To amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide financial assistance, through States and Indian Tribes, to establish and maintain energy hubs to increase awareness and access to energy and energy efficiency programs and opportunities to improve energy affordability, and for other purposes.

supporting participation of low- and moderate-income community members in relevant assistance programs, including assistance provided pursuant to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.), the Weatherization Assistance Program carried out under part A of title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act, a program administered by a State or Indian Tribe as described in section 50121(c) or section 50122(c) of Public Law 117-169 (commonly known as the `Inflation Reduction Act'), utility-administered programs, energy affordability programs administered by States and Indian Tribes, and other programs and opportunities to reduce energy use and costs; ``(7) facilitate connections between community members and local energy professionals, contractors, installers, and consultants to perform energy assessments, make better informed energy decisions, and install energy and energy efficiency measures; ``(8) support access to nonenergy efficiency building rehabilitation resources, including lead and mold abatement resources, to enable energy and energy efficiency measures and reduce project deferrals; and ``(9) coordinate with workforce development organizations, labor organizations, educational institutions, and businesses to enhance local workforce development efforts to ensure the availability of a local workforce capable of supporting energy and energy efficiency programs and opportunities within the region, including by connecting community members to job training, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, educational, and employment resources and opportunities. ``(d) Partner Organizations.--Each energy hub designated under subsection (b)(1) shall consist of several partner organizations to fulfill the responsibilities under subsection (c). Each such energy hub shall have partner organizations that-- ``(1) have expertise with energy, energy efficiency, workforce development, economic development, housing, educational and public awareness campaigns for underserved community members within the region, and other areas needed to fulfill the responsibilities under subsection (c); ``(2) have existing relationships with, or the ability to form relationships with, entities within the region served by the energy hub to increase access to and participation in energy and energy efficiency programs and opportunities, which may include-- ``(A) nonprofit organizations; ``(B) affordable housing owners and developers; ``(C) community action agencies; ``(D) land-grant universities managing a cooperative extension system and other educational institutions; ``(E) rural development organizations; ``(F) social service providers; ``(G) local governments; ``(H) labor organizations; ``(I) workforce development organizations; ``(J) economic development organizations; ``(K) local businesses; and ``(L) electric and natural gas utilities; ``(3) ensure services provided by the energy hub are adequately available throughout the entire geographic region covered by the energy hub; and ``(4) commit to specific activities, administrative capacity, staffing, and resources that such organizations shall undertake or provide for the operation of the energy hub. ``(e) Lead Organization.-- ``(1) In general.--Each energy hub designated under subsection (b)(1) shall be led by a community-based organization located within such region that has demonstrated existing relevant partnerships, or the ability to develop relevant multidisciplinary partnerships, to carry out the responsibilities under subsection (c). ``(2) Responsibilities.--The lead organization of each energy hub designated under subsection (b)(1) shall be responsible for-- ``(A) coordination of partner organizations within the energy hub; ``(B) provision of administrative capacity to ensure the effective management and operation of the energy hub; and ``(C) meeting any data collection and reporting requirements determined by the Secretary and the State or Indian Tribe receiving financial assistance under this section. ``(f) Reporting.--Each calendar year, the lead organization of each energy hub designated under subsection (b)(1) shall submit a written report to the Secretary and the relevant State or Indian Tribe on the activities of the energy hub during the previous calendar year, which shall include-- ``(1) a description of the partnerships of the energy hub, including the effectiveness of and barriers to leveraging other Federal and non-Federal sources of funding; ``(2) a description of the outreach, educational, and public awareness activities undertaken by the energy hub, including any evaluations conducted of the effectiveness of such activities; ``(3) a description of activities undertaken by the energy hub to support local workforce development, educational, and job training activities; ``(4) a description of activities undertaken by the energy hub to enable greater participation in energy and energy efficiency programs and opportunities to improve energy affordability, including estimates of participation in affordability programs within the region served by the energy hub, energy savings and utility bill savings for community members accessing such programs, and opportunities as a result of energy hub activities; and ``(5) a regional assessment that identifies the needs, barriers, and opportunities to fulfill the responsibilities under subsection (c) within the region served by the energy hub. ``(g) Regional Energy Hub Advisory Committee.--The Secretary, in coordination with other relevant Federal agencies, shall establish a Regional Energy Hub Advisory Committee consisting of States, Indian Tribes, energy hubs, and other relevant stakeholders to provide information and technical assistance for the establishment, operation, and improvement of energy hubs, including through the development of best practices, standards, recommendations, tools, and educational resources to be applicable to the management and operation of energy hubs across States and Indian Tribes. ``(h) Coordination.-- ``(1) Interagency coordination.--The Secretary shall consult and coordinate with relevant Federal agencies, including the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, that administer programs and opportunities relevant to energy hubs fulfilling responsibilities under subsection (c). ``(2) Coordination of state and local programs.--Each State and Indian Tribe receiving financial assistance under this section shall carry out consultation and coordination between the energy hubs and relevant programs administered by each State or Indian Tribe, including programs related to energy, energy efficiency, environmental remediation, community outreach and education, housing, agriculture, economic development, and workforce development. ``(3) Braiding of funding.--The Secretary shall advise energy hubs designated under subsection (b)(1) on and, to the extent possible, reduce barriers to the braiding or otherwise combining of funding from various Federal and non-Federal sources to leverage additional resources and better enable energy hubs to fulfill responsibilities under subsection (c). ``(i) Funding.-- ``(1) Allocation to states.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), to the extent practicable, the Secretary shall allocate funding made available to carry out this section in accordance with the formula used for distribution of financial assistance provided pursuant to this part to States that have in effect an approved State energy conservation plan under this part. ``(2) Indian tribes.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall set aside and distribute not less than 5 percent of amounts made available for each fiscal year to carry out this section to provide financial assistance to Indian Tribes. ``(j) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Community-based organization.--The term `community- based organization' means a public or private nonprofit organization that-- ``(A) provides educational or other related services to community members; ``(B) is representative of the community or significant segments of the community; ``(C) has a physical presence in the community; and ``(D) seeks input from community members. ``(2) 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).''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for the Energy Policy and Conservation Act is amended by adding after the item related to section 366 the following: ``Sec. 367. Regional energy hubs.''. (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 365(f) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6325(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(3) Regional energy hubs.--In addition to the authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1), for the purposes of carrying out section 367, there are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''. <all>