Renewable energy grant program

(a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a renewable energy program (in this section referred to as the program) under which the Secretary may award grants to covered entities to facilitate projects, in territories of the United States, described in subsection (c). (b) Applications To be eligible for a grant under the program, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Grant uses (1) In general A covered entity receiving a grant under the program may use grant funds for a project, in a territory of the United States— (A) to develop or construct a renewable energy system; (B) to carry out an activity to increase energy efficiency; (C) to develop or construct an energy storage system or device for— (i) a system developed or constructed under subparagraph (A); or (ii) an activity carried out under subparagraph (B); (D) to develop or construct— (i) a smart grid; or (ii) a microgrid; or (E) to train residents of the territory of the United States to develop, construct, maintain, or operate a renewable energy system. (2) Limitation A covered entity receiving a grant under the program may not use grant funds to develop or construct a facility that generates electricity using energy derived from— (A) fossil fuels; or (B) nuclear power. (d) Technical assistance The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that Department of Energy national laboratories offer to provide technical assistance to each covered entity carrying out a project assisted with a grant under the program. (e) Report Not later than 2 years after the establishment of the program, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing— (1) an estimate of the amount of funds disbursed under the program; (2) an estimate of the energy conservation achieved as a result of the program; (3) a description of challenges encountered in implementing projects described in subsection (c)(1); and (4) recommendations as to additional legislative measures to increase the use of renewable energy in territories of the United States, as appropriate. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.