S. 983 Text - Introduced in Senate - 116th Congress (2019-2020)

To amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to reauthorize the weatherization assistance program, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act of 2019”.

SEC. 2. Weatherization Assistance Program.

(a) Definition of weatherization materials.—Section 412(9)(J) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6862(9)(J)) is amended—

(1) by inserting “, including renewable energy technologies and other advanced technologies,” after “technologies”; and

(2) by striking “Development,” and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “Development and the Secretary of Agriculture.”.

(b) Allowance for health and safety benefits.—Section 413(b) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6863(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking “paragraph (5)” and inserting “paragraph (6)”;

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively; and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:

“(5) In carrying out paragraph (3), the Secretary may take into consideration evidence-based values for improvements in the health and safety of occupants of weatherized homes, and other non-energy benefits, as determined by the Secretary.”.

(1) TECHNICAL TRANSFER GRANTS.—Section 414B(a)(4) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6864b(a)(4)) is amended—

(A) by striking “for persons” and inserting the following: “for—

“(A) persons”; and

(B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: “; and

“(B) private entities that are contracted to provide weatherization assistance under this part, in accordance with rules determined by the Secretary.”.

(2) CONTRACTOR OPTIMIZATION.—The Energy Conservation and Production Act is amended by inserting after section 414B (42 U.S.C. 6864b) the following:

“SEC. 414C. Contractor optimization.

“The Secretary may request that entities receiving funding from the Federal Government or from a State through a weatherization assistance program under section 413 or 414—

“(1) perform periodic reviews of the use of private contractors in the provision of weatherization assistance, if applicable; and

“(2) encourage an increased use and expanded role of contractors as appropriate.”.

(3) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The table of contents for the Energy Conservation and Production Act (Public Law 94–385; 90 Stat. 1125) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 414B the following:

“Sec. 414C. Contractor optimization.”.

(d) Financial assistance for WAP enhancement and innovation.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Energy Conservation and Production Act (Public Law 94–385; 90 Stat. 1125) is amended by inserting after section 414C (as added by subsection (c)) the following:

“SEC. 414D. Financial assistance for WAP enhancement and innovation.

“(a) Purposes.—The purposes of this section are—

“(1) to expand the number of dwelling units that are occupied by low-income persons that receive weatherization assistance under this section by making those dwelling units weatherization-ready;

“(2) to promote the deployment of renewable energy in dwelling units that are occupied by low-income persons;

“(3) to ensure healthy indoor environments by enhancing or expanding health and safety measures and resources available to dwellings that are occupied by low-income persons; and

“(4) to disseminate new methods and best practices among eligible entities providing weatherization assistance under this section.

“(b) Definition of eligible entity.—In this section, the term ‘eligible entity’ means—

“(1) an entity receiving funding from the Federal Government or from a State through a weatherization assistance program under section 413 or 414; and

“(2) a nonprofit organization.

“(c) Financial assistance awards.—The Secretary shall, to the extent funds are made available, award financial assistance through a competitive process to an eligible entity—

“(1) with respect to dwelling units that are occupied by low-income persons—

“(A) to implement measures to make those dwelling units weatherization-ready, including by addressing structural, plumbing, roofing, and electrical issues, environmental hazards, and other issues that the Secretary determines to be appropriate;

“(B) to install energy efficiency technologies, including home energy management systems, smart devices, and other technologies the Secretary determines to be appropriate;

“(C) to install renewable energy systems (as defined in section 415(c)(6)(A)); and

“(D) to implement measures to ensure healthy indoor environments by improving indoor air quality, accessibility, and other healthy home measures, as determined by the Secretary;

“(2) to improve the capability of the eligible entity—

“(A) to significantly increase the number of energy retrofits performed by the eligible entity;

“(B) to replicate best practices for work performed under this section on a larger scale; and

“(C) to leverage additional funds to sustain the provision of weatherization assistance and other work performed under this section after the financial assistance awarded under this section is expended;

“(3) for innovative outreach and education regarding the benefits and availability of weatherization assistance and other assistance available under this section;

“(4) for quality control of work performed under this section;

“(5) for data collection, measurement, and verification with respect to that work;

“(6) for program monitoring, oversight, evaluation, and reporting of that work;

“(7) for labor, training, and technical assistance relating to that work;

“(8) subject to subsection (g)(2), for planning, management, and administration of that work; and

“(9) for any other appropriate activity, as determined by the Secretary.

