,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bhce  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,septemb] #ag          
7legislative day1 ,septemb] #af71 #bjbe 
,mr4 ,wel* 7= himself & ,mr4            
,hick5loop]7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2   
:i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural         
,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to support       
communities t ho/ transmission l9es & to
 promote cons]vation & recreation1 & =  
o!r purposes4  #a4  ,%ort title  ,?is   
,act may be cit$ z ! ,en]giz+ ,our      
,communities ,act4  #b4  ,community     
,economic ,developm5t ,transmission     
,fund  7a7  ,def9itions  ,9 ?is section3
 7#a7 ,cov]$ loan ,! t]m cov]$ loan     
means any ( ! foll[+ issu$ aft] ! date (
 enactm5t ( ?is ,act3  7,a7 ,a loan     
issu$ "u section #djajf7;e77#a77;,b7 ( !
 ,infra/ructure ,inve/m5t & ,jobs ,act  
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahgac7;e77#a77;,b774    
7,b7 ,a loan made = an eligible project 
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b77;,b7 "u !      
,transmission ,infra/ructure ,program ( 

! ,we/]n ,area ,p[] ,adm9i/ration4  7,c7
 ,any o!r loan made "u a ,dep>tm5t (    
,en]gy loan program id5tifi$ 9 ! report 
requir$ "u subsection 7f77#a7 ) respect 
to electric p[] transmission l9es t are 
capable ( transmitt+ #iii megawatts or  
m4  7#b7  ,eligible project  ,! t]m     
eligible project means-- 7,a7 an        
eligible project 7z def9$ 9 section     
#djajf7;a7 ( ! ,infra/ructure ,inve/m5t 
& ,jobs ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahgac7;a777
 t is c>ri$ out us+ a cov]$ loan        
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,a72  7,b7 a  
project = ! purpose ( con/ruct+1 f9anc+1
 facilitat+1 plann+1 op]at+1 or ma9ta9+1
 or /udy+ ! con/ruction (1 new or       
upgrad$ electric p[] transmission l9es &
 relat$ facilities ) at lea/ #a t]m9us  
)9 ! s]vice t]ritory ( ! ,we/]n ,area   
,p[] ,adm9i/ration t is c>ri$ out us+ a 
cov]$ loan describ$ 9 p>agraph          
7#a77;,b72 or  7,c7 a project ) respect 
to electric p[] transmission l9es       
capable ( transmitt+ #iii megawatts or m
 t is c>ri$ out us+ a cov]$ loan        

describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,c74  7#c7    
,fund  ,! t]m ,fund means ! ,community  
,economic ,developm5t ,transmission     
,fund e/abli%$ "u subsection 7b74  7#d7 
,ho/ community  ,! t]m ho/ community    
means-- 7,a7 a local gov]nm5t1 su* z a  
municipality1 t[n1 or c\nty1 )          
jurisdiction ov] any l& on :i* an       
eligible project is or w be c>ri$ out2  
or  7,b7 an ,indian ,tribe )            
jurisdiction ov] any l& on :i* an       
eligible project is or w be c>ri$ out4  
7#e7  ,indian ,tribe  ,! t]m ,indian    
,tribe has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section 
#d ( ! ,indian ,self-,det]m9ation &     
,education ,assi/ance ,act 7#be         
,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74  7#f7  ,secret>y  ,!  
t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y (       
,en]gy4  7b7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!re is        
e/abli%$ 9 ! ,treasury a fund1 to be    
kn[n z ! ,community ,economic           
,developm5t ,transmission ,fund--  7#a7 
consi/+ ( su* am\nts z may be deposit$ 9
 ! ,fund pursuant to subsection 7c72 &  
7#b7 t %all be manag$ & adm9i/]$ by !   

