§18742 Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program

Summary

Creates a grant program to help small manufacturers build or upgrade plants that make or recycle clean energy equipment or cut industrial greenhouse gas emissions. Key terms: "advanced energy property" covers things like solar, wind, geothermal, fuel cells, batteries, grid upgrades, carbon capture, low‑carbon fuels, efficiency tech, and electric or fuel cell vehicles and their chargers; "covered census tract" means a place where a coal mine closed after 1999, a coal power unit retired after 2009, or a tract next to one of those; "eligible entity" means a manufacturing firm with under $100,000,000 in yearly sales, fewer than 500 workers at the plant site, and energy bills more than $100,000 but less than $2,500,000; "minority‑owned" means at least 51% owned by U.S. citizens from specified minority groups; "qualifying advanced energy project" means retooling, expanding, or starting a manufacturing or recycling facility for advanced energy items, or adding industrial equipment that sharply cuts emissions, that is commercially viable and located in a covered census tract. The Secretary must set up the program within 180 days after November 15, 2021, and give grants to eligible entities that apply. Projects that cut more greenhouse gases, create more domestic and local jobs (especially in low‑income areas and for displaced coal workers), show stronger innovation or faster commercial use, cost less per unit of energy or emissions reduced, or finish sooner will get higher priority. Minority‑owned firms get extra priority. Grant money must be used within 3 years or returned, and funds must be returned if the project is done at a different location than approved. The Secretary will offer selective technical help, publish who gets grants and how much, and report to Congress within 4 years after November 15, 2021. Up to $750,000,000 is authorized for fiscal years 2022 through 2026.