,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dica ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #a1 #bjbj,mr4 ,wyden 7for himself and ,mr4 ,merkley7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,energy to establish a grant program to reduce the risk of wildfires caused by power lines1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,wildfire ,resilient ,power ,grid ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,matching grant program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means an electric utility1 including-- 7,a7 a publicly owned electric utility2 7,b7 a municipal electric utility2 7,c7 a cooperatively owned electric utility2 7,d7 an investor-owned electric utility2 and 7,e7 a ,federal agency or federally owned corporation that is an electric utility 7as defined in section #c of the ,federal ,power ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gif774 7#b7 ,power line ,the term power line includes a transmission line or a distribution line1 as applicable4 7#c7 ,program ,the term program means the program established under subsection 7b74 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 7b7 ,establishment ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish within the ,office of ,electricity ,delivery and ,energy ,reliability a program under which the ,secretary shall make grants to eligible entities to carry out activities that-- 7#a7 reduce the risk of any power lines owned or operated by the eligible entity causing a wildfire2 7#b7 are designed to enhance public safety2 and 7#c7 are supplemental to the existing wildfire risk mitigation efforts of the eligible entity planned for any given year4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity desiring a grant under the program shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,requirement ,as a condition of receiving a grant under the program1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary as part of the application of the eligible entity under paragraph 7#a7 a wildfire mitigation plan4 7d7 ,use of grant funds ,an eligible entity may use a grant provided under the program-- 7#a7 for the undergrounding of new and existing power lines and circuits2 7#b7 to harden overhead power lines with fire resistant equipment1 such as steel poles and covered wires2 7#c7 to install underground circuits2 7#d7 to install fast-tripping protection systems2 7#e7 to construct and operate #a or more weather monitoring stations2 7#f7 to install fault location equipment2 7#g7 for the relocation of power lines to roadways2 7#h7 to carry out vegetation or fuels management activities in accordance with ,federal1 ,state1 and local laws 7including regulations72 7#i7 for installation of cameras1 sensors1 or other technology that provides real-time information about conditions2 and 7#aj7 for other1 related electric grid upgrades to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition4 7e7 ,priority ,in making grants under the program1 the ,secretary shall give priority to projects that1 in the determination of the ,secretary1 will generate the greatest community benefit in reducing the risk of wildfire ignition from power lines or equipment relative to the cost of the project4 7f7 ,set aside ,in making grants under the program1 the ,secretary shall ensure that not less than #bj percent of the amounts made available to eligible entities under the program are made available to eligible entities that sell not more than #d1jjj1jjj megawatt hours of electricity per year4 7g7 ,matching requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 as a condition of receiving a grant under the program1 an eligible entity shall provide matching funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to not less than #ajj percent of the amounts made available under the grant4 7#b7 ,exception for small utilities ,with respect to an eligible entity that sells not more than #d1jjj1jjj megawatt hours of electricity per year1 as a condition of receiving a grant under the program1 the eligible entity shall provide matching funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to not less than #a_/c of the amounts made available under the grant4 7#c7 ,existing efforts ,on approval by the ,secretary1 amounts expended by an eligible entity on wildfire risk mitigation efforts during the #a-year period ending on the date on which a grant is received under the program shall count toward the matching requirement described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b71 as applicable4 7h7 ,biennial report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #b years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives a report describing the quantity by which the risk of wildfires caused by power lines has been reduced under the program during the year covered by the report4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out the program #a1jjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjca4