HR3009-119

What This Bill Does

The TREES Act directs the Secretary of Energy to establish, within 90 days, a grant program for tree-planting projects that reduce residential energy consumption. DOE must consult with USDA's Forest Service. Eligible applicants include state government entities, local government entities, Indian Tribes, nonprofit organizations, and retail power providers. Applications must describe expected residential energy savings, eligible costs and other funding, community engagement, tree species, and suitability to the local environment. DOE must prioritize projects with the largest energy-burden reduction for high-energy-burden households, maximum shade and wind protection, low existing canopy cover, high percentages of seniors or children, below-regional-median income, collaborative community engagement, and local hiring focused on unemployed or underemployed residents. The bill aims for at least 300,000 trees planted each year, sets a 90 percent federal cost share, covers planning, nurseries, trees, site preparation, planting, up to three years of maintenance and monitoring, training, and other approved costs, and authorizes 50,000,000 dollars annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Who Benefits and How

High-energy-burden households benefit if shade and wind protection reduce residential energy bills. Low-canopy neighborhoods benefit because grant priority favors areas with a low percentage of tree canopy cover. State government entities benefit because they can receive grants covering 90 percent of eligible project costs. Local residents who are unemployed or underemployed benefit if projects use local hiring as a substantial share of the workforce.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Department of Energy must establish and administer the grant program within 90 days. The Forest Service must consult on program design and implementation. Grant applicants must estimate energy savings, document community engagement, choose locally suitable species, and provide cost information. Federal taxpayers bear the 50,000,000 dollar annual authorization and 90 percent federal cost share.

Key Provisions

• Creates a DOE tree-planting grant program to reduce residential energy consumption.
• Authorizes 50,000,000 dollars per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
• Requires DOE to prioritize high energy burden, low canopy, senior, child, low-income, community engagement, and local hiring factors.
• Sets a 90 percent federal cost share and aims to facilitate planting at least 300,000 trees annually.
• Allows eligible costs for planning, nurseries, trees, site preparation, planting, maintenance, monitoring, and training.