,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #daed ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #ag1 #bjbd,mr4 ,welch introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to support communities that host transmission lines and to promote conservation and recreation1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,energizing ,our ,communities ,act4 #b4 ,community ,economic ,development ,transmission ,fund 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,covered loan ,the term covered loan means any of the following issued after the date of enactment of this ,act3 7,a7 ,a loan issued under section #djajf7;e77#a77;,b7 of the ,infrastructure ,investment and ,jobs ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahgac7;e77#a77;,b774 7,b7 ,a direct loan provided under section #ejaea of ,public ,law #aag-afi 7commonly known as the ,inflation ,reduction ,act of #bjbb7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahgae74 7,c7 ,a loan made for an eligible project described in paragraph 7#b77;,c7 under the ,transmission ,infrastructure ,program of the ,western ,area ,power ,administration4 7,d7 ,any other loan made under a ,department of ,energy loan program identified in the report required under subsection 7f77#a7 with respect to electric power transmission lines that are capable of transmitting #iii megawatts or more4 7#b7 ,eligible project ,the term eligible project means-- 7,a7 an eligible project 7as defined in section #djajf7;a7 of the ,infrastructure ,investment and ,jobs ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahgac7;a777 that is carried out using a covered loan described in paragraph 7#a77;,a72 7,b7 a project for the construction or modification of electric transmission facilities that is carried out using a covered loan described in paragraph 7#a77;,b72 7,c7 a project for the purpose of constructing1 financing1 facilitating1 planning1 operating1 or maintaining1 or studying the construction of1 new or upgraded electric power transmission lines and related facilities with at least #a terminus within the service territory of the ,western ,area ,power ,administration that is carried out using a covered loan described in paragraph 7#a77;,c72 or 7,d7 a project with respect to electric power transmission lines capable of transmitting #iii megawatts or more that is carried out using a covered loan described in paragraph 7#a77;,d74 7#c7 ,fund ,the term ,fund means the ,community ,economic ,development ,transmission ,fund established under subsection 7b74 7#d7 ,host community ,the term host community means-- 7,a7 a local government1 such as a municipality1 town1 or county1 with jurisdiction over any land on which an eligible project is or will be carried out2 or 7,b7 an ,indian ,tribe with jurisdiction over any land on which an eligible project is or will be carried out4 7#e7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 7b7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,treasury a fund1 to be known as the ,community ,economic ,development ,transmission ,fund-- 7#a7 consisting of such amounts as may be deposited in the ,fund pursuant to subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 that shall be managed and administered by the ,secretary to make payments1 in accordance with this section1 to host communities4 7c7 ,deposits in the ,fund 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 a portion1 determined in accordance with paragraph 7#b71 of the interest charged and collected with respect to a covered loan each fiscal year shall be deposited in the ,fund to carry out the provisions of this ,act4 7#b7 ,determination of portion ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 shall determine the portion of interest charged and collected each fiscal year that shall be deposited in the ,fund under this subsection4 7d7 ,expenditures from the ,fund 7#a7 ,availability of amounts ,amounts in the ,fund shall be available1 as provided in appropriation ,acts1 for making payments as described in subsection 7b77#b74 7#b7 ,payments 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall make a payment to a host community under this section not later than #ah months after construction of the applicable eligible project commences4 7,b7 ,single sum ,for any #a eligible project1 the ,secretary may make not more than #a payment under this section to each host community eligible to receive a payment relating to that eligible project4 7#c7 ,eligibility ,a host community shall be eligible to receive a payment under this section if the host community-- 7,a7 submits a request to the ,secretary not later than #a year after the host community receives notice under paragraph 7#d72 and 7,b7 certifies to the ,secretary that the funds will be used for an eligible purpose described in subsection 7e74 7#d7 ,notice ,the ,secretary shall provide host communities notice of the availability of payments under this section as part of the ,federal siting and permitting processes for the applicable eligible project4 7#e7 ,payment amount ,in determining the amount of a payment to a host community under this section1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 develop and use a formula for disbursement of funds that1 to the extent practicable1 ensures the long-term solvency of the ,fund2 and 7,b7 in developing that