Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§6371h–1 Energy Sustainability and Efficiency Grants and Loans for Institutions
Title 42 › CHAPTER 77 — ENERGY CONSERVATION › SUBCHAPTER III — IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY › Part E — Energy Conservation Program for Schools and Hospitals › § 6371h–1
Summary
Provides grants, loans, and help to colleges, public school districts, local governments, municipal utilities, or their designees so they can plan, build, or test energy projects that use renewable sources, waste heat, natural water heating/cooling, or very efficient technology. Key terms: combined heat and power — makes electricity and heat together and is at least 60% efficient (higher‑heating‑value); district energy systems — share heating/cooling among more than one building; energy sustainability — using renewable/thermal/very efficient tech for power, heat, transport, or lighting; sustainable energy infrastructure — production facilities and district energy systems. If money is available, the federal energy office will give technical help and small grants to pay for feasibility studies, overcoming project barriers, and detailed engineering. The help covers finding projects, technical and economic info, utility interconnection, contracts, financing options, permits, case studies, and design software. The program gives three types of grants: efficiency and sustainability projects, innovation projects, and technical assistance. At least 50% of funding for efficiency grants must go to colleges. If applications are sent, each State should get at least one college grant yearly for efficiency and at least two college grants yearly for innovation. Innovation grants must test new or new uses of technology and include active student work when done by a college. At least half of college grant money each year must go to schools with endowments of $100,000,000 or less, and half of that must go to schools with $50,000,000 or less if they apply. Grant limits: technical help grants up to the lesser of stated dollar caps or specified percent of cost ($50,000 or 75% for feasibility; $90,000 or 60% for barrier work; $250,000 or 40% for engineering). Efficiency grants up to the lesser of $1,000,000 or 60% of cost. Innovation grants up to the lesser of $500,000 or 75% of cost. Loans are also available if funded, with final maturity at the lesser of 20 years or 90% of the asset’s useful life, interest tied to Treasury yields (minimum equals the benchmark, updated quarterly), no subordination, and terms set by the Secretary who must check repayment risk. Construction work must meet prevailing wage rules. Procedures had to be set within 180 days after December 19, 2007. Congress authorized $250,000,000 per year for grants and $500,000,000 per year for initial loan costs for fiscal years 2009–2013, with up to 5% of each allowed for administration.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §6371h–1
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Definitions
In this section: (1) Combined heat and power
(2)District energy systems
The term “district energy systems” means systems providing thermal energy from a renewable energy source, thermal energy source, or highly efficient technology to more than 1 building or fixed energy-consuming use from 1 or more thermal-energy production facilities through pipes or other means to provide space heating, space conditioning, hot water, steam, compression, process energy, or other end uses for that energy.
(3)Energy sustainability
The term “energy sustainability” includes using a renewable energy source, thermal energy source, or a highly efficient technology for transportation, electricity generation, heating, cooling, lighting, or other energy services in fixed installations.
(4)Institution of higher education
The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 15801 of this title.
(5)Institutional entity
The term “institutional entity” means an institution of higher education, a public school district, a local government, a municipal utility, or a designee of 1 of those entities.
(6)Renewable energy source
The term “renewable energy source” has the meaning given the term in section 918c of title 7.
(7)Sustainable energy infrastructure
The term “sustainable energy infrastructure” means—
(A)facilities for production of energy from renewable energy sources, thermal energy sources, or highly efficient technologies, including combined heat and power or other waste heat use; and
(B)district energy systems.
(8)Thermal energy source
The term “thermal energy source” means—
(A)a natural source of cooling or heating from lake or ocean water; and
(B)recovery of useful energy that would otherwise be wasted from ongoing energy uses.
(b)Technical assistance grants
(1)In general
Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Secretary shall implement a program of information dissemination and technical assistance to institutional entities to assist the institutional entities in identifying, evaluating, designing, and implementing sustainable energy infrastructure projects in energy sustainability.
