[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1020 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1020

To move toward energy independence through a coordinated development of 
renewable energy sources, including wave, solar, wind, geothermal, and 
                          biofuels production.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 28, 2007

 Mrs. Hutchison (for herself, Mr. Stevens, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Allard, 
and Mr. Cornyn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To move toward energy independence through a coordinated development of 
renewable energy sources, including wave, solar, wind, geothermal, and 
                          biofuels production.

    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 ``Creating Renewable Energy through 
Science and Technology Act'' or the ``CREST Act''.

SEC. 2. RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et 
seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 16 as section 17; and
            (2) by inserting after section 15 the following:

``SEC. 16. RENEWABLE ENERGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Director of the Foundation shall 
establish the Council on Renewable Energy (referred to in this section 
as the `CORE') to--
            ``(1) advise Congress on renewable energy development, 
        strategy, research, and marketability; and
            ``(2) facilitate collaboration among Federal agencies 
        regarding the execution of national renewable energy 
        objectives.
    ``(b) Duties.--The CORE shall--
            ``(1) promote renewable energy research and development in 
        the areas of wind, wave, solar, geothermal, and biofuels 
        production, particularly cellulosic;
            ``(2) consult with renewable energy experts regarding 
        renewable energy policies and make policy recommendations to 
        Federal agencies; and
            ``(3) identify and recommend public and private research 
        institutions to carry out renewable energy research described 
        in paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--The CORE shall consist of the following 
        members (or their designees):
                    ``(A) The Secretary of Energy.
                    ``(B) The Secretary of Agriculture.
                    ``(C) The Secretary of Commerce.
                    ``(D) The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration.
                    ``(E) The Director of the Office of Science and 
                Technology Policy.
                    ``(F) Representatives from public laboratories.
                    ``(G) Representatives of industry and trade groups.
                    ``(H) Representatives of State agencies.
            ``(2) Selection process.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this section, the Director of the 
        Foundation, in consultation with the members listed in 
        subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1), shall select 
        the members listed in subparagraphs (F) through (H) of 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(d) Meetings.--
            ``(1) Chairperson.--The CORE shall select a Chairperson 
        from among its members.
            ``(2) Meetings.--The CORE shall convene, in person or by 
        electronic means, at least 4 times a year, at the call of the 
        Chairperson.
            ``(3) Quorum.--A majority of the members serving on the 
        Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of 
        conducting the business of the Advisory Committee.
    ``(e) Powers.--
            ``(1) Hearings.--The CORE may hold such hearings, sit and 
        act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive 
        such evidence as the CORE considers advisable to carry out the 
        purposes of this section.
            ``(2) Personnel matters.--
                    ``(A) Compensation.--Members of the CORE shall 
                serve without compensation, but shall receive travel 
                expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
                accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, 
                United States Code.
                    ``(B) Staff.--The Chairperson may, without regard 
                to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint, 
                terminate, and set the compensation of an executive 
                director and such other additional personnel as may be 
                necessary to enable the CORE to perform the duties 
                described in subsection (b).
            ``(3) Cooperation.--The CORE may secure directly from any 
        Federal agency or private entity such information as the CORE 
        considers necessary to perform the duties described in 
        subsection (b).
    ``(f) Annual Report.--The CORE shall submit an annual report to 
Congress that contains--
            ``(1) a summary of the CORE's activities;
            ``(2) recommendations regarding Federal funding for 
        renewable energy development research; and
            ``(3) recommendations regarding the expenditure of such 
        funding on the particular renewable energy sources specified in 
        subsection (b)(1).
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
section.''.
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