To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to encourage deployment of electric school buses and vehicle-to-grid technologies and applications, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 12, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security.
The BIDIRECTIONAL Act directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program within one year to support deployment of electric school buses equipped with vehicle-to-grid technology, which allows buses to discharge power back to the electrical grid or buildings. The program will provide grants to eligible entities including school districts, utilities, charging infrastructure suppliers, and renewable energy developers for projects that demonstrate how bidirectional electric school buses can provide grid services, support buildings, or enhance community resilience. Grant funds can cover charging station installation, bus retrofitting, metering equipment, technical assistance, and community outreach, with recipients required to match federal grants dollar-for-dollar with non-federal funding and ensure school districts are fairly compensated for participation. The bill authorizes $500 million in funding for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 and requires states to consider adopting policies and tariffs that allow electric vehicles to export power to the grid and receive compensation for doing so, with state utilities having one year to begin consideration and two years to complete their review of these vehicle-to-grid standards.
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