§ 918a. Energy generation, transmission, and distribution facilities efficiency grants and loans in rural communities with extremely high energy costs
(a)
In general
The Secretary, acting through the Rural Utilities Service, may—
(1)
in coordination with State rural development initiatives, make grants and loans to persons, States, political subdivisions of States, and other entities organized under the laws of States to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving communities in which the average residential expenditure for home energy is at least 275 percent of the national average residential expenditure for home energy (as determined by the Energy Information Agency using the most recent data available);
(2)
make grants and loans to the Denali Commission established by the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note ; Public Law 105–277) to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energy generation, transmission, or distribution facilities serving communities described in paragraph (1); and
(b)
Authorization of appropriations