Summary

Creates a USDA grant program to fund renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects, energy storage, smart grids or microgrids, and workforce training in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Directs DOE national labs to provide technical help, requires USDA to report to Congress annually, and authorizes funding as needed. Also directs the GAO to study energy resilience and renewable options in each territory and provides $1.5 million for that study.

• Creates a USDA-administered grant program to fund renewable energy, efficiency, storage, smart grids/microgrids, and training in U.S. territories.
• Program must be set up within 180 days of enactment and targets Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands.
• Grant funds may not finance electricity generation from fossil fuels or nuclear power.
• DOE national laboratories are required to provide technical assistance to grant recipients.
• USDA must report to Congress starting within two years and then annually on disbursements, energy saved/produced, challenges, and recommendations.
• GAO must complete a territory-by-territory study on renewable energy and resiliency within 180 days; $1.5 million is authorized for that study.
• Main grant program is authorized with "such sums as necessary" but no specific appropriation amount is set in the text.
• Eligible applicants are defined as not-for-profit "covered entities," with final eligibility determined by USDA.