Sponsors (2)
The bill provides meaningful, flexible new payments to host communities to fund infrastructure, jobs, and conservation, but does so by redirecting DOE loan interest and relying on future appropriations and narrow application/timing rules that could reduce federal lending capacity, raise borrowing costs, and leave some communities behind.
Host communities (including counties, municipalities, and tribal lands) receive dedicated supplemental payments to offset transmission project impacts and fund local priorities, providing new local revenue beyond existing PILT-type payments.
Communities can use up to 80% of payments for local infrastructure and essential services (schools, hospitals, roads, broadband), enabling sizable, flexible investments in community needs.
Funds can support workforce training and renewable-energy job development with emphasis on underrepresented communities, helping local employment and small business opportunities.
Redirecting a portion of interest on DOE loans to the Fund could reduce returns to federal loan programs and/or prompt higher loan pricing, which may reduce federal lending capacity and raise borrowing costs for project applicants.
Fund payments are only available as provided in future appropriation acts, so communities may face delays, reductions, or uncertainty in receiving funds.
Host communities must apply within one year and certify eligible uses, which may exclude smaller or under-resourced communities that lack administrative capacity or miss the deadline.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Treasury fund funded by a portion of interest on certain large DOE transmission loans to make one-time payments to host local governments and tribes for eligible transmission projects.
Introduced September 17, 2025 by Peter Welch · Last progress September 17, 2025
Creates a Treasury-managed Community Economic Development Transmission Fund that receives a portion of interest on certain large federal loans for high-capacity electric transmission projects and uses that money to make one-time payments to local governments and Indian Tribes that host those projects. The Department of Energy will manage the Fund (with Treasury input on deposit rules), notify host communities during federal siting or permitting, accept payment requests for one year after notice, and make payments according to a formula that preserves Fund solvency and includes a minimum for small-population communities; funds are available as provided in appropriations acts and payments are supplemental to payments in lieu of taxes.