(2)Assistance
The Secretary shall support institutional entities in— (A)
(B)understanding the technical and economic characteristics of sustainable energy infrastructure;
(C)utility interconnection and negotiation of power and fuel contracts;
(D)understanding financing alternatives;
(E)permitting and siting issues;
(F)obtaining case studies of similar and successful sustainable energy infrastructure systems; and
(G)reviewing and obtaining computer software for assessment, design, and operation and maintenance of sustainable energy infrastructure systems.
(3)Eligible costs for technical assistance grants
On receipt of an application of an institutional entity, the Secretary may make grants to the institutional entity to fund a portion of the cost of— (A)
(B)analysis and implementation of strategies to overcome barriers to project implementation, including financial, contracting, siting, and permitting barriers; and
(C)detailed engineering of sustainable energy infrastructure.
(c)Grants for energy efficiency improvement and energy sustainability
(1)Grants
(A)In general
The Secretary shall award grants to institutional entities to carry out projects to improve energy efficiency on the grounds and facilities of the institutional entity.
(B)Requirement
To the extent that applications have been submitted, grants under subparagraph (A) shall include not less than 1 grant each year to an institution of higher education in each State.
(C)Minimum funding
Not less than 50 percent of the total funding for all grants under this subsection shall be awarded in grants to institutions of higher education.
(2)Criteria
Evaluation of projects for grant funding shall be based on criteria established by the Secretary, including criteria relating to—
(A)improvement in energy efficiency;
(B)reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other air emissions, including criteria air pollutants and ozone-depleting refrigerants;
(C)increased use of renewable energy sources or thermal energy sources;
(D)reduction in consumption of fossil fuels;
(E)active student participation; and
(F)need for funding assistance.
(3)Condition
As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, an institutional entity shall agree—
(A)to implement a public awareness campaign concerning the project in the community in which the institutional entity is located; and
(B)to submit to the Secretary, and make available to the public, reports on any efficiency improvements, energy cost savings, and environmental benefits achieved as part of a project carried out under paragraph (1), including quantification of the results relative to the criteria described under paragraph (2).
(d)Grants for innovation in energy sustainability
(1)Grants
(A)In general
The Secretary shall award grants to institutional entities to engage in innovative energy sustainability projects.
(B)Requirement
To the extent that applications have been submitted, grants under subparagraph (A) shall include not less than 2 grants each year to institutions of higher education in each State.
(C)Minimum funding
Not less than 50 percent of the total funding for all grants under this subsection shall be awarded in grants to institutions of higher education.
(2)Innovation projects
An innovation project carried out with a grant under this subsection shall—
(A)involve—
(i)an innovative technology that is not yet commercially available; or
(ii)available technology in an innovative application that maximizes energy efficiency and sustainability;
(B)have the greatest potential for testing or demonstrating new technologies or processes; and
(C)to the extent undertaken by an institution of higher education, ensure active student participation in the project, including the planning, implementation, evaluation, and other phases of projects.
(3)Condition
As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, an institutional entity shall agree to submit to the Secretary, and make available to the public, reports that describe the results of the projects carried out using grant funds.
(e)Allocation to institutions of higher education with small endowments
(1)In general
Of the total amount of grants provided to institutions of higher education for a fiscal year under this section, the Secretary shall provide not less than 50 percent of the amount to institutions of higher education that have an endowment of not more than $100,000,000.
(2)Requirement
To the extent that applications have been submitted, at least 50 percent of the amount described in paragraph (1) shall be provided to institutions of higher education that have an endowment of not more than $50,000,000.
(f)Grant amounts
(1)In general
If the Secretary determines that cost sharing is appropriate, the amounts of grants provided under this section shall be limited as provided in this subsection.
