§918c Rural and Remote Communities Electrification Grants

Summary

Gives grants to certain rural public groups to improve energy systems or build/upgrade power plants. The Energy Secretary, after talking with the Agriculture and Interior Secretaries, can award money only if the projects are cost-effective and the best use of funds. Each year the money must be split evenly between improving energy efficiency or transmission lines and providing or modernizing electric generation. When funding generation, projects using renewable energy are favored. Eligible grantee: local governments, municipalities, peoples’ utility districts, irrigation districts, and cooperative, nonprofit, or limited-dividend associations in rural areas. Incremental hydropower: extra electricity gained by efficiency improvements after January 1, 2005, at dams put in service before that date. Renewable energy: electricity from renewable sources or hydrogen made from renewable sources (not from fossil fuels). Renewable energy sources: wind, ocean waves, biomass, solar, landfill gas, incremental hydropower, livestock methane, and geothermal. Rural area: a place with no more than 10,000 people. Funding authorized: $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2012.