Tackling Residential Energy burdens Efficiently Act of 2020 or the TREE Act of 2020
This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a grant program for states, local governments, Indian tribes, and other entities to plant a minimum of 300,000 trees annually in residential neighborhoods throughout the United States.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8291 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8291
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for tree
planting to reduce residential energy consumption.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 17, 2020
Mr. Cleaver (for himself and Mr. McKinley) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for tree
planting to reduce residential energy consumption.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Tackling Residential Energy burdens
Efficiently Act of 2020'' or the ``TREE Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. TREE PLANTING GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible cost.--The term ``eligible cost'' means, with
respect to a project--
(A) the cost of implementing the project,
including--
(i) planning and designing the planting
activity;
(ii) purchasing trees; and
(iii) preparing the site and conducting
planting, including the labor and cost
associated with the use of machinery;
(B) the cost of maintaining and monitoring planted
trees for a period of up to 3 years to ensure
successful establishment of the trees;
(C) the cost of training activities associated with
the project; and
(D) any other relevant cost, as determined by the
Secretary.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State agency;
(B) a local governmental entity;
(C) an Indian Tribe;
(D) a nonprofit organization; and
(E) a retail power provider.
(3) Energy burden.--The term ``energy burden'' means the
percentage of household income spent on home energy bills.
(4) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304).
(5) Local governmental entity.--The term ``local
governmental entity'' means any municipal government or county
government with jurisdiction over local land use decisions.
(6) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit
organization'' means an organization that--
(A) is described in section 170(h)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
(B) operates in accordance with one or more of the
purposes described in section 170(h)(4)(A) of that
Code.
(7) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the grant program
established under subsection (b)(1).
(8) Project.--The term ``project'' means a tree planting
project carried out by an eligible entity using grant funds
awarded under the Program.
(9) Retail power provider.--The term ``retail power
provider'' means any entity authorized under applicable State
or Federal law to generate, distribute, or provide retail
electricity, natural gas, or fuel oil service.
(10) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(b) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the
Forest Service, shall establish a program under which the
Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to conduct
tree planting projects in accordance with this section.
(2) Tree planting.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, in carrying out the Program, the Secretary
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, award sufficient
grants each year to plant not less than 300,000 trees each
year.
(c) Applications.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity that seeks to receive a
grant under the Program shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including the
information described in paragraph (2).
(2) Contents.--An application submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include--
(A) a description of how the project will reduce
residential energy consumption;
(B) an estimate of the expected reduction in
residential energy consumption;
(C) a description of the total eligible costs of
the project and sources of funding for the project;
(D) a description of the anticipated community and
stakeholder engagement in the project;
(E) a description of the tree species to be planted
and how that species is suitable for the local
environmental conditions and climate; and
(F) any other relevant information required by the
Secretary.
(d) Priority.--In awarding grants under the Program, the Secretary
shall give priority to projects that--
(1) provide the largest potential reduction in residential
energy consumption for households with a high energy burden;
(2) are located in a neighborhood with lower tree canopy
cover and higher maximum daytime summer temperatures;
(3) are located in a neighborhood with high amounts of
senior citizens or children;
(4) will collaboratively engage neighbors and community
members that will be closely affected by the tree planting; and
(5) will employ a substantial percentage of the workforce
locally, with a focus on engaging unemployed and underemployed
persons.
(e) Costs.--
(1) Federal share.--The Secretary shall award a grant to an
eligible entity under the Program in an amount equal to not
more than 75 percent of the eligible costs of the project, as
determined by the Secretary.
(2) Matching requirement.--As a condition of receiving a
grant under the Program, an eligible entity shall provide, in
cash or through in-kind contributions from non-Federal sources,
matching funds in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent
of the eligible costs of the project, as determined by the
Secretary.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the Program $50,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2021 through 2025.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line