(2)Technical assistance grants
In the case of grants for technical assistance under subsection (b), grant funds shall be available for not more than—
(A)an amount equal to the lesser of—
(i)$50,000; or
(ii)75 percent of the cost of feasibility studies to assess the potential for implementation or improvement of sustainable energy infrastructure;
(B)an amount equal to the lesser of—
(i)$90,000; or
(ii)60 percent of the cost of guidance on overcoming barriers to project implementation, including financial, contracting, siting, and permitting barriers; and
(C)an amount equal to the lesser of—
(i)$250,000; or
(ii)40 percent of the cost of detailed engineering and design of sustainable energy infrastructure.
(3)Grants for efficiency improvement and energy sustainability
In the case of grants for efficiency improvement and energy sustainability under subsection (c), grant funds shall be available for not more than an amount equal to the lesser of— (A)
(B)60 percent of the total cost.
(4)Grants for innovation in energy sustainability
In the case of grants for innovation in energy sustainability under subsection (d), grant funds shall be available for not more than an amount equal to the lesser of— (A)
(B)75 percent of the total cost.
(g)Loans for energy efficiency improvement and energy sustainability
(1)In general
Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Secretary shall provide loans to institutional entities for the purpose of implementing energy efficiency improvements and sustainable energy infrastructure.
(2)Terms and conditions
(A)In general
Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, loans made under this subsection shall be on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe.
(B)Maturity
The final maturity of loans made within a period shall be the lesser of, as determined by the Secretary—
(i)20 years; or
(ii)90 percent of the useful life of the principal physical asset to be financed by the loan.
(C)Default
No loan made under this subsection may be subordinated to another debt contracted by the institutional entity or to any other claims against the institutional entity in the case of default.
(D)Benchmark interest rate
(i)In general
Loans under this subsection shall be at an interest rate that is set by reference to a benchmark interest rate (yield) on marketable Treasury securities with a similar maturity to the direct loans being made.
(ii)Minimum
The minimum interest rate of loans under this subsection shall be at the interest rate of the benchmark financial instrument.
(iii)New loans
The minimum interest rate of new loans shall be adjusted each quarter to take account of changes in the interest rate of the benchmark financial instrument.
(E)Credit risk
The Secretary shall—
(i)prescribe explicit standards for use in periodically assessing the credit risk of making direct loans under this subsection; and
(ii)find that there is a reasonable assurance of repayment before making a loan.
(F)Advance budget authority required
New direct loans may not be obligated under this subsection except to the extent that appropriations of budget authority to cover the costs of the new direct loans are made in advance, as required by section 661c of title 2.
(3)Criteria
Evaluation of projects for potential loan funding shall be based on criteria established by the Secretary, including criteria relating to—
(A)improvement in energy efficiency;
(B)reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other air emissions, including criteria air pollutants and ozone-depleting refrigerants;
(C)increased use of renewable electric energy sources or renewable thermal energy sources;
(D)reduction in consumption of fossil fuels; and
(E)need for funding assistance, including consideration of the size of endowment or other financial resources available to the institutional entity.
(4)Labor standards
(A)In general
All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the performance of construction, repair, or alteration work funded in whole or in part under this section shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with sections 3141 through 3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40. The Secretary shall not approve any such funding without first obtaining adequate assurance that required labor standards will be maintained upon the construction work.
(B)Authority and functions
The Secretary of Labor shall have, with respect to the labor standards specified in paragraph (1), the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Number 14 of 1950 (15 Fed. Reg. 3176; 64 Stat. 1267) and section 3145 of title 40.
(h)Program procedures
Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2007, the Secretary shall establish procedures for the solicitation and evaluation of potential projects for grant and loan funding and administration of the grant and loan programs.
(i)Authorization
(1)Grants
There is authorized to be appropriated for the cost of grants authorized in subsections (b), (c), and (d) $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013, of which not more than 5 percent may be used for administrative expenses.
(2)Loans
There is authorized to be appropriated for the initial cost of direct loans authorized in subsection (g) $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013, of which not more than 5 percent may be used for administrative expenses.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Reorganization Plan Number 14 of 1950, referred to in subsec. (g)(4)(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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 6371h–1
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110