BIDIRECTIONAL Act

This bill directs the Secretary of Energy to create a grant program encouraging deployment of electric school buses with bidirectional energy flow (vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-everything) technologies, and amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act to require states to consider measures promoting vehicle-to-grid integration. The bill authorizes $500 million for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 for the grant program.

Sec. 2, Program to encourage deployment of electric school buses and vehicle-to-everything technologies and applications: The Secretary must establish a grant program within one year for projects using at least one electric school bus with bidirectional energy flow for applications like vehicle-to-grid (providing distribution, wholesale, or microgrid services), vehicle-to-building, or other resilience applications. Priority is given to projects likely to be economically self-sustaining and replicable, and grants must be spread across differing situations including congested areas. Eligible entities include electric utilities, school districts, bus manufacturers, and others. Grants can fund bidirectional charging stations, retrofits, metering, and technical assistance. Recipients must provide at least matching non-Federal funds, use at least 1% of grant funds for community outreach, ensure school districts are appropriately compensated, and submit annual operational and economic data. The program is compatible with the EPA clean school bus program. A report to Congress is required within one year summarizing existing pilot programs, challenges, and opportunities.

Sec. 3, Consideration of measures to promote vehicle-to-grid integration: This section amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to add a new federal standard requiring each state to consider measures promoting vehicle-to-grid integration, including rates and standards enabling electric vehicles to export power to the grid, receive compensation, and participate in aggregation and demand-response programs. States must consider impacts on all vehicle classes. State regulatory authorities and nonregulated utilities must begin consideration within one year and complete it within two years of enactment. Prior state actions (implementation, proceedings, or legislative votes) can exempt a utility from this requirement.