S.Amdt. 3111

SA 3111. Mr. FRANKEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 2953 proposed by Ms. Murkowski to the bill S. 2012, to
provide for the modernization of the energy policy of the United
States, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table;
as follows:

In section 2301, strike subsection (c) and insert the
following:
(c) Technical Assistance and Grant Program.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability, shall establish a technical assistance and grant
program (referred to in this subsection as the ``program'')--
(i) to disseminate information and provide technical
assistance directly to eligible entities so the eligible
entities can identify, evaluate, plan, and design energy
storage systems; and
(ii) to make grants to eligible entities so that the
eligible entities may contract to obtain technical assistance
to identify, evaluate, plan, and design energy storage
systems.
(B) Technical assistance.--The technical assistance
described in subparagraph (A) shall include assistance with 1
or more of the following activities relating to energy
storage systems:
(i) Identification of opportunities to use energy storage
systems.
(ii) Assessment of technical and economic characteristics.
(iii) Utility interconnection.
(iv) Permitting and siting issues.
(v) Business planning and financial analysis.
(vi) Engineering design.
(C) Information dissemination.--The information
disseminated under subparagraph (A)(i) shall include--
(i) information relating to the topics described in
subparagraph (B), including case studies of successful
examples;
(ii) computer software for assessment, design, and
operation and maintenance of energy storage systems; and
(iii) public databases that track the operation and
deployment of existing and planned energy storage systems.
(2) Eligibility.--Any nonprofit or for-profit entity shall
be eligible to receive technical assistance and grants under
the program.
(3) Applications.--
(A) In general.--An eligible entity desiring technical
assistance or grants under the program shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(B) Application process.--The Secretary shall seek
applications for technical assistance and grants under the
program--
(i) on a competitive basis; and
(ii) on a periodic basis, but not less frequently than once
every 12 months.
(C) Priorities.--In selecting eligible entities for
technical assistance and grants under the program, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities with
projects that have the greatest potential for--
(i) facilitating the use of renewable energy resources;
(ii) strengthening the reliability and resiliency of energy
infrastructure to the impact of extreme weather events, power
grid failures, and interruptions in supply of fossil fuels;
(iii) improving the feasibility of microgrids or islanding,
particularly in rural areas, including high energy cost rural
areas;
(iv) minimizing environmental impact, including regulated
air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions; and
(v) maximizing local job creation.
(4) Grants.--On application by an eligible entity, the
Secretary may award grants to the eligible entity to provide
funds to cover not more than--
(A) 100 percent of the costs of the initial assessment to
identify energy storage system opportunities;
(B) 75 percent of the cost of feasibility studies to assess
the potential for the implementation of energy storage
systems;
(C) 60 percent of the cost of guidance on overcoming
barriers to the implementation of energy storage systems,
including financial, contracting, siting, and permitting
issues; and
(D) 45 percent of the cost of detailed engineering of
energy storage systems.
(5) Rules and procedures.--
(A) Rules.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall adopt rules and
procedures for carrying out the program.
(B) Grants.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
issuance of the rules and procedures for the program, the
Secretary shall issue grants under this subsection.
(6) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress and
make available to the public--
(A) not less frequently than once every 2 years, a report
describing the performance of the program under this
subsection; and
(B) on termination of the program under this subsection, an
assessment of the success of, and education provided by, the
measures carried out by eligible entities under the program.
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