Energy Technology Transfer Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to award competitive grants to Cooperative Extension services or offices, states, local governments, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit institutions with expertise in energy research to transfer knowledge about advanced energy technologies that increase efficient energy use to individuals, businesses, nonprofit entities, and public entities, including local governments and school districts.
Requires an eligible grant applicant already to: (1) operate an outreach program capable of transferring such knowledge; or (2) partner with an entity that has such an outreach program.
Authorizes the Secretary and the National Laboratories to provide grantees with technical assistance on advanced energy technologies and methods.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5643 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5643
To authorize the commercial application and transfer of technologies
developed by the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 20, 2006
Mrs. Biggert (for herself, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Hall, and Mr. Gilchrest)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Science
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the commercial application and transfer of technologies
developed by the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Technology Transfer Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) Cooperative extension.--The term ``Cooperative
Extension'' means the extension services established at the
land-grant colleges and universities under the Smith-Lever Act
of May 8, 1914.
(2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Energy.
(3) Energy supply research and development programs.--The
term ``energy supply research and development programs'' means
the research, development, demonstration, and commercial
application programs in the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability, and the Office of Fossil Energy.
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(5) Land-grant colleges and universities.--The term ``land-
grant colleges and universities'' means--
(A) 1862 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601));
(B) 1890 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of
that Act); and
(C) 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of
that Act).
(6) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
has the meaning given the term ``nonmilitary energy
laboratory'' in section 903(3) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(42 U.S.C. 16182(3)).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
SEC. 3. PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--
(1) Grants.--The Secretary, through the energy supply
research and development programs of the Department, shall
carry out a program to award competitive, merit-reviewed grants
to Cooperative Extension services or offices, States, local
governments, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit
institutions with expertise in energy research or extension, or
consortia thereof, to conduct activities to transfer knowledge
and information about advanced energy technologies that
increase efficiency of energy use, especially those developed
at the National Laboratories and by the Department, to
individuals, businesses, nonprofit entities, and public
entities, including local governments and school districts.
(2) Requirement.--To receive funding under this Act, a
grant applicant must already operate an outreach program
capable of transferring knowledge and information about
advanced energy technologies that increase efficiency of energy
use, or must partner with an entity that has such an outreach
program.
(b) Uses of Funds.--Funds awarded under this Act may be used for
the following activities:
(1) Developing and distributing informational materials on
technologies that could use energy more efficiently.
(2) Carrying out small-scale projects to demonstrate
technologies that could use energy more efficiently.
(3) Developing and conducting seminars, workshops, long-
distance learning sessions, and other activities to aid in the
dissemination of knowledge and information on technologies that
could use energy more efficiently.
(4) Providing or coordinating onsite energy evaluations for
a wide range of energy end-users.
(5) Examining the energy efficiency needs of energy end-
users to develop recommended research projects for the
Department.
(6) Hiring experts in energy efficient technologies to
carry out activities described in paragraphs (1) through (5).
(7) Carrying out any other activities the Secretary
believes will accomplish the purposes described in subsection
(a)(1).
(c) Selection Process Application.--An applicant seeking funding
under this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require. The application shall include, at a minimum--
(1) a description of the applicant's current outreach
program and of why it would be capable of transferring
knowledge and information about advanced energy technologies
that increase efficiency of energy use;
(2) a description of the activities the applicant would
carry out, of the technologies that would be transferred, and
of who would be carrying out those activities;
(3) a description of how the proposed activities would be
appropriate to the specific energy needs of the area to be
served;
(4) an estimate of the number and types of energy end-users
expected to be reached through such activities; and
(5) a description of how the applicant will assess the
success of the program.
(d) Review of Applications.--In evaluating the applications
submitted under this Act, the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum--
(1) the ability of the applicant to effectively carry out
the proposed program;
(2) the appropriateness of the applicant's outreach program
for carrying out the program described in this Act; and
(3) the likelihood that proposed activities could be
expanded or used as a model for other areas.
(e) Awards.--
(1) Distribution.--In making awards under this Act, the
Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, the
program enables the transfer of knowledge and information about
a variety of technologies and enables the transfer of knowledge
and information in a variety of geographic areas.
(2) Focus.--In making awards under this Act, the Secretary
shall give priority to applicants that would significantly
expand on or fill a gap in existing programs in a geographical
region.
(f) Cost Sharing.--The Secretary shall require cost-sharing in
accordance with the requirements of section 988 of the Energy Policy
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352) for commercial application activities.
(g) Duration.--
(1) Initial grant period.--A grant awarded under this Act
shall be for a period of 5 years.
(2) Initial evaluation.--Each grantee under this Act shall
be evaluated during its third year of operation under
procedures established by the Secretary to determine if the
grantee is accomplishing the purposes of this Act described in
subsection (a)(1). The Secretary shall terminate any grant that
does not receive a positive evaluation. If an evaluation is
positive, the Secretary may extend the grant for 3 additional
years beyond the original term of the grant.
(3) Additional extension.--If a grantee receives an
extension under paragraph (2), the grantee shall be evaluated
again during the second year of the extension. The Secretary
shall terminate any grant that does not receive a positive
evaluation. If an evaluation is positive, the Secretary may
extend the grant for a final additional period of 3 additional
years beyond the original extension.
(4) Limitation.--No grantee may receive more than 11 years
of support under this Act without reapplying for support and
competing against all other applicants seeking a grant at that
time.
(h) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary and the National
Laboratories may provide technical assistance on advanced energy
technologies and methods to grantees.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section--
(1) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $27,375,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(4) $32,900,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
(5) $36,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science.
For Further Action See H.R.5656.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
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