[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3585 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3585

   To guide and provide for United States research, development, and 
  demonstration of solar energy technologies, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 16, 2009

 Ms. Giffords introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on Science and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To guide and provide for United States research, development, and 
  demonstration of solar energy technologies, 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 ``Solar Technology Roadmap Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            (2) Solar technology.--The term ``solar technology'' 
        means--
                    (A) photovoltaic technologies, including 
                technologies utilizing--
                            (i) crystalline silicon;
                            (ii) cadmium telluride;
                            (iii) semiconductor materials containing 
                        copper, indium, and selenium;
                            (iv) thin film silicon;
                            (v) gallium arsenide alloy and 
                        multijunctions;
                            (vi) dye-sensitized and organic solar cell 
                        technologies;
                            (vii) concentrating photovoltaics; and
                            (viii) other photovoltaic methods 
                        identified by the Secretary;
                    (B) solar thermal electric technology, including 
                linear concentrator systems, dish/engine systems, and 
                power tower systems;
                    (C) solar thermal water heating technology;
                    (D) solar heating and air conditioning 
                technologies;
                    (E) passive solar design in architecture, including 
                both heating and lighting applications; and
                    (F) related or enabling technologies, including 
                thin films, semiconducting materials, transparent 
                conductors, optics, and technologies that increase 
                durability or decrease cost or weight.

   TITLE I--SOLAR TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION

SEC. 101. PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a program of research, 
development, and demonstration for solar technology, including--
            (1) photovoltaics;
            (2) solar hot water and solar space heating and cooling;
            (3) concentrating solar power;
            (4) lighting systems that integrate sunlight and electrical 
        lighting in complement to each other in common lighting 
        fixtures for the purpose of improving energy efficiency;
            (5) manufacturability of low cost, high-quality solar 
        energy systems;
            (6) development of solar technology products that can be 
        easily integrated into new and existing buildings; and
            (7) other areas as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (b) Awards.--The Secretary shall provide awards under this section 
on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis to--
            (1) academic institutions, national laboratories, Federal 
        research agencies, State research agencies, nonprofit 
        organizations, industrial entities, or consortia thereof for 
        research, development, and demonstration activities; and
            (2) industry-led consortia for research, development, and 
        demonstration of advanced techniques for manufacturing a 
        variety of solar energy products.
    (c) Objective.--It is the policy of the United States that at least 
75 percent of funding for solar technology research, development, and 
demonstration activities conducted by the Department of Energy after 
fiscal year 2014 support activities identified by and recommended under 
the Solar Technology Roadmap as described in section 102.

