text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Regional Energy 
  Partnerships for Advancing Resilient Energy Systems Act'' or the 
  ``PREPARE Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds that--
              (1) energy systems in the United States are in a period of 
          significant change;
              (2) aging infrastructure, new technologies, increasing 
          complexity, and growing threats are posing new challenges to 
          energy systems and their resilience;
              (3) the interconnected nature of energy systems means 
          regional energy strategies and plans will be more effective at 
          preparing for challenges and mitigating risks;
              (4) States have distinct needs and unique energy, 
          environmental, and economic goals and will play a critical role 
          in developing and implementing regional energy strategies and 
          plans;
              (5) the views and participation of a broad range of 
          stakeholders in the development and implementation of regional 
          energy strategies and plans is needed for success; and
              (6) the Federal Government, in the role of a long-term 
          strategic energy partner, can effectively--
                      (A) establish strategic alliances with States;
                      (B) convene stakeholders;
                      (C) facilitate the process of developing regional 
                  energy strategies and plans; and
                      (D) provide technical assistance and support in 
                  implementation.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Cooperative agreement.--The term ``cooperative 
          agreement'' has the meaning given the term in sections 6302 and 
          6305 of title 31, United States Code.
              (2) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
                      (A) the Secretary of Energy, acting through the 
                  Assistant Secretary of the Office of Electricity 
                  Delivery and Energy Reliability in consultation with 
                  the Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and 
                  Renewable Energy, the Assistant Secretary of Fossil 
                  Energy, and the Director of the Office of Nuclear 
                  Energy, Science, and Technology Programs; and
                      (B) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through 
                  the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals 
                  Management in consultation with the Director of the 
                  Bureau of Land Management, the Director of the Bureau 
                  of Ocean Energy Management, the Assistant Secretary for 
                  Indian Affairs, and the Assistant Secretary for Fish 
                  and Wildlife and Parks.
              (3) State.--The term ``State'' means--
                      (A) a State;
                      (B) the District of Columbia;
                      (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
                      (D) any other territory or possession of the United 
                  States.
  
  SEC. 4. REGIONAL ENERGY PARTNERSHIPS.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretaries shall provide assistance in 
  accordance with this section for the purpose of developing energy 
  strategies and plans that help harmonize and promote national, 
  regional, and State energy goals, including goals for advancing 
  resilient energy systems to mitigate risks and prepare for emerging 
  energy challenges.
      (b) Technical Assistance.--The Secretaries may provide such 
  technical assistance to States, political subdivisions of States, 
  substate regional organizations (including organizations that cross 
  State boundaries), multistate regional organizations, Indian tribes, 
  and nonprofit organizations as the Secretaries determine appropriate to 
  promote--
              (1) the development and improvement of regional energy 
          strategies and plans that sustain and promote energy system 
          modernization across the United States;
              (2) investment in energy infrastructure, technological 
          capacity, innovation, and workforce development to keep pace 
          with the changing energy ecosystem;
              (3) structural transformation of the financial, regulatory, 
          legal, and institutional systems that govern energy planning, 
          production, and delivery within States and regions; and
              (4) public-private partnerships for the implementation of 
          regional energy strategies and plans.
      (c) Cooperative Agreements.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretaries may enter into cooperative 
          agreements with 1 or more States and Indian tribes, on a 
          regional basis, to develop and implement strategies and plans 
          to address the energy challenges of States, Indian tribes, and 
          regions.
              (2) Requirements.--A cooperative agreement entered into 
          under this subsection shall include provisions covering or 
          providing--
                      (A) the purpose and goals of the cooperative 
                  agreement, such as advancing energy efficiency, clean 
                  energy, fuel and supply diversity, energy system 
                  resiliency, economic development, or other goals to 
                  make measurable, significant progress toward specified 
                  metrics and objectives that are agreed to by the States 
                  or Indian tribes and the Secretaries;
                      (B) the roles and responsibilities of the States or 
                  Indian tribes and the Secretaries for various functions 
                  of the cooperative agreement, including outreach, 
                  communication, resources, and capabilities;
                      (C) a comprehensive framework for the development 
                  of energy strategies and plans for States, Indian 
                  tribes, or regions;
                      (D) timeframes with associated metrics and 
                  objectives;
                      (E) a governance structure to resolve conflicts and 
                  facilitate decisionmaking consistent with underlying 
                  authorities; and
                      (F) other provisions determined necessary by the 
                  Secretaries, in consultation with the States or Indian 
                  tribes, to achieve the purposes described in paragraph 
                  (1).
      (d) Staff.--
              (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
          the entering into a cooperative agreement under subsection (c), 
          the Secretaries shall, as appropriate, assign or employ 
          individuals who have expertise in the technical and regulatory 
          issues relating to the cooperative agreement, including 
          particular expertise in (as applicable)--
                      (A) energy systems integration;
                      (B) renewable energy and energy efficiency;
                      (C) innovative financing mechanisms;
                      (D) utility regulatory policy;
                      (E) modeling and analysis;
                      (F) facilitation and arbitration;
                      (G) energy assurance and emergency preparedness; 
                  and
                      (H) cyber and physical security of energy systems.
              (2) Duties.--Each individual assigned to carry out a 
          cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) shall--
                      (A) report to a location in the applicable State, 
                  Indian tribe, or region not later than 90 days after 
                  the date of assignment;
                      (B) be responsible for issues and technical 
                  assistance relating to the cooperative agreement;
                      (C) participate as part of the team of personnel 
                  working on developing and implementing the applicable 
                  regional energy strategy and plan; and
                      (D) build capacity within the State, Indian tribe, 
                  or region to continue to implement the goals of this 
                  Act after the expiration of the cooperative agreement.