,secret>y to make paym5ts1 9 accordance 
) ?is section1 to ho/ communities4  7c7 
,deposits 9 ! ,fund  7#a7  ,9 g5]al     
,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1 a     
portion1 det]m9$ 9 accordance ) p>agraph
 7#b71 ( ! int]e/ *>g$ & collect$ )     
respect to a cov]$ loan ea* fiscal ye>  
%all be deposit$ 9 ! ,fund to c>ry out !
 provisions ( ?is ,act4  7#b7           
,det]m9ation ( portion  ,! ,secret>y1 9 
consultation ) ! ,secret>y ( !          
,treasury1 %all det]m9e ! portion (     
int]e/ *>g$ & collect$ ea* fiscal ye> t 
%all be deposit$ 9 ! ,fund "u ?is       
subsection4  7d7  ,exp5ditures f ! ,fund
  7#a7  ,availability ( am\nts  ,am\nts 
9 ! ,fund %all be available1 z provid$ 9
 appropriation ,acts1 = mak+ paym5ts z  
describ$ 9 subsection 7b77#b74  7#b7    
,paym5ts  7,a7  ,9 g5]al  ,! ,secret>y  
%all make a paym5t to a ho/ community "u
 ?is section n lat] ?an #ah mon?s aft]  
con/ruction ( ! applicable eligible     
project comm5ces4  7,b7  ,s+le sum  ,=  
any #a eligible project1 ! ,secret>y may

 make n m ?an #a paym5t "u ?is section  
to ea* ho/ community eligible to receive
 a paym5t relat+ to t eligible project4 
7#c7  ,eligibility  ,a ho/ community    
%all be eligible to receive a paym5t "u 
?is section if ! ho/ community--  7,a7  
submits a reque/ to ! ,secret>y n lat]  
?an #a ye> aft] ! ho/ community receives
 notice "u p>agraph 7#d72 &  7,b7       
c]tifies to ! ,secret>y t ! funds w be  
us$ = an eligible purpose describ$ 9    
subsection 7e74  7#d7  ,notice  ,!      
,secret>y %all provide ho/ communities  
notice ( ! availability ( paym5ts "u ?is
 section z "p ( ! ,f$]al sit+ & p]mitt+ 
processes = ! applicable eligible       
project4  7#e7  ,paym5t am\nt  ,9       
det]m9+ ! am\nt ( a paym5t to a ho/     
community "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y   
%all--  7,a7 develop & use a =mula =    
disbursem5t ( funds t1 to ! ext5t       
practicable1 ensures ! long-t]m solv5cy 
( ! ,fund2 &  7,b7 9 develop+ t =mula-- 
7i7 take into acc\nt input f ho/        
communities & /akehold] gr\ps reg>d+ !  

impacts ( eligible projects on ho/      
communities2 &  7ii7 include a          
small-population community m9imum z "p (
 ! =mula4  7#f7  ,paym5ts 9 lieu ( taxes
  ,any am\nt receiv$ by a ho/ community 
f a paym5t made "u ?is section %all be 9
 addition to any paym5t 9 lieu ( taxes  
receiv$ by ! ho/ community "u *apt] #fi 
( title #ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7e7  
,eligible use ( funds  7#a7  ,community 
support  ,a ho/ community may use up to 
#hj p]c5t ( ! am\nts receiv$ by t ho/   
community f a paym5t "u ?is section to  
develop1 deliv]1 or support--  7,a7     
s]vices1 projects1 or programs t--  7i7 
improve exi/+ infra/ructure or implem5t 
ess5tial public s]vices1 includ+        
s]vices1 projects1 or programs relat+   
to--  7,i7 public s*ools2  7,,ii7 public
 libr>ies2  7,,iii7 public hospitals2   
7,,iv7 roads1 bridges1 or public        
transportation2  7,v7 community c5t]s or
 p>ks2  7,,vi7 firefight+ or se>* &     
rescue s]vices2 or  7,,vii7 law         
en=cem5t2  7ii7 provide or exp& access  

to--  7,i7 broadb& telecommunications   
s]vices at local community an*or        
in/itutions 7z def9$ 9 section #fjcjb ( 
! ,digital ,equity ,act ( #bjba 7#dg    
,u4,s4,c4 #agba772  7,,ii7 te*nology or 
connectivity ne$$ = /ud5ts to use a     
digital le>n+ tool at or outside ( a    
local s*ool campus2 or  7,,iii7 f>m]s   
m>kets or o!r agricultural support2     
7iii7 support local agricultural        
process+ or di/ribution infra/ructure2  
7iv7 support work=ce tra9+ programs =   
te*nical tra9+1 skill ma/]y1 or bus9ess 
opportunities across ! spectrum ( c>e]s 
9 r5ewable en]gy1 ) emphasis on         
hi/orically und]repres5t$ communities 9 
! r5ewable en]gy work=ce2 or  7v7       
address public heal? by increas+ outdoor
 recreation opportunities1 includ+      
con/ruction ( new p>ks1 = p ( all       
backgr\nds & abilities2 or  7,b7 o!r1   
simil> s]vices1 projects1 or programs4  
7#b7 ,cons]vation1 /ew>d%ip1 &          
recreation ,a ho/ community %all use at 
lea/ #bj p]c5t ( ! am\nts receiv$ by t  

