119-hr5424

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5424 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 5424

 To support communities that host transmission lines and to promote 
 conservation and recreation, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 September 17, 2025

 Mr. Casten introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To support communities that host transmission lines and to promote 
 conservation and recreation, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Energizing Our Communities Act''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRANSMISSION FUND.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Covered loan.--The term ``covered loan'' means any of 
 the following issued after the date of enactment of this Act:
        (A) A loan issued under 

section 40106

    (e)

    (1)
        (B) of 
 the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (42 U.S.C. 
 18713

    (e)

    (1)
        (B) ).
        (B) A loan made for an eligible project described 
 in paragraph

    (2)
        (B) under the Transmission 
 Infrastructure Program of the Western Area Power 
 Administration.
            (C) Any other loan made under a Department of 
 Energy loan program identified in the report required 
 under subsection

    (f)

    (1) with respect to electric power 
 transmission lines that are capable of transmitting 999 
 megawatts or more.

    (2) Eligible project.--The term ``eligible project'' 
 means--
        (A) an eligible project (as defined in 

section 40106

    (a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 
 (42 U.S.C. 18713

    (a) )) that is carried out using a 
 covered loan described in paragraph

    (1)
        (A) ;
        (B) a project for the purpose of constructing, 
 financing, facilitating, planning, operating, or 
 maintaining, or studying the construction of, new or 
 upgraded electric power transmission lines and related 
 facilities with at least 1 terminus within the service 
 territory of the Western Area Power Administration that 
 is carried out using a covered loan described in 
 paragraph

    (1)
        (B) ; or
            (C) a project with respect to electric power 
 transmission lines capable of transmitting 999 
 megawatts or more that is carried out using a covered 
 loan described in paragraph

    (1)
            (C) .

    (3) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Community Economic 
 Development Transmission Fund established under subsection

    (b) .

    (4) Host community.--The term ``host community'' means--
        (A) a local government, such as a municipality, 
 town, or county, with jurisdiction over any land on 
 which an eligible project is or will be carried out; or
        (B) an Indian Tribe with jurisdiction over any land 
 on which an eligible project is or will be carried out.

    (5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
 meaning given the term in 

section 4 of the Indian Self-
 Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

    (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Energy.

    (b) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury a fund, to 
be known as the ``Community Economic Development Transmission Fund''--

    (1) consisting of such amounts as may be deposited in the 
 Fund pursuant to subsection
            (c) ; and

    (2) that shall be managed and administered by the Secretary 
 to make payments, in accordance with this section, to host 
 communities.
            (c) Deposits in the Fund.--

    (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
 law, a portion, determined in accordance with paragraph

    (2) , of 
 the interest charged and collected with respect to a covered 
 loan each fiscal year shall be deposited in the Fund to carry 
 out the provisions of this Act.

    (2) Determination of portion.--The Secretary, in 
 consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall 
 determine the portion of interest charged and collected each 
 fiscal year that shall be deposited in the Fund under this 
 subsection.
            (d) Expenditures From the Fund.--

    (1) Availability of amounts.--Amounts in the Fund shall be 
 available, as provided in appropriation Acts, for making 
 payments as described in subsection

    (b)

    (2) .

    (2) Payments.--
        (A) In general.--The Secretary shall make a payment 
 to a host community under this section not later than 
 18 months after construction of the applicable eligible 
 project commences.
        (B) Single sum.--For any 1 eligible project, the 
 Secretary may make not more than 1 payment under this 
 section to each host community eligible to receive a 
 payment relating to that eligible project.

    (3) Eligibility.--A host community shall be eligible to 
 receive a payment under this section if the host community--
        (A) submits a request to the Secretary not later 
 than 1 year after the host community receives notice 
 under paragraph

    (4) ; and
        (B) certifies to the Secretary that the funds will 
 be used for an eligible purpose described in subsection

    (e) .

    (4) Notice.--The Secretary shall provide host communities 
 notice of the availability of payments under this section as 
 part of the Federal siting and permitting processes for the 
 applicable eligible project.

    (5) Payment amount.--In determining the amount of a payment 
 to a host community under this section, the Secretary shall--
        (A) develop and use a formula for disbursement of 
 funds that, to the extent practicable, ensures the 
 long-term solvency of the Fund; and
        (B) in developing that formula--
            (i) take into account input from host 
 communities and stakeholder groups regarding 
 the impacts of eligible projects on host 
 communities; and
            (ii) include a small-population community 
 minimum as part of the formula.