“(d) Applications.—To be eligible for an award of financial assistance under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such manner and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

“(e) Award factors.—In awarding financial assistance under this section, the Secretary shall consider—

“(1) the record of the eligible entity, using the most recent year for which data are available, in constructing, renovating, repairing, and making energy efficient single-family, multifamily, or manufactured homes that are occupied by low-income persons, either directly or through affiliates, chapters, or other partners;

“(2) the number of dwelling units occupied by low-income persons that the eligible entity has built, renovated, repaired, weatherized, and made more energy efficient in the 5 years immediately preceding the date on which the eligible entity submits an application under subsection (d);

“(3) the qualifications, experience, and past performance of the eligible entity, including experience successfully managing and administering Federal funds;

“(4) the strength of the proposal of the eligible entity to achieve one or more of the purposes described in subsection (a);

“(5) the extent to which the eligible entity will use partnerships and regional coordination to achieve one or more of the purposes described in subsection (a);

“(6) regional and climate zone diversity;

“(7) urban, suburban, and rural localities; and

“(8) any other appropriate factor, as determined by the Secretary.

“(f) First award.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall make a first award of financial assistance under this section.

“(g) Amount and term.—

“(1) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The total amount of financial assistance awarded to an eligible entity under this section shall not exceed $2,000,000.

“(2) PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, AND ADMINISTRATION.—Of the amount awarded to an eligible entity under this section, not more than 15 percent may be used by the eligible entity for the purpose described in subsection (c)(8).

“(3) TECHNICAL AND TRAINING ASSISTANCE.—The total amount of financial assistance awarded to an entity under this section shall be reduced by the cost of any technical and training assistance provided by the Secretary under this section that relates to that financial assistance.

“(4) TERM.—The term of an award of financial assistance under this section shall not exceed 3 years.

“(h) Guidance.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue guidance on implementing this section, which shall include, with respect to eligible entities awarded financial assistance under this section—

“(1) standards for allowable expenditures;

“(2) a minimum saving-to-investment ratio; and

“(3) standards for—

“(A) training programs;

“(B) energy audits;

“(C) the provision of technical assistance;

“(D) monitoring activities carried out using the financial assistance;

“(E) verification of energy and cost savings;

“(F) liability insurance requirements; and

“(G) recordkeeping and reporting requirements, which shall include reporting to the Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs of the Department of Energy applicable data on each dwelling unit retrofitted or otherwise assisted by the eligible entity using the financial assistance.

“(i) Compliance with State and local law.—Nothing in this section supersedes or modifies any State or local law to the extent that the State or local law is more stringent than this section.

“(j) Review and evaluation.—The Secretary shall review and evaluate the performance of each eligible entity that receives an award of financial assistance under this section, which may include an audit.

“(k) Annual report.—The Secretary shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress an annual report that describes—

“(1) the actions taken by the Secretary and eligible entities awarded financial assistance under this section to achieve the purposes of this section during the year covered by the report; and

“(2) the energy and cost savings, and any other accomplishments, achieved under this section during the year covered by the report.

“(l) Funding.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024, of the amount appropriated under section 422—

“(A) if the amount is not more than $225,000,000, no funds shall be used to carry out this section;

“(B) if the amount is not more than $260,000,000, not more than 2 percent of that amount may be used to carry out this section;

“(C) if the amount is not more than $300,000,000, not more than 4 percent of that amount may be used to carry out this section; and

“(D) if the amount is more than $300,000,000, not more than 6 percent of that amount may be used to carry out this section.

“(2) AMOUNTS EXCLUDED.—Each amount described in paragraph (1) shall not include the amount made available for Department of Energy headquarters training or technical assistance.

“(3) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The maximum amount used to carry out this section in each fiscal year shall not exceed $25,000,000.”.

(2) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for the Energy Conservation and Production Act (Public Law 94–385; 90 Stat. 1125) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 414C (as added by subsection (c)(3)) the following:

“Sec. 414D. Financial assistance for WAP enhancement and innovation.”.

(e) Increase in administrative funds.—Section 415(a)(1) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6865(a)(1)) is amended by striking “10 percent” and inserting “15 percent”.

(f) Reweatherization date.—Section 415(c) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6865(c)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2) FURTHER ASSISTANCE.—

“(A) DEFINITION OF INTERIM SERVICE.—

“(i) IN GENERAL.—In this paragraph, the term ‘interim service’ means an energy service that takes place between instances of weatherization or partial weatherization of a dwelling unit, as determined by the Secretary.

“(ii) INCLUSION.—In this paragraph, the term ‘interim service’ includes—

“(I) the provision of energy information and education to assist with energy management;

“(II) an evaluation of the effectiveness of installed weatherization measures; and

“(III) the provision of services, equipment, or other measures funded by non-Federal funds, as determined by the Secretary.

“(B) FURTHER ASSISTANCE.—Dwelling units weatherized or partially weatherized under this part, or under other Federal programs—

“(i) may not receive further financial assistance for weatherization under this part until the date that is 15 years after the date on which the previous weatherization was completed; and

“(ii) may receive further financial assistance for weatherization under this part for the purpose of providing an interim service.”.

(g) Reauthorization of WAP.—Section 422 of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6872) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking “appropriated” and all that follows through “2012..” in paragraph (5) and inserting “appropriated $350,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.”.