§17282 — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary must give grants to pay for renewable energy projects. An eligible applicant can be a government body, any kind of utility (private, public, municipal, or cooperative), an Indian tribe, or a Regional Corporation. The Secretary had to set rules for grant awards no later than 180 days after December 19, 2007. To get a grant, an applicant must apply when and how the Secretary requires and promise that construction workers will be paid at least the local prevailing wages as set by the Secretary of Labor, and that the Secretary of Labor will enforce those wage rules. Any project that gets a grant must have at least 50 percent of its cost paid by the applicant. Money as needed may be made available to carry out this program. Definitions: Alaska small hydroelectric power = power made in Alaska without a dam, using a lake tap (not a perched alpine lake) or a screened run-of-river, and 15 megawatts or less; ocean energy = current, wave, and tidal power (not thermal); renewable energy project = a commercial electricity project using solar, wind, geothermal, ocean energy, biomass, landfill gas, or Alaska small hydro.

Title 42, §17282

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section:

(1)The term “Alaska small hydroelectric power” means power that—

(A)is generated—

(i)in the State of Alaska;

(ii)without the use of a dam or impoundment of water; and

(iii)through the use of—

(I)a lake tap (but not a perched alpine lake); or

(II)a run-of-river screened at the point of diversion; and

(B)has a nameplate capacity rating of a wattage that is not more than 15 megawatts.

(2)The term “eligible applicant” means any—

(A)governmental entity;

(B)private utility;

(C)public utility;

(D)municipal utility;

(E)cooperative utility;

(F)Indian tribes; and

(G)Regional Corporation (as defined in section 1602 of title 43).

(3)(A)The term “ocean energy” includes current, wave, and tidal energy.

(B)The term “ocean energy” excludes thermal energy.

(4)The term “renewable energy project” means a project—

(A)for the commercial generation of electricity; and

(B)that generates electricity from—

(i)solar, wind, or geothermal energy or ocean energy;

(ii)biomass (as defined in section 15852(b) of this title);

(iii)landfill gas; or

(iv)Alaska small hydroelectric power.

(b)(1)The Secretary shall use amounts appropriated under this section to make grants for use in carrying out renewable energy projects.

(2)Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2007, the Secretary shall set forth criteria for use in awarding grants under this section.

(3)To receive a grant from the Secretary under paragraph (1), an eligible applicant shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a written assurance that—

(A)all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors during construction, alteration, or repair that is financed, in whole or in part, by a grant under this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality, as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with section 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40; and

(B)the Secretary of Labor shall, with respect to the labor standards described in this paragraph, have the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of title 40.

(4)Each eligible applicant that receives a grant under this subsection shall contribute to the total cost of the renewable energy project constructed by the eligible applicant an amount not less than 50 percent of the total cost of the project.

(c)There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(B), is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.

§17282 Renewable Energy Deployment