H.R. 4025
119th CONGRESS 1st Session
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish an initiative to provide grants to fund the development of resilient energy systems in remote communities, island communities, and Tribal communities, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · June 17, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Case · Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce
Table of contents
SEC. 1. Short title
- This Act may be cited as the Energy Transitions Initiative Authorization Act of 2025.
SEC. 2. Findings
- Congress finds the following:
- Remote communities, island communities, and Tribal communities are commonly characterized by the unique challenges arising from isolation and the resultant difficulties in achieving economies of scale in the delivery of critical goods and services.
- With respect to energy, such challenges include high energy costs, limited and non-resilient energy infrastructure, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters.
- Self-sufficient renewable energy solutions are required to ensure energy security for these communities.
- These communities require specialized assistance, which they have difficulty procuring on their own, in acquiring and building necessary infrastructure, such as energy storage, solar energy facilities, hydropower plants, distributed energy resources, microgrids, and necessary transportation.
- Such specialized assistance should be provided in partnership with remote communities, island communities, and Tribal communities because their unique expertise and deep knowledge of local challenges and needs are necessary for the success of resulting solutions.
SEC. 3. Energy Transitions Initiative grant
- (a) Establishment
- The Secretary of Energy shall establish an initiative to provide grants to eligible entities to fund eligible projects for the development of resilient energy systems in remote communities, island communities, and Tribal communities.
- (b) Terms
- (1) Grants
- In carrying out the initiative, the Secretary may make a grant of not more than $5,000,000 to an eligible entity for an eligible project.
- (2) Cost-share
- The Secretary may not make a grant under this section in an amount that is more than 90 percent of the cost of an eligible project.
- (1) Grants
- (c) Technical assistance
- Upon the request of a grantee, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance to such grantee for a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 2 years through the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Program.
- (d) GAO audit
- Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the initiative described in this section, and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—
- conduct an audit of the initiative established under this section to ensure proper use of funds and compliance with applicable regulations; and
- submit a report that includes the results of such audit and recommendations for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the initiative to—
- the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives;
- the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
- the Committee on Energy and Public Works of the Senate; and
- the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
- Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the initiative described in this section, and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—
- (e) Authorization of Appropriations
- There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $31,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section.
- (f) Definitions
- For purposes of this section:
- The term
Alaska Native Corporation,Native Corporationhas the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (). 42 U.S.C. 1602 - The term
eligible entitymeans— - The term
eligible projectmeans any of the following projects: - The term
federally recognized tribehas the meaning given the term in section 102(2) of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (). 25 U.S.C. 5130(2) - The term
island communitymeans a group of individuals living on an area of land isolated from the mainland by oceans or lakes, that is not connected to a larger regional grid network, and experiences resilience challenges, including energy disruptions or threats to infrastructure from natural disasters. - The term
Native Hawaiian Organizationmeans an organization listed by the Department of the Interior in the Native Hawaiian Organization Notification List maintained by the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations. - The term
remote communitymeans a group of individuals living in an area isolated from a larger regional grid network, with limited access to centralized energy sources due to environmental or geographical impediments. - The term
resilient energy systemmeans a facility or equipment that— - The term
Statemeans each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. - The term
Tribal communitymeans a federally recognized Tribe, an Alaska Native Corporation, or a Native Hawaiian Organization.
- The term
- For purposes of this section: