H.R. 4339

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a renewable energy grant program for territories of the United States, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · July 10, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Lieu

Table of contents

• H.R. 4339
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Renewable energy grant program
  • SEC. 3. GAO study and report
  • SEC. 4. Definitions

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Renewable Energy for U.S. Territories Act.

SEC. 2. Renewable energy grant program

• (a) Establishment
  • Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a renewable energy program (in this section referred to as the ) under which the Secretary may award grants to covered entities to facilitate projects, in territories of the United States, described in subsection (c).
• (b) Applications
  • To be eligible for a grant under the program, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
• (c) Grant uses
  • (1) In general
    • A covered entity receiving a grant under the program may use grant funds for a project, in a territory of the United States—
      • to develop or construct a renewable energy system;
      • to carry out an activity to increase energy efficiency;
      • to develop or construct an energy storage system or device for—
        • (i) a system developed or constructed under subparagraph (A); or
        • (ii) an activity carried out under subparagraph (B);
      • to develop or construct—
        • (i) a smart grid; or
        • (ii) a microgrid; or
      • to train residents of the territory of the United States to develop, construct, maintain, or operate a renewable energy system.
  • (2) Limitation
    • A covered entity receiving a grant under the program may not use grant funds to develop or construct a facility that generates electricity using energy derived from—
      • fossil fuels; or
      • nuclear power.
• (d) Technical assistance
  • The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that Department of Energy national laboratories offer to provide technical assistance to each covered entity carrying out a project assisted with a grant under the program.
• (e) Report
  • Not later than 2 years after the establishment of the program, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing—
    • an estimate of the amount of funds disbursed under the program;
    • an estimate of the energy conservation achieved as a result of the program;
    • a description of challenges encountered in implementing projects described in subsection (c)(1); and
    • recommendations as to additional legislative measures to increase the use of renewable energy in territories of the United States, as appropriate.
• (f) Authorization of appropriations
  • There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 3. GAO study and report

• (a) In general
  • (1) Study and report
    • Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—
      • conduct a study regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency in territories of the United States; and
      • submit to Congress a report containing—
        • (i) the findings of the study; and
        • (ii) related recommendations.
  • (2) Components
    • The study conducted under paragraph (1) shall consider, in relation each territory of the United States, the potential—
      • to modify existing electric power systems to use renewable energy sources;
      • to expand the use of microgrids; and
      • to improve energy resiliency.
• (b) Authorization of appropriations
  • There is authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 to carry out this section.

SEC. 4. Definitions

• In this Act, the following definitions apply:
  • The term covered entity means a not-for-profit organization determined eligible by the Secretary of Agriculture for purposes of this Act.
  • The term has the same meaning as the term under section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (). National Laboratory Department of Energy national laboratories 42 U.S.C. 15801
  • The term microgrid means an electric system—
  • The terms and have the meanings given those terms in section 9001 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (). renewable energy,renewable energy system 7 U.S.C. 8101
  • The term smart grid means an intelligent electric grid that uses digital communications technology, information systems, and automation to, while maintaining high system reliability—
  • The term means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. territory of the United States