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136 STAT. 2048 PUBLIC LAW 117–169—AUG. 16, 2022 covered transmission project in the area under the jurisdic- tion of the entity. (d) RETURNING FUNDS.—If a siting authority that receives a grant for an activity described in subsection (b)(1) fails to use all grant funds within 2 years of receipt, the siting authority shall return to the Secretary any such unused funds. (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: (1) COVERED TRANSMISSION PROJECT.—The term ‘‘covered transmission project’’ means a high-voltage interstate or off- shore electricity transmission line— (A) that is proposed to be constructed and to operate— (i) at a minimum of 275 kilovolts of either alter- nating-current or direct-current electric energy by an entity; or (ii) offshore and at a minimum of 200 kilovolts of either alternating-current or direct-current electric energy by an entity; and (B) for which such entity has applied, or informed a siting authority of such entity’s intent to apply, for regu- latory approval. (2) SITING AUTHORITY.—The term ‘‘siting authority’’ means a State, local, or Tribal governmental entity with authority to make a final determination regarding the siting, permitting, or regulatory status of a covered transmission project that is proposed to be located in an area under the jurisdiction of the entity. SEC. 50153. INTERREGIONAL AND OFFSHORE WIND ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION PLANNING, MODELING, AND ANALYSIS. (a) APPROPRIATION.—In addition to amounts otherwise avail- able, there is appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2022, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $100,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2031, to carry out this section. (b) USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall use amounts made available under subsection (a)— (1) to pay expenses associated with convening relevant stakeholders to address the development of interregional elec- tricity transmission and transmission of electricity that is gen- erated by offshore wind; and (2) to conduct planning, modeling, and analysis regarding interregional electricity transmission and transmission of elec- tricity that is generated by offshore wind, taking into account the local, regional, and national economic, reliability, resilience, security, public policy, and environmental benefits of inter- regional electricity transmission and transmission of electricity that is generated by offshore wind, including planning, mod- eling, and analysis, as the Secretary determines appropriate, pertaining to— (A) clean energy integration into the electric grid, including the identification of renewable energy zones; (B) the effects of changes in weather due to climate change on the reliability and resilience of the electric grid; (C) cost allocation methodologies that facilitate the expansion of the bulk power system; Determination. 42 USC 18715b. Deadline. VerDate Sep 11 2014 15:35 Oct 25, 2022 Jkt 029139 PO 00169 Frm 00232 Fmt 6580 Sfmt 6581 E:\PUBLAW\PUBL169.117 PUBL169 jmbennett on LAP3P8D0R2PROD with Publaw