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Code · BILL · 116th Congress · H.R. 4291 (Introduced in House) — To help reduce household energy burdens by expanding access to solar energy for low-income households, and for other... · Sec. 4

Sec. 4. Solar financing and workforce training

1,275 words·~6 min read·/bill/116/hr/4291/ih/section-4

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In this section: The term community solar project means a project for the renewable generation of energy through solar power that has multiple subscribers that receive benefits on utility bills that are directly attributable to the project. The term community solar subscription means ownership of a financial share in a community solar project that serves multiple consumers. The term eligible entity means a developer or installer of solar equipment. The term eligible household means a household that includes an eligible individual as defined in section 32(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for purposes of the credit under section 32 of that Code.
The term interconnection has the meaning given the term in section 111(d)(15) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2621(d)(15) ). The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. The Secretary shall establish a solar financing program under which the Secretary shall offer a variety of financing mechanisms, including grants, loans, loan guarantees, and interest buy-downs, to support the deployment of solar projects for eligible households, in accordance with this subsection.
Under the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities for deploying residential solar projects or community solar projects— that benefit eligible households; and in which the tariff, net metering, bill credit, or other valuation of solar energy generation, or the sale of that solar generation by a third party, enables a savings-to-investment ratio of at least 1:1 for an eligible entity over a period of not more than 10 years.
An eligible entity that receives a grant under the program established under paragraph
(1)shall use the grant only to pay for— the cost and installation of solar equipment in buildings in which the dwelling units of eligible households are located, including the cost of materials, labor, and permitting; repairs or upgrades to the buildings described in clause
(i)that may be needed to ensure that solar equipment is installed in a safe manner; and the cost of a community solar subscription. Under the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide loans at zero percent interest— to owners of buildings— that receive assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o) ); or with respect to which a credit is allowable under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for the taxable year in which the loan is provided; and for the purpose of— installing solar equipment that benefits the dwelling unit of a tenant; if necessary for the installation of solar equipment under subclause (I), making any upgrade to the building in which the dwelling unit is located; and covering the cost of a community solar subscription. An owner of a building receiving a loan under this subsection shall— reduce the rent that each tenant described in clause
(ii)is required to pay by an amount that is proportional to the savings obtained through any solar upgrades described in subparagraph (A); and enter into an affordability agreement with the Secretary to ensure that the rent of the tenant remains affordable for the duration of the tenancy. A tenant referred to in clause
(i)is a tenant that is in a low-income household and occupying a dwelling unit in the building, which dwelling unit is affected by a solar upgrade described in subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall— publish guidance on what constitutes a benefit to the dwelling unit of a tenant under subparagraph (A)(ii)(I); and promulgate a regulation on the manner in which a community solar subscription under subparagraph (A)(ii)(III) shall be managed. The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall make grants for community solar projects— to be used for costs associated with interconnection of the community solar project, including application fees, interconnection fees, engineering reviews, and other associated costs incurred during the interconnection process; to be used for costs associated with upgrades to a distribution system, if the distribution system requires service or new equipment to accommodate the installation of the community solar project; and led by nonprofit organizations to support the implementation of the projects for low-income households. The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, contract with minority or women-owned businesses for the deployment of solar projects that are financed pursuant to this section. In this subsection: The term eligible participant means an individual who is a member of an underrepresented group, including— an individual who is a religious, racial, or ethnic minority; a woman; a veteran; an individual with a disability; an unemployed energy worker; an energy worker employed by a fossil fuel industry who is being transitioned away from that industry because of a State renewable program or Federal program, as determined by the Secretary; a socioeconomically disadvantaged individual; and a formerly incarcerated individual. The terms local workforce development board and State workforce development board have the meanings given the terms local board and State board , respectively, in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 ). The term program partner means— a business; an employer or industry association; a labor management organization; a local workforce development board or State workforce development board; a 2- or 4-year institution of higher education that offers an educational program leading to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in conjunction with a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship or other training program; the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and the Army Reserve); a nonprofit organization; a community-based organization; and an economic development agency. The Secretary shall establish a solar workforce program to assist eligible participants in pursuing careers in the solar energy industry, including as— solar photovoltaic system installers; solar technicians; electrical system inspectors; and other professionals in the solar industry, as determined by the Secretary. In carrying out the program established under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall create courses or seek to administer existing courses that provide— job training, including through internships and work-based training in accordance with paragraph (4); employment skills training; and comprehensive support services that— enhance the training experience and promote the professional development of participants; and help participants transition into the workforce. To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall partner with program partners to provide internships and work-based training as part of the job training offered under paragraph (3)(A). As a requirement for completing a course under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall require each participant in the course to earn an applicable industry-recognized entry-level certificate or other credential, as determined by the Secretary. Section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5308 ) is amended by striking or
(6)and inserting
(6)the installation of solar energy equipment; or
(7). Section 6 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437d ) is amended by adding at the end the following: Each contract for contributions for a public housing agency shall provide that the agency may enter into third-party power purchase agreements with third-party providers for a period of not more than 20 years, in addition to a 2-year option period, for the installation of solar energy equipment in public housing projects. With respect to tenant-paid utilities, any solar rate savings from a power purchase agreement that may result in rebates to a family shall not be used in the calculation of lower utility allowances for the family that results in an increase in the rent paid by the family. . There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section and the amendments made by this section $240,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
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cites case law
Sec. 4
Solar financing and workforce training
U.S.C.§ 2621
U.S.C.§ 1437f
U.S.C.§ 3102
U.S.C.§ 5308
U.S.C.§ 1437d
Cites 5Cited by 0 across 0 sources
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