      (e) Comprehensive Framework.--Under a cooperative agreement, a 
  comprehensive framework shall be developed that identifies 
  opportunities and actions across various energy sectors and cross-
  cutting issue areas, including--
              (1) end-use efficiency;
              (2) energy supply, including electric generation and fuels;
              (3) energy delivery;
              (4) transportation;
              (5) technical integration, including standards and 
          interdependencies;
              (6) institutional structures;
              (7) regulatory policies;
              (8) financial incentives; and
              (9) market mechanisms.
      (f) Awards.--
              (1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                      (A) Application group.--The term ``application 
                  group'' means a group of States or Indian tribes that 
                  have--
                              (i) entered into a cooperative agreement, 
                          on a regional basis, with the Secretaries under 
                          subsection (c); and
                              (ii) submitted an application for an award 
                          under paragraph (2)(A).
                      (B) Partner state.--The term ``partner State'' 
                  means a State or Indian tribe that is part of an 
                  application group.
              (2) Applications.--
                      (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), an 
                  application group may apply to the Secretaries for 
                  awards under this subsection.
                      (B) Individual states.--An individual State or 
                  Indian tribe that has entered into a cooperative 
                  agreement with the Secretaries under subsection (c) may 
                  apply to the Secretaries for an award under this 
                  subsection if the State or Indian tribe demonstrates to 
                  the Secretaries the uniqueness of the energy challenges 
                  facing the State or Indian tribe.
              (3) Base amount.--Subject to paragraph (4), the Secretaries 
          shall provide 6 awards under this subsection, with a base 
          amount of $20,000,000 for each award.
              (4) Bonus amount for application groups.--
                      (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                  Secretaries shall increase the amount of an award 
                  provided under this subsection to an application group 
                  for a successful application under paragraph (2)(A) by 
                  the quotient obtained by dividing--
                              (i) the product obtained by multiplying--
                                      (I) the number of partner States in 
                                  the application group; and
                                      (II) $100,000,000; by
                              (ii) the total number of partner States of 
                          all successful applications under this 
                          subsection.
                      (B) Maximum amount.--The amount of a bonus 
                  determined under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed an 
                  amount that represents $5,000,000 for each partner 
                  State that is a member of the relevant application 
                  group.
              (5) Limitation.--A State or Indian tribe shall not be part 
          of more than 1 award under this subsection.
              (6) Selection criteria.--In selecting applications for 
          awards under this subsection, the Secretaries shall consider--
                      (A) existing commitments from States or Indian 
                  tribes, such as memoranda of understanding;
                      (B) for States that are part of the contiguous 48 
                  States, the number of contiguous States involved that 
                  cover a region;
                      (C) the diversity of the regions represented by all 
                  applications;
                      (D) the amount of cost-share or in-kind 
                  contributions from States or Indian tribes;
                      (E) the scope and focus of regional and State 
                  programs and strategies, with an emphasis on energy 
                  system resiliency and grid modernization, efficiency, 
                  and clean energy;
                      (F) a management and oversight plan to ensure that 
                  objectives are met;
                      (G) an outreach plan for the inclusion of 
                  stakeholders in the process for developing and 
                  implementing State or regional energy strategies and 
                  plans;
                      (H) the inclusion of tribal entities;
                      (I) plans to fund and sustain activities identified 
                  in regional energy strategies and plans; and
                      (J) the clarity of roles and responsibilities of 
                  each State and the Secretaries.
              (7) Use of awards.--
                      (A) In general.--Awards provided under this 
                  subsection shall be used to achieve the purpose of this 
                  section, including by--
                              (i) conducting technical analyses, resource 
                          studies, and energy system baselines;
                              (ii) convening and providing education to 
                          stakeholders on emerging energy issues;
                              (iii) building decision support and 
                          planning tools; and
                              (iv) improving communication between and 
                          participation of stakeholders.
                      (B) Limitation.--Awards provided under this 
                  subsection shall not be used for--
                              (i) capitalization of green banks or loan 
                          guarantees; or
                              (ii) building facilities or funding capital 
                          projects.
  
  SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
  out this Act $250,000,000, to remain available until expended.
      (b) Allocation.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under 
  subsection (a)--
              (1) $120,000,000 shall be used for the base amount of 
          awards under section 4(f)(3);
              (2) $100,000,000 shall be used for the bonus amount of 
          awards under section 4(f)(4); and
              (3) $30,000,000 shall be for the administration of this 
          Act, including--
                      (A) the assignment of staff under section 4(d); and
                      (B) if the Secretaries determine appropriate, the 
                  sharing of best practices from regional partnerships by 
                  parties to cooperative agreements entered into under 
                  this Act.
      (c) State Energy Offices.--Funds provided to a State under this Act 
  shall be provided to the office within the State that is responsible 
  for developing the State energy plan for the State under part D of 
  title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et 
  seq.).
      (d) Maintenance of Funding.--The funding provided to States under 
  this Act shall supplement (and not supplant) funding provided under 
  part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
  U.S.C. 6321 et seq.).
target: Promoting Regional Energy Partnerships for Advancing Resilient Energy Systems Act or the PREPARE Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) and the Secretary of the Interior (acting through specified Assistant Secretaries) to provide technical assistance to governmental entities, Indian tribes, and regional and nonprofit organizations to develop energy strategies that harmonize and promote national, regional, and state energy goals.  Sets forth an awards program addressing the uniqueness of the energy challenges facing states and Indian tribes.
feat_title: PREPARE Act