formula-- 7i7 take into account input from host communities and stakeholder groups regarding the impacts of eligible projects on host communities2 and 7ii7 include a small-population community minimum as part of the formula4 7#f7 ,payments in lieu of taxes ,any amount received by a host community from a payment made under this section shall be in addition to any payment in lieu of taxes received by the host community under chapter #fi of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 7e7 ,eligible use of funds 7#a7 ,community support ,a host community may use up to #hj percent of the amounts received by that host community from a payment under this section to develop1 deliver1 or support-- 7,a7 services1 projects1 or programs that-- 7i7 improve existing infrastructure or implement essential public services1 including services1 projects1 or programs relating to-- 7,i7 public schools2 7,,ii7 public libraries2 7,,iii7 public hospitals2 7,,iv7 roads1 bridges1 or public transportation2 7,v7 community centers or parks2 7,,vi7 firefighting or search and rescue services2 or 7,,vii7 law enforcement2 7ii7 provide or expand access to-- 7,i7 broadband telecommunications services at local community anchor institutions 7as defined in section #fjcjb of the ,digital ,equity ,act of #bjba 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #agba772 7,,ii7 technology or connectivity needed for students to use a digital learning tool at or outside of a local school campus2 or 7,,iii7 farmers markets or other agricultural support2 7iii7 support local agricultural processing or distribution infrastructure2 7iv7 support workforce training programs for technical training1 skill mastery1 or business opportunities across the spectrum of careers in renewable energy1 with emphasis on historically underrepresented communities in the renewable energy workforce2 or 7v7 address public health by increasing outdoor recreation opportunities1 including construction of new parks1 for people of all backgrounds and abilities2 or 7,b7 other1 similar services1 projects1 or programs4 7#b7 ,conservation1 stewardship1 and recreation ,a host community shall use at least #bj percent of the amounts received by that host community from a payment under this section for conservation1 stewardship1 or recreation purposes1 including-- 7,a7 restoring or protecting-- 7i7 fish or wildlife habitat2 7ii7 fish or wildlife corridors2 or 7iii7 wetlands1 streams1 rivers1 or other natural water bodies in areas affected by transmission development2 7,b7 preserving or improving recreational access to public land or water through an easement1 right-of-way1 or other instrument from willing landowners for the purpose of enhancing public access to existing ,federal land or water that is inaccessible or restricted2 7,c7 developing new or renovating existing outdoor recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public2 7,d7 creating or significantly enhancing access to park or recreational opportunities in a neighborhood or community2 7,e7 engaging or empowering underserved communities or youth2 7,f7 facilitating public-private partnerships to enhance public outdoor recreational access1 infrastructure improvements1 or conservation efforts2 7,g7 for natural climate solutions1 including programs that-- 7i7 accommodate biochar or other nature-based opportunities for carbon sequestration2 7ii7 support wildfire resilience to ensure healthy and resilient forests or grasslands2 7iii7 promote the planting1 growing1 or restoring of trees or forests2 7iv7 support resilience against natural disasters to ensure healthy and resilient communities2 7v7 empower farmers in the ,united ,states to incorporate conservation or climate co-benefits in their agricultural practices2 or 7vi7 support or implement traditional ecological knowledge2 or 7,h7 other1 similar services1 projects1 or programs4 7f7 ,reports 7#a7 ,coverage ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 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 detailing the loan programs within the ,department of ,energy that fund electric power transmission lines and related infrastructure that are capable of transmitting #iii megawatts or more4 7#b7 ,annual report 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the end of each fiscal year1 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 on the operation of the ,fund during that fiscal year4 7,b7 ,report requirements ,each report submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include-- 7i7 a statement of-- 7,i7 the amounts deposited in the ,fund during the applicable fiscal year2 and 7,,ii7 the balance remaining in the ,fund at the end of that fiscal year2 and 7ii7 a list of-- 7,i7 host communities that received amounts made available from the ,fund during that fiscal year2 7,,ii7 the associated eligible projects carried out in those host communities2 and 7,,iii7 the amount that each of those host communities received4 7g7 ,savings provision ,nothing in this section1 including the receipt of amounts made available from the ,fund-- 7#a7 precludes a host community from entering into a community benefit agreement with an owner of transmission infrastructure2 or 7#b7 otherwise affects the authority of a host community or an owner of transmission infrastructure with respect to any community benefit agreement4