Wildfire and Grid Reliability Act

or early fault detection equipment; (7) for the relocation of power lines to roadways; (8) to carry out vegetation or fuels management activities in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws (including regulations); (9) to install technology or equipment to mitigate hazards from or to animals and related damage to the power grid; (10) to install cameras, sensors, or other technology that provides real-time information about conditions; (11) to install technology to detect downed conductors; (12) for the installation of electrical facilities necessary to sustain targeted microgrid operations, including storage for the integration of distributed energy resources into power grid operations, for the benefit of community resilience following a main power grid outage; (13) to harden facilities, substations, and other systems for seismic events; and (14) for other, related power grid upgrades to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition or damage from natural disasters. (e) Priority.--In making grants under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that, in the determination of the Secretary, will generate the greatest community benefit in improving power grid reliability or reducing the risk of wildfire ignition from power lines or equipment relative to the cost of the project. (f) Set Asides.-- (1) Wildfire set aside.--In making grants under the program, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 40 percent of the total amounts made available to eligible entities under the program are made available to eligible entities that seek a grant for purposes of implementing a project or otherwise carrying out activities to reduce wildfire risk, as described in subsection (b)(3)(A). (2) Small utilities set aside.--In making grants under the program, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 20 percent of the amounts made available to eligible entities under the program are made available to eligible entities that sell not more than 4,000,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year. (g) Matching Requirement.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), as a condition of receiving a grant under the program, an eligible entity shall provide matching funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to not less than 100 percent of the amounts made available under the grant. (2) Exception for small utilities.--With respect to an eligible entity that sells not more than 4,000,000 megawatt- hours of electricity per year, as a condition of receiving a grant under the program, the eligible entity shall provide matching funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount equal to not less than \1/3\ of the amounts made available under the grant. (3) Existing efforts.--On approval by the Secretary, amounts expended by an eligible entity on power grid reliability or wildfire risk mitigation efforts during the 1- year period ending on the date on which a grant is received under the program shall count toward the matching requirement described in paragraph (1) or (2), as applicable. (h) Federal Power Marketing Administrations.--Any amounts made available to a Federal power marketing administration pursuant to a grant under the program shall be nonreimbursable. (i) Technical Assistance and Support.-- (1) In general.--Using amounts made available to the Secretary to carry out the program, the Secretary may-- (A) provide technical assistance to-- (i) eligible entities seeking to prepare an application under subsection (c); and (ii) eligible entities to which the Secretary has provided a grant under the program; and (B) provide grants to eligible entities for the hiring or retention of individuals to provide and support, on a professional basis, assistance (including technical assistance) and informed decisionmaking in the planning, financing, and implementation of 1 or more activities described in subsection (d). (2) Treatment.--Grants under paragraph (1)(B)-- (A) shall not be counted toward a set-aside described in subsection (f); and (B) shall not be subject to subsection (g). (j) Biennial Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, 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 describing the manner in which, and the extent to which-- (1) the reliability of the power grid has increased under the program during the period covered by the report; and (2) the risk of wildfires caused by power lines has been reduced under the program during the period covered by the report. (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $15,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2036. <all>