42 U.S.C. § 17156

Competitive grants

(a) In general

Of the total amount made available for each fiscal year to carry out this part, the Secretary shall use not less than 2 percent to provide grants under this section, on a competitive basis, to—

(1)

units of local government (including Indian tribes) that are not eligible entities; and

(2)

consortia of units of local government described in paragraph (1).

(b) Applications

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a unit of local government or consortia shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a plan of the unit of local government to carry out an activity described in section 17154 of this title .

In providing grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to units of local government—

(1)

located in States with populations of less than 2,000,000; or

(2)

that plan to carry out projects that would result in significant energy efficiency improvements or reductions in fossil fuel use.

( Pub. L. 110–140, title V, § 546 , Dec. 19, 2007 , 121 Stat. 1673 .)