Sec. 504. Insular Area Renewable Energy Grant Program
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Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Insular Area National Program Office shall establish and carry out a program, to be known as the Insular Area Renewable Energy Grant Program to provide grants to eligible entities in the Insular Areas to expand renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Insular Areas. The following projects may be carried out with amounts made available under this section: Construction of a new renewable energy system.
A project for energy redundancy and resilience based on renewable energy and for hurricane and storm damage reduction on renewable energy systems that the Director determines is technically sound, economically justified, and environmentally acceptable. A project for enhanced energy efficiency in the operation of infrastructure that belongs to an eligible entity. A project for repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of a renewable energy system. A project to prevent, reduce, or mitigate the effects of hurricanes or storms, including projects that enhance the resilience of renewable energy systems.
Acquisition of real property or an interest in real property— if the acquisition is integral to a project described in subparagraphs
(A)through (D); or pursuant to an existing plan that, in the judgment of the Director, as applicable, would mitigate the environmental impacts of renewable energy system infrastructure projects. A combination of projects under subparagraphs
(A)through (F). An eligible entity may use a grant provided under this section for, with respect to an eligible project— development-phase activities, including planning, feasibility analysis (including any related analysis necessary to carry out an eligible project), revenue forecasting, environmental review, permitting, preliminary engineering and design work, and other preconstruction activities; construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and replacement activities; and the acquisition of real property or an interest in real property (including land relating to the project, and improvements to land), environmental mitigation, construction contingencies, and acquisition of equipment. An application under this subsection shall include— a description of the project proposed by the eligible entity; an evaluation (using methodology approved by the Director) of the quantifiable and unquantifiable benefits of the proposed project; an estimate of the cost of the proposed project; and a description of the age and expected lifetime of a renewable energy or energy efficiency system funded by the project. In providing grants under this section, the Director shall give priority to proposed projects that, as determined by the Director— maximize public health benefits; are the most cost effective; serve areas with environmental justice communities— in rural remote areas; or that are poor air quality areas. The Director shall provide Insular Areas— guidance for use in applying for grant funds under this section, including information regarding— the process and forms for applications; permissible uses of funds received; and an annual deadline for submission of the applications; a process by which the Director shall approve or disapprove each application; and a streamlined process by which an Insular Area may renew an application described in subparagraph
(A)for subsequent fiscal years. The Director shall use 100 percent of the funds made available to carry out this section to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities in Insular Areas. An eligible entity may use not more than 10 percent of a grant provided under this section to fund administrative expenses of an approved project. To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026.