Sec. 4. Reports on access to reliable and affordable energy
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The Comptroller General of the United States, in consultation with each relevant agency, shall— conduct an analysis of Federal energy laws, energy rules, and State renewable portfolio standards to determine how those laws, rules, and standards affected at-risk communities during the preceding fiscal year; identify barriers to the ability of at-risk communities to access reliable and affordable energy, including the manner in which the presence of adequate energy transmission infrastructure affects that access; and develop criteria to determine whether an at-risk community is experiencing energy poverty.
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall review each applicable energy rule to determine if the applicable energy rule imposes disproportionate financial impacts on at-risk communities relative to the general population. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall jointly submit to Congress a report that— describes the analysis conducted under subsection (a)(1) and the barriers identified under subsection (a)(2); identifies the at-risk communities that are experiencing energy poverty, by location and type; and provides recommendations on— how to reduce energy poverty in at-risk communities; and actions each applicable agency may take to reduce the barriers described in subsection (a)(2), including by— establishing lower fees or lowering other costs; improving the approval process for rights-of-way on Federal land and Tribal land; increasing energy production on Federal lands; encouraging private energy sector investment in Federal land and Tribal land; and improving grid resilience in remote areas.