(a) There is established as a special fund the Renewable Energy Development Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by the Director of DOEE in accordance with subsections (b), (c), and (e) of this section.
(1) DOEE may receive and review applications for loans, grants, rebates, and other financial incentives for eligible projects from the Fund. Except as provided in subsection (c)(1)(F) of this section, loans, grants, rebates, and other financial incentives for eligible projects from the Fund shall be distributed in the following order:
(A) To qualifying applicants who are certified business enterprises as defined in § 2-218.02(1D) ;
(B) To qualifying applicants who are not certified business enterprises as defined in § 2-218.02(1D) .
(2) On or before May 1 of every year, the DOEE shall provide the Council with a report detailing the number of qualified certified business enterprises that received loans, grants, rebates, and other financial incentives from the Fund. The report shall also include the eligible project or projects for which the certified business enterprise received funding.
(1) The Fund shall be used for the purpose of:
(A) Supporting the creation of new solar energy sources in the District, including activities that support the use of solar energy sources, such as electrical upgrades, structural improvements, and the installation of electrical or thermal storage systems;
(A-i) Supporting projects or programs that increase climate change resilience in the District; provided, that each such project or program includes a solar energy component or uses solar energy generated in the District;
(B) Funding the Solar for All Program established by § 8-1774.16 ;
(C) Otherwise administering the Fund;
(D) Covering any costs to the District associated with implementing the Renewable Portfolio Standard Expansion Amendment Act of 2016 (D.C. Law 21-154);
(E) For the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2017, and ending September 30, 2018, supporting the DOEE operating budget;
(F) In Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, transferring up to $7 million per year to the Green Finance Authority to support sustainable projects and programs that include support for the creation of new solar energy sources in the District, and associated administrative costs, if such transfer is included in an approved budget and financial plan;
(G) In fiscal year 2020, up to $250,000 for DOEE to engage an independent third party to conduct a comprehensive study to help DOEE and building owners better understand the potential for cost impacts and benefits to District residents and property owners, or owners of large buildings and affordable housing of the Building Energy Performance Standards Program, required pursuant to § 8-1772.21 ;
(H) Covering any costs to the District associated with implementing §§ 34-1431(10) and 34-1432(c)(9) -(31);
(I) In fiscal year 2020, up to $250,000 shall be provided to the District Department of Transportation to prepare the comprehensive clean vehicle transition plan required by § 50-921.24 ;
(J) In fiscal year 2020, up to $250,000 shall be provided to the Department of General Services to be used to prepare the strategic energy management plan required by § 8-1772.22 ;
(K) Covering any costs to the District associated with implementing the Local Solar Expansion Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-314);
(L) Beginning in fiscal year 2026, transferring funding, in an amount to be determined by DOEE in its discretion, to the Energy Assistance Trust Fund for the purpose of expanding access to the District's low-income utility assistance programs;
(M) Beginning in fiscal year 2025, supporting programming to increase awareness of the Solar for All program and to increase the number of residents enrolled in the District's low-income utility assistance programs, in an amount no greater than $150,000 per year; and
(N) Beginning in fiscal year 2025, providing up to $100,000 per year to fund the triennial study of local solar policy benefits and costs required under § 34-1436.01 , which may be used by the contractor selected pursuant to § 34-1436.01 at any time during the 3-year period of the study.
(2) The Fund may be used to supplement programs supporting the creation of new solar energy sources in the District through the Sustainable Energy Utility contract established by subchapter II of Chapter 17N of Title 8 .
(c-1) For the purposes of subsection (c)(1)(G) of this section, the study shall include case studies for different property types of buildings and the DOEE shall seek the advice of the Building Energy Performance Standards Task Force, established pursuant to § 6-1451.09(h) , in creating the specifications for the study.
(d) The following revenue shall be deposited in the Fund:
(1) Compliance fees paid under § 34-1434 ;
(2) Payments received in repayment of a loan;
(3) Investment earnings of the Fund; and
(4) Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.
(e) The DOEE shall establish the eligibility criteria for projects supported by the Fund. The DOEE may allow the use of money of the Fund for administrative expenses related to the Fund and project review and oversight.
(f) The DOEE shall provide to the Council a quarterly report detailing:
(1) Expenditures from the Renewable Energy Development Fund; and
(2) The performance of programs or projects funded by the Renewable Energy Development Fund.
(g) Any compliance fees paid into the Fund by an electricity supplier that were charged to the District of Columbia government through a cost recovery surcharge authorized in § 34-1435(c) shall be transferred from the Fund to the General Fund of the District of Columbia and used to cover any surcharge owed by the District of Columbia government.
(h) Any money remaining available in the Fund at the end of a fiscal year, as determined by the Chief Financial Officer in the fiscal year-end close, shall be transferred to the unassigned fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia as part of the fiscal year-end close.