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
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).
- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a renewable energy
- (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.
- A covered entity receiving a grant under the program may use grant funds for a project, in a territory of the United States—
- (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.
- 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—
- (1) In general
- (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.
- 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—
- (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.
- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—
- (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.
- The study conducted under paragraph (1) shall consider, in relation each territory of the United States, the potential—
- (1) Study and report
- (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 entitymeans 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 LaboratoryDepartment of Energy national laboratories42 U.S.C. 15801 - The term
microgridmeans 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 system7 U.S.C. 8101 - The term
smart gridmeans 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
- The term