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