Grants for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy improvements at public school facilities

In this section: The term “alternative fueled vehicle” has the meaning given the term in section 13211 of this title. The term “alternative fueled vehicle infrastructure” means infrastructure used to charge or fuel an alternative fueled vehicle. The term “eligible entity” means a consortium of— 1 or more— The term “energy improvement” means— any improvement, repair, or renovation to, or installation in, a school that— the installation of alternative fueled vehicle infrastructure on school grounds for— The term “high school” has the meaning given the term in section 7801 of title 20. The term “local educational agency” has the meaning given the term in section 7801 of title 20. The term “nonprofit organization” means— The term “partnering local educational agency”, with respect to an eligible entity, means the local educational agency participating in the consortium of the eligible entity. The Secretary shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to make energy improvements in accordance with this section. An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include each of the following: In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity— In the case of students in a high school, the percentage of students eligible for a free or reduced price lunch described in paragraph (1)(B)(i) shall be calculated using data from the schools that feed into the high school. The competitive criteria used by the Secretary to award grants under this section shall include the following: The extent of the disparity between the fiscal capacity of the eligible entity to carry out energy improvements at school facilities and the needs of the partnering local educational agency for those energy improvements, including consideration of— Except as provided in this subsection, an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant amounts only to make the energy improvements described in the application submitted by the eligible entity under subsection (c). An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use not more than 5 percent of the grant amounts for operation and maintenance training for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements, such as maintenance staff and teacher training, education, and preventative maintenance training. An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use a portion of the grant amounts for a third-party investigation and analysis of the energy improvements carried out by the eligible entity, such as energy audits and existing building commissioning. An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use not more than 3 percent of the grant amounts to develop a continuing education curriculum relating to energy improvements. If an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section uses grant funds to carry out repair or renovation through a contract, the eligible entity shall be required to ensure that the contract process— The Secretary shall develop and publish guidelines and best practices for activities carried out under this section. An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary, at such time as the Secretary may require, a report describing— the use of performance tracking for energy improvements, such as— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $500,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.