SEC. 102. SOLAR TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Solar Technology Roadmap Committee 
established under section 103 shall develop and transmit to the 
Secretary of Energy and the Congress a Solar Technology Roadmap that--
            (1) presents the best current estimate of the near-term (up 
        to 2 years), mid-term (up to 7 years), and long-term (up to 15 
        years) research, development, and demonstration needs in solar 
        technology; and
            (2) provides guidance to the solar technology research, 
        development, and demonstration activities supported by the 
        Federal Government for the purposes of meeting national 
        priorities in energy security, United States competitiveness, 
        climate change mitigation, and energy diversification.
    (b) Contents.--The Solar Technology Roadmap shall--
            (1) identify research, development, and demonstration needs 
        to address--
                    (A) the key solar energy production challenges of 
                intermittency, transience, storage, and scaling, 
                including determining--
                            (i) which solar-related technological 
                        solutions are appropriate for various 
                        applications, locations, and seasons;
                            (ii) how to store excess solar energy in 
                        batteries, supercapacitors, compressed air, 
                        flywheels, hydrogen, synthetic fuels, thermal 
                        storage, or superconductors, or through other 
                        means;
                            (iii) how and when to integrate solar 
                        energy into the electricity grid effectively, 
                        including--
                                    (I) the integration of solar 
                                technologies with a Smart Grid;
                                    (II) electrical power smoothing;
                                    (III) microgrid integration;
                                    (IV) solar resource forecasting;
                                    (V) long distance transmission; and
                                    (VI) ways to address arbitrage over 
                                minutes, hours, days, weeks, and 
                                seasons with respect to the full range 
                                of project scales; and
                            (iv) how best to integrate solar 
                        technologies into buildings;
                    (B) modeling and simulation;
                    (C) the design, materials, and manufacture of solar 
                technologies, as well as related factory sciences;
                    (D) the development of standards;
                    (E) the need for demonstration facilities;
                    (F) optimized packaging methods; and
                    (G) environmental, safety, and health concerns 
                including reuse, recycling, hazardous materials 
                disposal, and photovoltaic waste issues;
            (2) identify opportunities for coordination with partner 
        industries such as those for semiconductors, LED lighting, 
        energy storage, Smart Grid, and wind that can benefit from 
        similar advances;
            (3) establish research, development, and demonstration 
        goals with specific timeframes with respect to solar 
        technologies for--
                    (A) improving performance;
                    (B) decreasing cost of electricity generated;
                    (C) improving reliability; and
                    (D) decreasing negative environmental impacts and 
                maximizing the environmental benefits of solar 
                technologies by examining life-cycle assessments of 
                greenhouse gas emissions, energy payback time, and 
                water usage; and
            (4) include recommendations, as appropriate, to guide solar 
        technology research, development, and demonstration activities.
    (c) Revisions and Updates.--
            (1) Revisions.--Once every 3 years after completion of the 
        first Solar Technology Roadmap under this Act, the Solar 
        Technology Roadmap Committee shall conduct a comprehensive 
        review and revision of the Solar Technology Roadmap.
            (2) Updates.--The Solar Technology Roadmap Committee shall 
        update the Solar Technology Roadmap annually as necessary.

SEC. 103. SOLAR TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 4 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish, and provide 
support for as necessary, a Solar Technology Roadmap Committee.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Solar Technology Roadmap Committee 
        shall consist of at least 11 members. Each member shall be 
        appointed by the Secretary from among subject matter experts 
        representing--
                    (A) different sectors of the solar technology 
                industry, including manufacturers and equipment 
                suppliers;
                    (B) national laboratories;
                    (C) academia;
                    (D) relevant Federal agencies;
                    (E) relevant State and local government entities; 
                and
                    (F) other entities or organizations, as 
                appropriate.
            (2) Terms.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), the term of a member of the Solar Technology 
                Roadmap Committee shall be 3 years.
                    (B) Original terms.--Of the members appointed 
                originally to the Solar Technology Roadmap Committee, 
                approximately \1/3\ shall be appointed for a 2-year 
                term, approximately \1/3\ shall be appointed for a 3-
                year term, and approximately \1/3\ shall be appointed 
                for a 4-year term.
            (3) Limit on terms.--A member of the Solar Technology 
        Roadmap Committee may serve more than 1 term, except that such 
        member may not serve a subsequent term unless 2 years have 
        elapsed since the end of a previous term.
            (4) Industry participation.--At least \1/3\ of the members 
        of the Solar Technology Roadmap Committee shall be individuals 
        described in paragraph (1)(A).
            (5) Chair.--The Secretary shall select a Chair from among 
        the members of the Committee. The Chair shall not be an 
        employee of the Federal Government.
    (c) Expert Advice.--In developing the Solar Technology Roadmap, the 
Solar Technology Roadmap Committee may establish subcommittees, working 
groups comprised of experts outside the membership of the Solar 
Technology Roadmap Committee, and other means of gathering expert 
advice on--
            (1) particular solar technologies or technological 
        challenges;
            (2) crosscutting issues or activities relating to more than 
        1 particular solar technology or technological challenge; or
            (3) any other area the Solar Technology Roadmap Committee 
        considers appropriate.
    (d) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Solar Technology Roadmap 
Committee.

SEC. 104. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.

    The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
coordinate Federal interagency activities identified in and related to 
the Solar Technology Roadmap.

