A bill to establish a comprehensive United States Government policy to assist countries in sub-Saharan Africa to improve access to and the affordability, reliability, and sustainability of power, and for other purposes.
Energize Africa Act of 2014 - Title I: Policies to Improve Access to Power in Sub-Saharan Africa - (Sec. 103) Directs the President to establish: (1) a multiyear strategy to encourage the efforts of countries in sub-Saharan Africa to implement national power strategies and develop an appropriate mix of power solutions, including renewable energy, to provide access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in order to reduce poverty and drive economic growth; and (2) an African Power Advisory Group.
Authorizes the President to establish an Interagency Working Group to coordinate the activities of relevant federal departments and agencies involved in carrying out the strategy.
(Sec. 104) Expresses the sense of Congress that:
(Sec. 105) Urges the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to prioritize loan guarantees to local financial institutions in sub-Saharan Africa to: (1) facilitate their involvement in power projects and markets, and (2) fund plans to increase distribution coverage.
(Sec. 106) Urges the Trade and Development Agency to prioritize: (1) promotion of U.S. private sector participation in energy sector development projects through project preparation activities; and (2) funding of such activities for sub-Saharan Africa projects involving increased access to power, including power generation and trade capacity building.
(Sec. 107) Urges the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to prioritize support for private sector investments in the sub-Saharan Africa power sector, including renewable energy, that will maximize the number of people with new access to power services and expand power transmission and distribution.
(Sec. 108) Urges the Secretary of the Treasury to direct the U.S. Executive Directors of the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank to use U.S. the voice, vote, and influence to help ensure the Banks prioritize sub-Sahara Africa power sector and electrification investments.
(Sec. 109) Urges the United States African Development Foundation to seek opportunities to make grants and provide technical support to sub-Sahara Africa businesses and organizations that are developing on- and off-grid solutions to meet the power needs of underserved rural communities.
(Sec. 110) Urges the Millennium Challenge Corporation to prioritize: (1) assistance to support private and public sector efforts to increase access to and the reliability of electricity in such countries, including through on- and off-grid generation and electrical transmission and distribution projects; and (2) engagement with governments of those countries to assist in establishing legal, regulatory, policy, and institutional reforms related to power sector investments.
Title II: Overseas Private Investment Corporation - (Sec. 201) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize OPIC to make direct loans and issue investment insurance and investment loan guarantees through September 30, 2019.
(Sec. 202) Urges OPIC, with respect to sub-Saharan Africa, to:
(Sec. 204) Requires OPIC to establish five-year pilot programs under which:
(Sec. 206) Authorizes OPIC to insure, guarantee, or reinsure an equity investment in a renewable energy project in sub-Saharan Africa for up to 30 years.
(Sec. 207) Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to require OPIC to establish an Inspector General.
(Sec. 208) Requires OPIC to conduct an annual customer satisfaction survey, with particular attention to OPIC customers that are small businesses and cooperatives.
(Sec. 209) Authorizes OPIC to employ up to 20 individuals on a limited-appointment basis in support of power production and distribution efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.
(Sec. 210)Expresses the sense of Congress that appropriations for certain OPIC administrative expenses and activities for FY2015-FY2019 should be adjusted to reflect the resources needed to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(Sec. 211) Requires the OPIC Inspector General to report to Congress on the equity authority of OPIC to meet its statutory objectives effectively.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with amendments and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 113-219.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with amendments and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 113-219.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 489.
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