42 USC 17375 - Regional clean energy innovation program

View all text of Part C [§ 17371 - § 17375]

§ 17375. Regional clean energy innovation program

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Regional clean energy innovation partnership

(2) Covered consortium

The term “covered consortium” means an individual or group of individuals in partnership with a government entity, including a State, territorial, local, or tribal government or unit of such government, and at least 2 or more of the following additional entities—

(A) an institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education, including community colleges;

(B) a workforce development program;

(D) a nonprofit organization;

(E) a community group or community-based organization;

(F) a labor organization or joint labor-management organization;

(G) a National Laboratory;

(H) a venture development organization;

(I) a community development financial institution or minority depository institution;

(J) a worker cooperative membership association or state or local employee ownership or cooperative development center;

(K) an organization focused on clean energy technology innovation or entrepreneurship;

(L) a business or clean energy accelerator or incubator;

(M) an economic development organization;

(N) a manufacturing facility or organization;

(O) a multi-institutional collaboration; or

(P) any other entity that the Secretary determines to be relevant.

(3) Program

(4) Institution of higher education

(5) National Laboratory

(6) Clean energy technology

(7) Community-based organization

(8) Community college

The term “community college” means—

(A) a public institution of higher education, including additional locations, at which the highest degree, or the predominantly awarded degree, is an associate degree; or

(B) any Tribal college or university (as defined in section 1059c of title 20).

(9) Workforce development program

(b) In general

The purposes of the Program established under subsection (b) are to—

(1) improve the competitiveness of United States’ clean energy technology research, development, demonstration, and commercial application; and

(2) support the development of tools and technologies best suited for use in diverse regions of the United States, including in rural, tribal, and low-income communities.

(d) Regional clean energy innovation partnerships

(1) In general

(2) Permissible activities

Grants awarded under this subsection shall be used for activities determined appropriate by the Secretary to achieve the purposes of the Program in subsection (c), including—

(A) facilitating the commercial application of clean energy products, processes, and services, including through research, development, demonstration, or technology transfer;

(B) planning among participants of a regional clean energy innovation partnership to improve the strategic and cost-effective coordination of the partnership;

(C) improving stakeholder involvement in the development of goals and activities of a regional clean energy innovation partnership;

(D) assessing different incentive mechanisms for clean energy development and commercial application in the region;

(E) hosting events and conferences; and

(F) establishing and updating roadmaps to measure progress on relevant goals, such as those relevant to metrics developed under subsection (g).

(3) Applications

Each application submitted to the Secretary under paragraph (1) may include—

(A) a list of members and roles of members of the covered consortia, as well as any other stakeholders supporting the activities of the regional clean energy innovation partnership;

(B) an assessment of the relevant clean energy innovation assets needed in a region to achieve proposed outcomes, such as education and workforce development programs, research facilities, infrastructure or site development, access to capital, manufacturing capabilities, or other assets;

(C) a description of proposed activities that the regional clean energy innovation partnership plans to undertake and how the proposed activities will achieve the purposes described in subsection (c);

(D) a plan for attracting additional funds and identification of funding sources from non-Federal sources to deliver the proposed outcomes of the regional clean energy innovation partnership;

(E) a plan for partnering and collaborating with community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions, labor organizations and community groups, worker cooperative membership associations, local and state employee ownership and cooperative development centers, and other local institutions in order to promote employee, community, and public ownership in the clean energy sector, and advance models of local economic development that build and retain wealth in the region;

(F) a plan for sustaining activities of the regional clean energy innovation partnership after funds received under this program have been expended; and

(G) a proposed budget, including financial contributions from non-Federal sources.

(4) Considerations

In selecting covered consortia for funding under the Program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable—

(A) give special consideration to applications from rural, tribal, and low-income communities; and

(B) ensure that there is geographic diversity among the covered consortia selected to receive funding.

(5) Award amount

(6) Cost share

(7) Duration

(8) Renewal

(9) Termination

(10) Administrative costs

(11) Funding

(e) Planning funds

(f) Information sharing

(g) Metrics

(h) Coordination

(i) Conflicts of interest

(j) Evaluation by Comptroller General

Not later than 3 years after August 9, 2022, and again 3 years later, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate an evaluation on the operation of the program during the most recent 3-year period, including—

(1) an assessment of the progress made towards achieving the purposes specified in subsection (c) based on the metrics developed under subsection (g);

(2) the short-term and long-term metrics used to determine the success of the program under subsection (g), and any changes recommended to the metrics used;

(3) the regional clean energy innovation partnerships established or supported by covered consortia that have received grants under subsection (d); and

(4) any recommendations on how the program may be improved.

(k) National Laboratories

(l) Security

(m) No funds for construction

(n) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 110–140, title IX, § 936, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VI, § 10622, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1660.)