1.Energy-related research and
development
(a)Congress
finds that—
(1)information and
opinions provided by individuals and entities of the academic and industrial
sectors should be an important consideration with respect to energy-related
research and development activities carried out by the Federal
Government;
(2)in carrying out
energy-related research and development activities, the Federal Government
should regularly seek input from multiple sources, including the industrial
sector, academia, and other relevant sectors;
(3)research is
better focused around well-defined problems that need to be resolved;
(4)a number of
potential problems to be resolved are likely to require input from a diverse
selection of technologies and contributing sectors;
(5)sharing of
information relating to energy research and development is important to the
development and innovation of energy technologies;
(6)necessary
intellectual property protection can lead to delays in sharing valuable
information that could aid in resolving major energy-related problems;
(7)the Federal
Government should facilitate the sharing of information from a diverse array of
industries by ensuring the protection of intellectual property while
simultaneously creating an environment of openness and cooperation; and
(8)the Federal
Government should revise the methods of the Federal Government regarding
energy-related research and development to encourage faster development and
implementation of energy technologies.
(b)In
this section:
(1)The
term network means the Energy Technologies Innovation Network
established by subsection (d)(1).
(2)The
term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.
(3)The
term survey means a survey conducted pursuant to subsection
(c).
(c)Energy-related
research and development priorities
(1)Not less frequently than once every 5 years, the
Secretary shall conduct a survey in accordance with this subsection to
determine the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems to resolve to ensure
the goals of—
(A)maximizing the
energy security of the United States;
(B)maximizing
improvements in energy efficiency within the United States; and
(C)minimizing damage
to the economy and the environment of the United States.
(2)
(A)Each survey shall contain a request that the respondent
shall list, in descending order of priority, the 10 highest-priority
energy-related problems that, in the opinion of the respondent, require
resolution as quickly as practicable to ensure the goals described in paragraph
(1).
(B)The
Secretary shall announce the existence of each survey by—
(i)publishing an
announcement in the Federal Register; and
(ii)placing an
announcement in a prominent position on the homepage of the website of the
Department of the Energy.
(C)The
Secretary shall ensure that each survey is made available—
(i)in
an electronic format only through a link on the Department of Energy
website;
(ii)for a period of
not less than 21 days and not more than 30 days; and
(iii)to any
individual or entity that elects to participate.
(D)Additional
information gatheringEach survey—
(i)shall require
each respondent to provide information regarding—
(I)the age of the
respondent;
(II)the occupational
category of the respondent;
(III)the period of
time during which the respondent has held the current occupation of the
respondent; and
(IV)the State and
country in which the respondent resides; and
(ii)may request, but
shall not require—
(I)the name of the
respondent;
(II)an
identification of the employer of the respondent;
(III)the electronic
mail address of the respondent; and
(IV)such other
information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(E)The
Secretary shall seek responses to a survey from appropriate representatives
of—
(i)the
energy, transportation, manufacturing, construction, mining, and electronic
industries;
(ii)academia;
(iii)research
facilities;
(iv)nongovernmental
organizations;
(v)the
Federal Government; and
(vi)units of State
and local government.
(F)The Secretary shall ensure that each survey is
conducted, to the maximum extent practicable—
(i)in
a transparent, nonpolitical, and scientific manner; and
(ii)without any
political bias.
(G)Not
later than 180 days after the date on which a survey under this subsection is
no longer available under subparagraph (C)(ii), the Secretary shall submit to
Congress and make available to the public (including through publication in the
Federal Register and on the website of the Department of Energy) a report
that—
(i)describes the
results of the survey; and
(ii)includes a list
of the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems based on all responses to
the survey.
(3)Effect of
results on energy-related research and development
(A)Subject to subparagraph (B), on receipt of a report under
paragraph (2)(G), the Secretary shall ensure that, during the 5-year period
beginning on the date of receipt of the report, all energy-related research and
development activities of the Department of Energy are carried out for the
purpose of resolving, to the maximum extent practicable, the 10 problems
included on the list of the report under paragraph (2)(G)(ii).
(B)In addition to the activities described in subparagraph
(A), during the 5-year period beginning on the date of receipt of a report
under paragraph (2)(G), the Secretary may carry out, using the same quantity of
resources as are allocated to any 1 energy-related problem included on the list
of the report under paragraph (2)(G)(ii), energy-related research and
development activities for the purpose of resolving, to the maximum extent
practicable, 2 additional energy-related problems that—
(i)are
not included on the list; and
(ii)are
high-priority energy-related problems, as determined by the Secretary.
(d)Energy
Technologies Innovation Network
(1)There
is established an information and collaboration network, to be known as the
Energy Technologies Innovation Network
.
(2)The
purpose of the network shall be to provide a forum through which interested
parties (including scientists and entrepreneurs) can present, discuss, and
collaborate with respect to information and ideas relating to energy
technologies.
(3)
(A)The Secretary shall offer to enter into a contract, after
an open bidding process, with a third party to operate the network.
(B)The
third party selected under subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)have experience
with respect to the establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive database
of Federal research and development projects that is—
(I)easily
searchable;
(II)open to the
public; and
(III)capable of
expansion;
(ii)provide a secure
electronic forum to enable collaboration among users of the network; and
(iii)collaborate
with the Secretary to protect the intellectual property rights of individual
users and governmental agencies participating in the network in accordance with
paragraph (6).
(4)Each research laboratory or other facility that
receives Federal funding shall provide to the network the results of the
research conducted using that funding, regardless of whether the research
relates to energy, subject to the condition that revelation of the research
will not adversely effect national security.
(5)Other entities, including entities in the academic
and industrial sectors and individuals, may participate in the network to
actively contribute to resolving—
(A)the
energy-related problems included on the list of the report under subsection
(c)(2)(G)(ii); or
(B)any other
energy-related problem that the contributor determines would advance the goals
described in subsection (c)(1).
(6)Protection of
information and ideasIn collaborating with a third party in
operating the network under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall employ such
individuals and entities with experience relating to—
(A)intellectual
property as the Secretary determines to be necessary to ensure that—
(i)information and
ideas presented, and discussed in the network are—
(I)monitored with
respect to the intellectual property owners and components of the information
or ideas; and
(II)protected in
accordance with applicable Federal intellectual property law (including
regulations);
(ii)information and
ideas developed within the network are—
(I)monitored with
respect to the intellectual property components of the developers of the
information or ideas; and
(II)protected in
accordance with applicable Federal intellectual property law (including
regulations); and
(iii)contributors to
the network are provided adequate assurances that intellectual property rights
of the contributors will be protected with respect to participation in the
network;
(B)setting up,
maintaining, and operating a network that ensures security and
reliability.
(e)Authorization
of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated such
sums as are necessary to carry out this section.