Senate File 296 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY HOGG Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act establishing a local government energy innovation 2 competitive grant program, and making an appropriation. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2600SS 82 5 rn/gg/14 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 473.21 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENERGY 1 2 INNOVATION COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM == FUND. 1 3 1. The Iowa energy center created under section 266.39C 1 4 shall establish and administer a local government energy 1 5 innovation competitive grant program. The objective of the 1 6 grant program shall be to assist political subdivisions of the 1 7 state in the development and implementation of innovative 1 8 transportation, conservation, or energy efficiency programs 1 9 involving the utilization of alternative or renewable energy 1 10 generation sources; ethanol, biodiesel, and other alternative 1 11 fuels; and energy efficient building construction and 1 12 rehabilitation standards. For purposes of this section, 1 13 "political subdivision" means any municipality, township, 1 14 county, district, or authority, or any portion, or combination 1 15 of two or more, thereof. 1 16 2. A local government energy innovation competitive grant 1 17 fund is created in the office of the treasurer of state to be 1 18 administered by the Iowa energy center. The fund shall 1 19 include moneys appropriated or otherwise directed to the fund. 1 20 Section 8.33 shall not apply to the moneys in the fund. 1 21 3. A political subdivision may apply to the Iowa energy 1 22 center for a grant under this section by filing a completed 1 23 application as directed by the Iowa energy center that 1 24 includes plans for utilization of the funding received and an 1 25 estimate of the energy efficiency savings to be achieved. The 1 26 Iowa energy center shall develop grant approval criteria by 1 27 rule. The criteria shall include the following: 1 28 a. Projected reduction in energy usage. 1 29 b. Projected energy savings. 1 30 c. Availability of private and local matching funds. 1 31 d. Additional social or environmental benefits to be 1 32 derived through implementation of energy efficiency or 1 33 reduction measures. 1 34 e. Whether the program can be duplicated by other 1 35 political subdivisions. 2 1 4. Grant recipients shall be required to submit a report 2 2 to the Iowa energy center regarding utilization of the funding 2 3 received and the impact and results of the program developed 2 4 and implemented within one year from a grant award. 2 5 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 473.22 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENERGY 2 6 INNOVATION COMPETITIVE GRANTS == APPROPRIATION. 2 7 There is annually appropriated from the general fund of the 2 8 state to the local government energy innovation competitive 2 9 grant fund the sum of one million dollars to be used for the 2 10 local government energy innovation competitive grant program 2 11 established in section 473.21. The Iowa energy center may 2 12 retain up to two percent of the annual appropriation for costs 2 13 of administering the program. 2 14 EXPLANATION 2 15 This bill establishes a local government energy innovation 2 16 competitive grant program to be administered by the Iowa 2 17 energy center created under Code section 266.39C. The purpose 2 18 of the program shall be to assist political subdivisions of 2 19 the state in the development and implementation of innovative 2 20 transportation, conservation, or energy efficiency programs 2 21 involving the utilization of alternative or renewable energy 2 22 generation sources; ethanol, biodiesel, and other alternative 2 23 fuels; and energy efficient building construction and 2 24 rehabilitation standards. The bill defines a "political 2 25 subdivision" as any municipality, township, county, district, 2 26 or authority, or any portion, or combination of two or more, 2 27 thereof. 2 28 The bill provides that applicants shall provide information 2 29 including plans for utilization of the funding received and an 2 30 estimate of the energy efficiency savings to be achieved. 2 31 Grant approval criteria, to be developed by the Iowa energy 2 32 center by rule, shall include projected reduction in energy 2 33 usage or savings, availability of matching funds, anticipated 2 34 additional social or environmental benefits, and whether the 2 35 program can be duplicated by other political subdivisions. 3 1 The bill requires grant recipients to submit a report to the 3 2 Iowa energy center regarding utilization of the funding 3 3 received and the impact and results of the program within one 3 4 year from a grant award. 3 5 The bill appropriates $1 million annually for purposes of 3 6 the program, and provides that the Iowa energy center shall be 3 7 authorized to retain up to 2 percent of the appropriation for 3 8 costs of administering the program. 3 9 LSB 2600SS 82 3 10 rn:nh/gg/14