S.Amdt. 3193

SA 3193. Mr. BOOKER 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:

At the end of subtitle G of title IV, add the following:

SEC. 46__. COMMUNITY AND SHARED SOLAR PROJECTS PRIZE.

Section 1008 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16396) (as amended by section 4601) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(h) Community and Shared Solar Projects Prize
Competition.--
``(1) Definitions.--
``(A) Community solar.--In this subsection:
``(i) In general.--The term `community solar' means a
jointly owned or third-party owned shared solar photovoltaic
system that allocates electricity to multiple businesses or
households.
``(ii) Exclusions.--The term `community solar' does not
include--

``(I) a financing mechanism in which a security holder has
only an economic interest and does not use the energy; or
``(II) a collective purchasing program in which community
members buy separate photovoltaic systems collectively.

``(B) Eligible applicant.--The term `eligible applicant'
means--
``(i) a utility;
``(ii) a private business;
``(iii) a nonprofit organization; or
``(iv) a municipality.
``(2) Authority.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this subsection, as part of the program carried
out under this section, the Secretary shall establish and
award to eligible applicants competitive technology financial
awards or relevant cash prizes for community solar project
designs.
``(3) Requirements.--
``(A) In general.--In awarding prizes under paragraph (2),
the Secretary shall select innovative community solar project
designs that--
``(i) increase access to solar energy;
``(ii) reduce upfront costs for participants;
``(iii) provide the greatest return on investment;
``(iv) can be replicated in other communities;
``(v) improve economies of scale;
``(vi) create local jobs; and
``(vii) provide local benefits through energy
diversification.
``(B) Consideration.--In awarding prizes under paragraph
(2), the Secretary shall select innovative community solar
project designs that consider low- and moderate-income
populations in the requirements described in subparagraph
(A).
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection
such sums as are necessary.''.
______