Grants to facilitate the siting of interstate electricity transmission lines

In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2022, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $760,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2029, for making grants in accordance with this section and for administrative expenses associated with carrying out this section. The Secretary may make a grant under this section to a siting authority for, with respect to a covered transmission project, any of the following activities: The Secretary may make a grant under this section to a siting authority, or other State, local, or Tribal governmental entity, for economic development activities for communities that may be affected by the construction and operation of a covered transmission project, provided that the Secretary shall not enter into any grant agreement pursuant to this section that could result in any outlays after September 30, 2031. In order to receive a grant for an activity described in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall require a siting authority to agree, in writing, to reach a final decision on the application relating to the siting or permitting of the applicable covered transmission project not later than 2 years after the date on which such grant is provided, unless the Secretary authorizes an extension for good cause. The Federal share of the cost of an activity described in subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (b)(1) shall not exceed 50 percent. The Secretary may only disburse grant funds for economic development activities under subsection (b)(2)— If a siting authority that receives a grant for an activity described in subsection (b)(1) fails to use all grant funds within 2 years of receipt, the siting authority shall return to the Secretary any such unused funds. In this section: The term “covered transmission project” means a high-voltage interstate or offshore electricity transmission line— that is proposed to be constructed and to operate— The term “siting authority” means a State, local, or Tribal governmental entity with authority to make a final determination regarding the siting, permitting, or regulatory status of a covered transmission project that is proposed to be located in an area under the jurisdiction of the entity.