SEC. 105. SOLAR TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

    (a) Establishment of Program.--The Secretary shall establish a 
program to provide grants for demonstration projects to support the 
development of solar energy production, consistent with the Solar 
Technology Roadmap.
    (b) Implementation.--In carrying out the demonstration program 
under this section, to the extent practicable, the Secretary shall--
            (1) include at least 10 photovoltaic technology projects 
        that generate between 1 and 3 megawatts;
            (2) include at least 2 but not more than 3 solar thermal 
        electric technology projects that generate greater than 30 
        megawatts; and
            (3) make awards for projects that--
                    (A) are located and can be replicated at a wide 
                range of sites;
                    (B) demonstrate technologies that address 
                intermittency, transience, and storage challenges;
                    (C) facilitate identification of optimum techniques 
                among competing alternatives;
                    (D) include business commercialization plans that 
                have the potential for production of equipment at high 
                volumes;
                    (E) improve United States competitiveness and lead 
                to development of manufacturing technology;
                    (F) demonstrate positive environmental performance 
                through life-cycle analysis; and
                    (G) satisfy other criteria that the Secretary 
                considers necessary to carry out the program.
    (c) Grant Awards.--Funding provided under this section may be used, 
to the extent that funding is not otherwise available through other 
Federal programs or power purchase agreements, for--
            (1) a necessary and appropriate site engineering study;
            (2) a detailed economic assessment of site-specific 
        conditions;
            (3) appropriate feasibility studies to determine whether 
        the demonstration can be replicated;
            (4) installation of equipment, service, and support;
            (5) operation for a minimum of 3 years and monitoring for 
        the duration of the demonstration; and
            (6) validation of technical, economic, and environmental 
        assumptions and documentation of lessons learned.
    (d) Grant Selection.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
conduct a national solicitation for applications for grants under this 
section. Grant recipients shall be selected on a merit-reviewed, 
competitive basis. The Secretary shall give preference to proposals 
that address multiple elements described in subsection (b).
    (e) Limitations.--Funding shall not be provided under this section 
for more than 50 percent of the costs of the project for which 
assistance is provided. Not more than a total of $300,000,000 shall be 
provided under this section for the period encompassing fiscal years 
2011 through 2015.

SEC. 106. PHOTOVOLTAIC PERFORMANCE STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress the 
results of a study that analyzes the performance of photovoltaic 
installations in the United States. The study shall assess the current 
performance of photovoltaic installations and identify opportunities to 
improve the energy productivity of these systems through management, 
technology, and installation best practices. Such study shall include--
            (1) identification of the average energy productivity of 
        current commercial and residential installations;
            (2) assessment of areas where energy productivity is 
        reduced, including wire loss, module mismatch, shading, dust, 
        and other factors;
            (3) identification of practices and technologies that 
        improve energy productivity;
            (4) analysis of the potential cost savings and energy 
        productivity gains to the Federal, State, and local 
        governments, utilities, private enterprise, and consumers 
        available through the adoption, installation, and use of high-
        performance photovoltaic technologies and practices; and
            (5) an overview of current government incentives at the 
        Federal, State, and local levels that encourage the adoption of 
        highly efficient photovoltaic systems and practices.
    (b) Public Input.--The Secretary shall ensure that interested 
stakeholders, including affected industry stakeholders and energy 
efficiency advocates, have a meaningful opportunity to provide 
comments, data, and other information on the scope, contents, and 
conclusions of the study.

SEC. 107. SOLAR ENERGY PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary to carry out section 101(a)--
            (1) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            (2) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            (3) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2013;
            (4) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2014; and
            (5) $550,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.
    (b) Roadmap Identified Activities.--The Secretary shall dedicate a 
percentage of funding received pursuant to subsection (a) for research, 
development, and demonstration activities identified by and recommended 
under the Solar Technology Roadmap in the following percentages:
            (1) For fiscal year 2012, at least 30 percent.
            (2) For fiscal year 2013, at least 45 percent.
            (3) For fiscal year 2014, at least 60 percent.
            (4) For fiscal year 2015, at least 75 percent.
    (c) Solar Technology Roadmap.--The Secretary may use up to 
$2,000,000 of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) for 
each fiscal year to support the establishment and maintenance of the 
Solar Technology Roadmap.
    (d) Extension of Authorizations.--Of funds authorized by subsection 
(a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out--
            (1) section 602 of the Energy Independence and Security Act 
        of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17171) $12,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
        years 2013 through 2015; and
            (2) section 604 of the Energy Independence and Security Act 
        of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17172) $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
        years 2013 through 2015.

