Bill > HR1449

This bill establishes a comprehensive Clean Energy Microgrid Grant Program administered by the Secretary of Energy to improve energy resilience and security in communities, with a particular focus on environmental justice communities. The program will provide grants to eligible entities (including state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and utility companies) to obtain technical assistance, conduct community outreach, and develop clean energy microgrids that support critical community infrastructure. Grants can be used to upgrade building codes for climate change resilience, develop hazard mitigation plans, assess microgrid project needs, and construct microgrids for critical infrastructure or medical baseline customers. The bill prioritizes projects that will benefit environmental justice communities, reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, minimize land use impacts, and involve local small businesses and nonprofits. The program includes educational outreach, ensures prevailing wages for workers, and requires hiring preferences for specific groups like unemployed energy workers, veterans, and community members. The federal government will cover up to 60% of project costs, or 90% for environmental justice communities, with individual grants capped at $10 million. The bill authorizes $50 million annually for technical assistance and $1.5 billion for microgrid project grants from 2025 to 2034, with at least 10% dedicated to community-owned energy systems.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1449/all-info