Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§918a Energy Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Facilities Efficiency Grants and Loans in Rural Communities with Extremely High Energy Costs

Title 7 › CHAPTER 31 — RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TELEPHONE SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER I — RURAL ELECTRIFICATION › § 918a

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Give grants and loans to people, states, local governments, and other state-chartered groups to build, fix, or improve power plants, lines, and delivery systems for rural areas where average home energy costs are at least 275 percent of the U.S. average, using the Energy Information Agency’s latest data. The Secretary, through the Rural Utilities Service, can also give grants and loans to the Denali Commission (set up by the Denali Commission Act of 1998) and grants to state entities that existed on November 9, 2000 to start a revolving fund to buy fuel when it cannot be shipped by surface transport. Congress allowed $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and as much as needed after that, and no more than 4 percent of those funds can pay for planning and administration.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §918a

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
The Secretary, acting through the Rural Utilities Service, may—
(1)in coordination with State rural development initiatives, make grants and loans to persons, States, political subdivisions of States, and other entities organized under the laws of States to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving communities in which the average residential expenditure for home energy is at least 275 percent of the national average residential expenditure for home energy (as determined by the Energy Information Agency using the most recent data available);
(2)make grants and loans to the Denali Commission established by the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105–277) to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving communities described in paragraph (1); and
(3)make grants to State entities, in existence as of November 9, 2000, to establish and support a revolving fund to provide a more cost-effective means of purchasing fuel where the fuel cannot be shipped by means of surface transportation.
(b)Authorization of appropriations
(1)In general
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and such sums as are necessary for each subsequent fiscal year.
(2)Limitation on planning and administrative expenses
Not more than 4 percent of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) may be used for planning and administrative expenses.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Denali Commission Act of 1998, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is title III of div. C of Pub. L. 105–277, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–637, which is set out as a note under section 3121 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 918a

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110