SEC. 108. EXISTING PROGRAMS.

    Except as otherwise specified in this Act, this Act shall supersede 
any duplicative or conflicting solar research, development, and 
demonstration programs within the Department of Energy.

SEC. 109. REPEALS.

    The following are hereby repealed:
            (1) The Solar Energy Research, Development, and 
        Demonstration Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5551 et seq.), except for 
        section 10.
            (2) The Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, 
        and Demonstration Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5581 et seq.).
            (3) Section 4(a)(2) and (3) of the Renewable Energy and 
        Energy Efficiency Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 (42 
        U.S.C. 12003(a)(2) and (3)).

                    TITLE II--PHOTOVOLTAIC RECYCLING

SEC. 201. PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE RECYCLING RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND 
              DEMONSTRATION.

    (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``photovoltaic device'' 
includes photovoltaic cells and the electronic and electrical 
components of such devices.
    (b) In General.--In order to address the issues described in 
section 102(b)(1)(G), the Secretary shall award multiyear grants for 
research, development, and demonstration activities to create 
innovative and practical approaches to increase reuse and recycling of 
photovoltaic devices and, through such activities, to contribute to the 
professional development of scientists, engineers, and technicians in 
the fields of photovoltaic and electronic device manufacturing, design, 
refurbishing, and recycling. The activities supported under this 
section shall address--
            (1) technology to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic 
        device recycling and maximize the recovery of valuable raw 
        materials for use in new products while minimizing the life-
        cycle environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions 
        and water usage;
            (2) expanded uses for materials from recycled photovoltaic 
        devices;
            (3) development and demonstration of environmentally 
        responsible alternatives to the use of hazardous materials in 
        photovoltaic devices and the production of such devices;
            (4) development of methods to separate and remove hazardous 
        materials from photovoltaic devices and to recycle or dispose 
        of those materials in a safe manner;
            (5) product design and construction to facilitate 
        disassembly and recycling of photovoltaic devices;
            (6) tools and methods to aid in assessing the environmental 
        impacts of the production of photovoltaic devices and 
        photovoltaic device recycling and disposal;
            (7) product design and construction and other tools and 
        techniques to extend the life cycle of photovoltaic devices, 
        including methods to promote their safe reuse;
            (8) strategies to increase consumer acceptance and practice 
        of recycling of photovoltaic devices; and
            (9) processes to reduce the costs and environmental impact 
        of disposal of toxic materials used in photovoltaic devices.
    (c) Merit Review.--Grants shall be awarded under this section on a 
merit-reviewed, competitive basis.
    (d) Applications.--Each application shall include a description 
of--
            (1) the project that will be undertaken and the 
        contributions of each participating entity;
            (2) the applicability of the project to increasing reuse 
        and recycling of photovoltaic devices with the least 
        environmental impacts as measured by life-cycle analyses, and 
        the potential for incorporating the research results into 
        industry practice; and
            (3) how the project will promote collaboration among 
        scientists and engineers from different disciplines, such as 
        electrical engineering, materials science, and social science.
    (e) Dissemination of Results.--The results of activities supported 
under this section shall be made publicly available through--
            (1) development of best practices or training materials for 
        use in the photovoltaics manufacturing, design, refurbishing, 
        or recycling industries;
            (2) dissemination at industry conferences;
            (3) coordination with information dissemination programs 
        relating to recycling of electronic devices in general;
            (4) demonstration projects; and
            (5) educational materials for the public produced in 
        conjunction with State and local governments or nonprofit 
        organizations on the problems and solutions related to reuse 
        and recycling of photovoltaic devices.
    (f) Photovoltaic Materials Physical Property Database.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        initiative to develop a comprehensive physical property 
        database of materials for use in photovoltaic devices.
            (2) Priorities.--The Secretary, working with private 
        industry, shall develop a plan to establish priorities and 
        requirements for the database under this subsection.
            (3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate with the 
        Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
        and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
        facilitate the incorporation of the database under this 
        subsection with any existing ``green'' database for electronic 
        manufacturing and recycling.
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