§6371c State plans

Summary

The Secretary must ask each State energy agency to send a State plan within 90 days after the guidelines under section 6371a take effect, or later if the Secretary allows for good cause. The plan must show results of the preliminary energy audits and estimated energy savings. It must recommend types of energy projects and give yearly cost estimates. It must say how the State will find qualified people to do the work. It must include fair rules for sharing funds among eligible applicants based on need, cost, energy use and savings, and must treat public and nonprofit institutions of all sizes fairly. The plan must say how the State will encourage solar heating, cooling, and water heating where appropriate. It must include steps to make sure funds follow the approved plan and law, require energy-saving maintenance and operating practices for proposed projects, and ensure federal money adds to, not replaces, State, local, or other funds. The Secretary must approve or disapprove each plan within 60 days of receiving it. If a plan sent within the 90-day period is not disapproved within 60 days after receipt, it is treated as approved. A State may submit a new or changed plan later with the Secretary’s consent. If a State has no approved plan within 2 years and 90 days after November 9, 1978, or within 90 days after the preliminary audits finish (whichever is later), the Secretary may create and implement a plan and run the program in that State. If the State later sends an acceptable plan that does not conflict with the Secretary’s plan, the Secretary must approve it and stop using the plan the Secretary made.