---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17154"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "17154"
heading: "Use of funds"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17154"
units:
  - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security"
  - "Subchapter IV — Energy Savings in Government and Public Institutions"
  - "Part C — Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants"
---

# §17154. Use of funds


An [eligible entity](/usc/42/17151.md?p=1) may use a grant received under this part to carry out activities to achieve the purposes of the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), including—

- (1) development and implementation of an [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5) and conservation strategy under [section 17155(b) of this title](/usc/42/17155.md?p=b);
- (2) retaining technical consultant services to assist the [eligible entity](/usc/42/17151.md?p=1) in the development of such a strategy, including—
  - (A) formulation of [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5), [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) conservation, and [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) usage goals;
  - (B) identification of strategies to achieve those goals—
    - (i) through efforts to increase [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5) and reduce [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) consumption; and
    - (ii) by encouraging behavioral changes among the population served by the [eligible entity](/usc/42/17151.md?p=1);
  - (C) development of methods to measure progress in achieving the goals;
  - (D) development and publication of annual reports to the population served by the [eligible entity](/usc/42/17151.md?p=1) describing—
    - (i) the strategies and goals; and
    - (ii) the progress made in achieving the strategies and goals during the preceding calendar year; and
  - (E) other services to assist in the implementation of the [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5) and conservation strategy;
- (3) conducting residential and commercial [building](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) [energy audits](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1);
- (4) establishment of financial incentive [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5) improvements;
- (5) the provision of grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for the purpose of performing [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5) retrofits;
- (6) development and implementation of [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5) and conservation [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for [buildings](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) and [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) within the jurisdiction of the [eligible entity](/usc/42/17151.md?p=1), including—
  - (A) design and operation of the [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
  - (B) identifying the most effective methods for achieving maximum participation and efficiency rates;
  - (C) public education;
  - (D) measurement and verification protocols; and
  - (E) identification of [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) efficient technologies;
- (7) development and implementation of [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to conserve energy used in transportation, including—
  - (A) use of flex time by employers;
  - (B) satellite work centers;
  - (C) development and promotion of zoning guidelines or requirements that promote [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) efficient development;
  - (D) development of infrastructure, such as bike lanes and pathways and pedestrian walkways;
  - (E) synchronization of traffic signals; and
  - (F) other measures that increase [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5) and decrease [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) consumption;
- (8) development and implementation of [building](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) codes and [inspection](/usc/42/4851b.md?p=12) services to promote [building](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5);
- (9) application and implementation of [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) distribution technologies that significantly increase [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5), including—
  - (A) distributed resources; and
  - (B) district heating and cooling systems;
- (10) activities to increase participation and efficiency rates for material conservation [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), including source reduction, recycling, and recycled content procurement [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that lead to increases in [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5);
- (11) the purchase and implementation of technologies to reduce, capture, and, to the maximum extent practicable, use methane and other greenhouse gases generated by landfills or similar sources;
- (12) replacement of traffic signals and street lighting with [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) efficient lighting technologies, including—
  - (A) light emitting diodes; and
  - (B) any other technology of equal or greater [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5);
- (13) development, implementation, and installation on or in any government [building](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) of the [eligible entity](/usc/42/17151.md?p=1) of onsite [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2) technology that [generates](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=8) electricity from renewable resources, including—
  - (A) solar [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7);
  - (B) wind [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7);
  - (C) fuel cells; and
  - (D) [biomass](/usc/42/16317.md?p=f-8-C);
- (14) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for financing [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5), [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2), and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure), capital investments, [projects](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20), and [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), which may include loan [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and performance contracting [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), for leveraging of additional public and private sector [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3), and [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that allow rebates, grants, or other incentives for the purchase and installation of [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5), [renewable energy](/usc/42/15852.md?p=b-2), and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure) measures; and
- (15) any other appropriate activity, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3), in consultation with—
  - (A) the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Environmental Protection Agency;
  - (B) the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) of Transportation; and
  - (C) the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) of [Housing](/usc/42/1490p–2.md?p=r-3) and Urban Development.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–140, title V, § 544, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1669; Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title V, § 40552(a), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1076.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Pars. (14), (15). Pub. L. 117–58 added par. (14) and redesignated former par. (14) as (15).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.

### Wage Rate Requirements

For provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for construction, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of this title.