23, 2020Mr. Booker (for himself and Mrs. Capito) introduced the following bill; 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 for tree planting to reduce residential energy consumption. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Tackling Residential Energy burdens Efficiently Act of 2020 or the TREE Act of 2020. 2. Tree planting grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible cost The term eligible cost means, with respect to a project— (A) the cost of implementing the project, including— (i) planning and designing the planting activity; (ii) purchasing trees; and (iii) preparing the site and conducting planting, including the labor and cost associated with the use of machinery; (B) the cost of maintaining and monitoring planted trees for a period of up to 3 years to ensure successful establishment of the trees; (C) the cost of training activities associated with the project; and (D) any other relevant cost, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) a State agency; (B) a local governmental entity; (C) an Indian Tribe; (D) a nonprofit organization; and (E) a retail power provider. (3) Energy burden The term energy burden means the percentage of household income spent on home energy bills. (4) Indian tribe The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term Indian tribe in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). (5) Local governmental entity The term local governmental entity means any municipal government or county government with jurisdiction over local land use decisions. (6) Nonprofit organization The term nonprofit organization means an organization that— (A) is described in section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and (B) operates in accordance with 1 or more of the purposes described in section 170(h)(4)(A) of that Code. (7) Program The term Program means the grant program established under subsection (b)(1). (8) Project The term project means a tree planting project carried out by an eligible entity using grant funds awarded under the Program. (9) Retail power provider The term retail power provider means any entity authorized under applicable State or Federal law to generate, distribute, or provide retail electricity, natural gas, or fuel oil service. (10) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. (b) Establishment (1) In general The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to conduct tree planting projects in accordance with this section. (2) Tree planting Subject to the availability of appropriations, in carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, award sufficient grants each year to plant not less than 300,000 trees each year. (c) Applications (1) In general An eligible entity that seeks to receive a grant under the Program shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the information described in paragraph (2). (2) Contents An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) a description of how the project will reduce residential energy consumption; (B) an estimate of the expected reduction in residential energy consumption; (C) a description of the total eligible costs of the project and sources of funding for the project; (D) a description of the anticipated community and stakeholder engagement in the project; (E) a description of the tree species to be planted and how that species is suitable for the local environmental conditions and climate; and (F) any other relevant information required by the Secretary. (d) Priority In awarding grants under the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that— (1) provide the largest potential reduction in residential energy consumption for households with a high energy burden; (2) are located in a neighborhood with lower tree canopy cover and higher maximum daytime summer temperatures; (3) are located in a neighborhood with high amounts of senior citizens or children; (4) will collaboratively engage neighbors and community members that will be closely affected by the tree planting; and (5) will employ a substantial percentage of the workforce locally, with a focus on engaging unemployed and underemployed persons. (e) Costs (1) Federal share The Secretary shall award a grant to an eligible entity under the Program in an amount equal to not more than 75 percent of the eligible costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Matching requirement As a condition of receiving a grant under the Program, an eligible entity shall provide, in cash or through in-kind contributions from non-Federal sources, matching funds in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the eligible costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.