Energy Resilient Communities Act
Energy Resilient Communities Act would require the Secretary of Energy to run a Clean Energy Microgrid Grant Program. The program provides grants to eligible entities (states, local governments, electric utilities, nonprofits, and certain partnerships) to fund technical assistance, community outreach, and the design, development, and construction of clean energy microgrids. The focus is on improving energy resilience and security of critical community infrastructure and medical baseline housing, with strong emphasis on environmental justice communities and community ownership. The bill also establishes labor, local procurement, domestic content, wage, reporting, and funding rules intended to promote local jobs, fair wages, and accountability, while prioritizing projects that maximize emissions reductions, reduce health disparities, and minimize land-use impact. The act would authorize sizable federal funding for 2025–2034, set grant caps (up to $10 million per microgrid project), require federal cost shares (higher for environmental justice projects), mandate prevailing-wage requirements, and impose a robust reporting and evaluation framework to track jobs, emissions reductions, health benefits, and energy-cost relief. It also defines key terms (such as “microgrid,” “environmental justice community,” and “community-owned energy system”) to guide program implementation.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a DOE Clean Energy Microgrid Grant Program to fund eligible entities for technical assistance, community outreach, and the construction of clean energy microgrids that serve critical community infrastructure or medical baseline housing.
- 2Prioritization criteria emphasize environmental justice (EJ) communities, community-owned energy systems, largest potential reductions in greenhouse gases and air pollutants, greatest reduction in energy cost burdens, resiliency benefits, and land-use efficiency (e.g., rooftop, brownfield, and compatible land siting; avoiding protected lands).
- 3Financing and cost-sharing rules: federal share generally up to 60% of project costs (and up to 90% for activities or projects in EJ communities), with a per-project grant cap of 10 million dollars. At least 10% of the B category funding should go to community-owned microgrid projects.
- 4Labor and procurement requirements: prevailing wages must be paid for construction activities; for microgrid construction, a minimum of 40% of labor for subgrantees and their subgrantees must come from targeted groups (e.g., local residents, energy workers, veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, people with disabilities, those in EJ communities, and certain apprentices).
- 5Domestic sourcing and oversight: all iron, steel, and manufactured goods used must be produced in the United States unless waived for public interest, supply, or cost reasons; waivers require public posting and a 15-day public comment window. Annual reporting to Congress and public DOE website with details on grants, projects, and outcomes.