    (6) Payments in lieu of taxes.--Any amount received by a 
 host community from a payment made under this section shall be 
 in addition to any payment in lieu of taxes received by the 
 host community under chapter 69 of title 31, United States 
 Code.

    (e) Eligible Use of Funds.--

    (1) Community support.--A host community may use up to 80 
 percent of the amounts received by that host community from a 
 payment under this section to develop, deliver, or support--
        (A) services, projects, or programs that--
            (i) improve existing infrastructure or 
 implement essential public services, including 
 services, projects, or programs relating to--
            (I) public schools;
            (II) public libraries;
            (III) public hospitals;
            (IV) roads, bridges, or public 
 transportation;
            (V) community centers or parks;
            (VI) firefighting or search and 
 rescue services; or
            (VII) law enforcement;
            (ii) provide or expand access to--
            (I) broadband telecommunications 
 services at local community anchor 
 institutions (as defined in 

section 60302 of the Digital Equity Act of 2021 
 (47 U.S.C. 1721));
            (II) technology or connectivity 
 needed for students to use a digital 
 learning tool at or outside of a local 
 school campus; or
            (III) farmers markets or other 
 agricultural support;
            (iii) support local agricultural processing 
 or distribution infrastructure;
            (iv) support workforce training programs 
 for technical training, skill mastery, or 
 business opportunities across the spectrum of 
 careers in renewable energy, with emphasis on 
 historically underrepresented communities in 
 the renewable energy workforce; or
            (v) address public health by increasing 
 outdoor recreation opportunities, including 
 construction of new parks, for people of all 
 backgrounds and abilities; or
        (B) other, similar services, projects, or programs.

    (2) Conservation, stewardship, and recreation.--A host 
 community shall use at least 20 percent of the amounts received 
 by that host community from a payment under this section for 
 conservation, stewardship, or recreation purposes, including--
        (A) restoring or protecting--
            (i) fish or wildlife habitat;
            (ii) fish or wildlife corridors; or
            (iii) wetlands, streams, rivers, or other 
 natural water bodies in areas affected by 
 transmission development;
        (B) preserving or improving recreational access to 
 public land or water through an easement, right-of-way, 
 or other instrument from willing landowners for the 
 purpose of enhancing public access to existing Federal 
 land or water that is inaccessible or restricted;
            (C) developing new or renovating existing outdoor 
 recreation facilities that provide outdoor recreation 
 opportunities to the public;
            (D) creating or significantly enhancing access to 
 park or recreational opportunities in a neighborhood or 
 community;
        (E) engaging or empowering underserved communities 
 or youth;
        (F) facilitating public-private partnerships to 
 enhance public outdoor recreational access, 
 infrastructure improvements, or conservation efforts;
        (G) for natural climate solutions, including 
 programs that--
            (i) accommodate biochar or other nature-
 based opportunities for carbon sequestration;
            (ii) support wildfire resilience to ensure 
 healthy and resilient forests or grasslands;
            (iii) promote the planting, growing, or 
 restoring of trees or forests;
            (iv) support resilience against natural 
 disasters to ensure healthy and resilient 
 communities;
            (v) empower farmers in the United States to 
 incorporate conservation or climate co-benefits 
 in their agricultural practices; or
            (vi) support or implement traditional 
 ecological knowledge; or
        (H) other, similar services, projects, or programs.

    (f) Reports.--

    (1) Coverage.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the 
 Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
 Representatives a report detailing the loan programs within the 
 Department of Energy that fund electric power transmission 
 lines and related infrastructure that are capable of 
 transmitting 999 megawatts or more.

    (2) Annual report.--
        (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
 end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to 
 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
 Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
 House of Representatives a report on the operation of 
 the Fund during that fiscal year.
        (B) Report requirements.--Each report submitted 
 under subparagraph
        (A) shall include--
            (i) a statement of--
            (I) the amounts deposited in the 
 Fund during the applicable fiscal year; 
 and
            (II) the balance remaining in the 
 Fund at the end of that fiscal year; 
 and
            (ii) a list of--
            (I) host communities that received 
 amounts made available from the Fund 
 during that fiscal year;
            (II) the associated eligible 
 projects carried out in those host 
 communities; and
            (III) the amount that each of those 
 host communities received.

    (g) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section, including the 
receipt of amounts made available from the Fund--

    (1) precludes a host community from entering into a 
 community benefit agreement with an owner of transmission 
 infrastructure; or

    (2) otherwise affects the authority of a host community or 
 an owner of transmission infrastructure with respect to any 
 community benefit agreement.
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