HR6872-118

2. Maritime modernization grant program In this section: The term eligible entity means an entity described in subsection (d). 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). The term low-income or disadvantaged community means a community (including a city, a town, a county, and any reasonably isolated and divisible segment of a larger municipality) with an annual median household income that is less than 100 percent of the statewide annual median household income for the State in which the community is located, according to the most recent decennial census. The term program means the program established under subsection (b). The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for— the purchase, installation, construction, facilitation, maintenance, or operation of, as appropriate— hydrogen- or ammonia-fueled cargo-handling equipment, including, at a minimum, equipment used for drayage applications; hydrogen fuel cell or ammonia-fueled trucks for use at ports; hydrogen fuel cell or ammonia-fueled ferries, tugboats, dredging vessels, container ships, bulk carriers, fuel tankers, and other marine vessels; hydrogen fuel cell-based shore power for ships while docked at the port; hydrogen fuel cell or ammonia onsite power plants; and port infrastructure for hydrogen or ammonia import, export, storage, and fueling; and the training of ship crew and shore personnel to handle hydrogen or ammonia. The goals of the program shall be— to demonstrate fuel cell, hydrogen, or ammonia technologies in maritime and associated logistics applications; to assist in the development and validation of technical targets for hydrogen, ammonia, and fuel cell systems for maritime and associated logistics applications; to benchmark the conditions required for broad commercialization of hydrogen, ammonia, and fuel cell technologies in maritime and associated logistics applications; to assess the operational and technical considerations for installing, constructing, and using hydrogen- or ammonia-fueled equipment and supporting infrastructure at ports; and to reduce emissions and improve air quality in areas in and around ports. An entity eligible to receive a grant under the program is— a State; a political subdivision of a State; a local government; a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by 1 or more States; a special purpose district with a transportation function; an Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; a multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (F); or subject to paragraph (2), a private entity or group of private entities, including the owners or operators of 1 or more facilities at a port. A private entity or group of private entities is eligible for a grant under the program if— the private entity or group of private entities partners with an entity described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (G) of paragraph (1) for purposes of applying for, and carrying out activities under, the grant; and the entity described in the applicable subparagraph of that paragraph is the lead entity with respect to the application and those activities. An eligible entity desiring a grant under the program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The application of an eligible entity described in subparagraph (H) of subsection (d)(1) shall be submitted jointly with an entity described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of that subsection. In providing grants under the program, the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall— select projects that will generate the greatest benefit to low-income or disadvantaged communities; and select projects that will— maximize the creation or retention of jobs in the United States; and provide the highest job quality. In selecting eligible entities to receive a grant under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that will provide greater net impact in avoiding or reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Each eligible entity that receives a grant under the program shall conduct— a hydrogen leakage monitoring, reporting, and verification (also known as MRV) program; and a hydrogen leak detection and repair (also known as LDAR) program. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. None of the funds made available under this section may be used to provide a grant to purchase fully automated cargo handling equipment that is remotely operated or remotely monitored with or without the exercise of human intervention or control, if the Secretary of Transportation determines such equipment would result in a net loss of jobs within a port or port terminal.