Senate File 368 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE (SUCCESSOR TO SF 172) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act directing the office of energy independence to establish a 2 community grant program for energy efficiency projects, and 3 allocating appropriated amounts for purposes of funding the 4 program. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 2290SV 83 7 rn/nh:sc/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 469.10, Code 2009, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 4A. Of the moneys appropriated to the 1 4 office and deposited in the fund, notwithstanding section 1 5 469.9, subsection 4, the board shall utilize four percent of 1 6 the amount appropriated for each fiscal year for purposes of 1 7 awarding grants for energy efficiency projects pursuant to the 1 8 community grant program established in section 469.11. Of the 1 9 moneys allocated pursuant to this section for each fiscal 1 10 year, the office may utilize up to one hundred thousand 1 11 dollars for administrative costs. Moneys allocated to the 1 12 program which remain unawarded at the close of the fiscal year 1 13 may be utilized by the office for any other purpose specified 1 14 in and consistent with this subchapter. 1 15 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 469.11 ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS 1 16 == COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM. 1 17 1. The office shall establish a community grant program 1 18 with the objective of assisting communities and organizations 1 19 to implement projects intended to reduce energy consumption 1 20 and make communities in this state more sustainable and energy 1 21 efficient. 1 22 2. Eligible applicants for the program shall include 1 23 cities, counties, nonprofit organizations, organizations 1 24 involved with energy efficiency or conservation efforts, and 1 25 environmental organizations or groups. Eligibility and 1 26 approval criteria shall be established by the office by rule, 1 27 and shall incorporate the criteria established in section 1 28 473.41, subsection 1, paragraphs "a" through "d", with regard 1 29 to the energy city designation program. To qualify for a 1 30 grant pursuant to the program, an applicant must document the 1 31 ability to provide matching funds of at least fifty percent of 1 32 the total cost of the project, either in cash or in kind. 1 33 3. The office shall establish an application and approval 1 34 process that shall result in the awarding of an approved grant 1 35 within a three=month period following receipt by the office of 2 1 an application. Grants awarded pursuant to the program shall 2 2 range from between one thousand dollars and fifty thousand 2 3 dollars each. 2 4 4. The office shall prepare an annual report summarizing 2 5 the operation of the program, and shall submit the report by 2 6 January 1 each year to the Iowa power fund board. 2 7 EXPLANATION 2 8 This bill directs the office of energy independence to 2 9 establish a community grant program for energy efficiency 2 10 projects. Grant awards pursuant to the program would vary 2 11 between $1,000 and $50,000, and eligibility and approval 2 12 criteria shall be established by the power fund board by rule, 2 13 including criteria specified with reference to the energy city 2 14 designation program in Code section 473.41. The bill provides 2 15 that the office shall utilize 4 percent of the amount annually 2 16 appropriated to the office during the fiscal period beginning 2 17 July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2011, for purposes of 2 18 funding the program. These provisions are set forth in the 2 19 bill notwithstanding Code section 469.9, subsection 4, which 2 20 specifies due diligence activities and documentation 2 21 requirements relating to entities conducting business, 2 22 research, or programs in this state and receiving financial 2 23 assistance from the fund. 2 24 The bill specifies that applicants for the program may 2 25 include cities, counties, nonprofit organizations, 2 26 organizations involved with energy efficiency or conservation 2 27 efforts, and environmental organizations or groups. An 2 28 applicant shall be required to document the ability to provide 2 29 matching funds of at least 50 percent in either cash or kind. 2 30 The bill provides that approved grants shall be awarded within 2 31 three months following submission of an application. 2 32 The office is directed to prepare and submit to the Iowa 2 33 power fund board an annual report summarizing the operation of 2 34 the programs. 2 35 LSB 2290SV 83 3 1 rn/nh:sc/8