ho/ community f a paym5t "u ?is section 
= cons]vation1 /ew>d%ip1 or recreation  
purposes1 includ+--  7,a7 re/or+ or     
protect+-- 7i7 fi% or wildlife habitat2 
7ii7 fi% or wildlife corridors2 or      
7iii7 wetl&s1 /reams1 riv]s1 or o!r     
natural wat] bodies 9 areas affect$ by  
transmission developm5t2  7,b7 pres]v+  
or improv+ recreational access to public
 l& or wat] ?r\gh an easem5t1 "r-(-way1 
or o!r in/rum5t f will+ l&[n]s = !      
purpose ( enhanc+ public access to exi/+
 ,f$]al l& or wat] t is inaccessible or 
re/rict$2  7,c7 develop+ new or r5ovat+ 
exi/+ outdoor recreation facilities t   
provide outdoor recreation opportunities
 to ! public2  7,d7 creat+ or           
significantly enhanc+ access to p>k or  
recreational opportunities 9 a          
neighborhood or community2  7,e7 engag+ 
or emp[]+ und]s]v$ communities or y\?2  
7,f7 facilitat+ public-private p>tn]%ips
 to enhance public outdoor recreational 
access1 infra/ructure improvem5ts1 or   
cons]vation ef=ts2  7,g7 = natural      

climate solutions1 includ+ programs t-- 
7i7 accommodate bio*> or o!r nature-bas$
 opportunities = c>bon seque/ration2    
7ii7 support wildfire resili5ce to      
ensure heal?y & resili5t =e/s or        
grassl&s2  7iii7 promote ! plant+1 gr[+1
 or re/or+ ( trees or =e/s2  7iv7       
support resili5ce aga9/ natural disa/]s 
to ensure heal?y & resili5t communities2
  7v7 emp[] f>m]s 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates to  
incorporate cons]vation or climate      
co-b5efits 9 _! agricultural practices2 
or  7vi7 support or implem5t traditional
 ecological k2 or  7,h7 o!r1 simil>     
s]vices1 projects1 or programs4  7f7    
,reports  7#a7  ,cov]age  ,n lat] ?an   
#ij days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is   
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !      
,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural         
,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on  
,en]gy & ,comm]ce ( ! ,h\se (           
,repres5tatives a report detail+ ! loan 
programs )9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,en]gy t fund 
electric p[] transmission l9es & relat$ 
infra/ructure t are capable ( transmitt+

 #iii megawatts or m4  7#b7  ,annual    
report  7,a7  ,9 g5]al  ,n lat] ?an #fj 
days aft] ! end ( ea* fiscal ye>1 !     
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committee on
 ,en]gy & ,natural ,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate 
& ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce ( ! 
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report on !   
op]ation ( ! ,fund dur+ t fiscal ye>4   
7,b7  ,report requirem5ts  ,ea* report  
submitt$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 %all       
include-- 7i7 a /atem5t (--  7,i7 !     
am\nts deposit$ 9 ! ,fund dur+ !        
applicable fiscal ye>2 &  7,,ii7 !      
balance rema9+ 9 ! ,fund at ! end ( t   
fiscal ye>2 &  7ii7 a li/ (-- 7,i7 ho/  
communities t receiv$ am\nts made       
available f ! ,fund dur+ t fiscal ye>2  
7,,ii7 ! associat$ eligible projects    
c>ri$ out 9 ^? ho/ communities2 &       
7,,iii7 ! am\nt t ea* ( ^? ho/          
communities receiv$4  7g7  ,sav+s       
provision  ,no?+ 9 ?is section1 includ+ 
! receipt ( am\nts made available f !   
,fund--  7#a7 precludes a ho/ community 
f ent]+ into a community b5efit agreem5t

 ) an own] ( transmission infra/ructure2
 or  7#b7 o!rwise affects ! au?ority ( a
 ho/ community or an own] ( transmission
 infra/ructure ) respect to any         
community b5efit agreem5t4