Renewable Energy for U.S. Territories Act

The Renewable Energy for U.S. Territories Act would create a new program within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund renewable energy projects in U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands). The Secretary of Agriculture would have to establish this program within 180 days of enactment and could award grants to eligible not-for-profit organizations (referred to as “covered entities”) to develop renewable energy systems, improve energy efficiency, add energy storage, build smart grids or microgrids, and train local residents to work on these systems. Grants could not be used for fossil fuels or nuclear power. The Department of Energy’s national laboratories would provide technical assistance, and Congress would receive regular reporting on funding, energy savings, challenges, and policy recommendations. The bill also authorizes a separate GAO study on renewable energy and energy efficiency in these territories and provides funding for that study. In short, the bill aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and grid resilience in U.S. territories through a federally funded grant program, technical support from national labs, and ongoing oversight and evaluation.