[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3585 Reported in House (RH)]
Union Calendar No. 169
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3585
[Report No. 111-302]
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
October 15, 2009
Additional sponsors: Mr. Gordon of Tennessee, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Lujan, Mr.
Honda, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Inslee, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Baird,
Mr. McCaul, Mrs. Bono Mack, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Peters, Mr. Klein of
Florida, Mr. Hall of New York, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Carnahan, Ms.
Slaughter, Mrs. Halvorson, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Welch, Mrs.
Miller of Michigan, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mrs. Davis of California,
Mr. Higgins, Mr. Polis of Colorado, Mr. Wamp, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Rothman
of New Jersey, Mr. Himes, and Mr. Young of Florida
October 15, 2009
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on
September 16, 2009]
_______________________________________________________________________
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
to promote a diversity of research, development, and demonstration
activities for solar technology on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis
to--
(1) academic institutions, national laboratories, Federal
research agencies, State research agencies, nonprofit research
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) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress 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 a diversity of activities identified by and
recommended under the Solar Technology Roadmap as described in section
102.
(d) Special Consideration.--As a criteria for providing awards
under this Act, the Secretary shall consider areas with high
unemployment.
(e) Competitiveness.--In carrying out section 105, the Department
of Energy shall strongly consider projects utilizing solar technologies
manufactured in the United States.
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,
mitigation of adverse environmental impacts, and energy
diversification.
(b) Contents.--The Solar Technology Roadmap shall--
(1) identify research, development, and demonstration needs
for a diversity of solar technologies 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
options, including direct current and
superconducting 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;
(G) environmental, safety, and health concerns
including reuse, recycling, hazardous materials
disposal, and photovoltaic waste issues; and
(H) other areas identified by the Secretary;
(2) identify opportunities for coordination with partner
industries such as those for semiconductors, lighting, energy
storage, Smart Grid, and wind that can benefit from similar
advances;
(3) establish research, development, and demonstration
goals with recommended timeframes with respect to solar
technologies for--
(A) improving performance;
(B) decreasing cost of electricity generated;
(C) improving reliability; and
(D) decreasing potential negative environmental
impacts and maximizing the environmental benefits of
solar technologies;
(4) include recommendations, as appropriate, to guide solar
technology research, development, and demonstration activities;
and
(5) outline the various technologies and practices
considered by the Committee and the benefits and shortcomings
of each, as appropriate.
(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 domestic solar
technology industry, including manufacturers and
equipment suppliers;
(B) national laboratories;
(C) academia;
(D) relevant Federal agencies;
(E) relevant State and local government entities;
(F) private research institutions; and
(G) 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\ and not more
than \1/2\ 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.
(6) Conflicts of interest.--The Secretary, in appointing
members to the Committee, shall make every effort to ensure
that--
(A) no individual appointed to serve on the
Committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant
to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict
is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Secretary
determines that a waiver is appropriate;
(B) the Committee membership is fairly balanced as
determined by the Secretary to be appropriate for the
functions to be performed; and
(C) the final report of the Committee will be the
result of the Committee's independent judgment.
The Secretary shall require that individuals that are appointed
or intended to be to appointed to serve on the Committee inform
the Department of Energy of any individual's conflicts of
interest that are relevant to the functions to be performed.
(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) Compensation and Expenses.--A member of the Solar Technology
Roadmap Committee shall not be compensated for service on the
Committee, but may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of
title 5, United States Code.
(e) 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
review and coordinate Federal interagency activities identified in and
related to the Solar Technology Roadmap as appropriate.
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 as available.
(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 3 but not more than 5 solar 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) are located and can be replicated in a variety
of regions and climates;
(C) demonstrate technologies that address
intermittency, transience, storage challenges, and
independent operational capability;
(D) facilitate identification of optimum techniques
among competing alternatives;
(E) include business commercialization plans that
have the potential for production of equipment at high
volumes;
(F) improve United States competitiveness and lead
to development of manufacturing technology;
(G) demonstrate positive environmental performance
through life-cycle analysis;
(H) provide the greatest potential to reduce energy
costs for consumers;
(I) promote overall electric infrastructure
reliability and sustainability should grid functions be
disrupted or damaged; and
(J) 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 and
the Solar Technology Roadmap Committee 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. 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 technology development and technical
standards 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. All forums for the Department to receive this
input from interested stakeholders shall be announced in the Federal
Register.
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;
(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;
(3) section 605 of the Energy Independence and Security Act
of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17173) $3,500,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2013 through 2015; and
(4) section 606 of the Energy Independence and Security Act
of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17174) $2,500,000 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 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
research 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 a
comprehensive physical property database of materials for use
in photovoltaic devices. This database shall include--
(A) identification of materials used in
photovoltaic devices;
(B) a list of commercially available amounts of
these materials;
(C) amounts of these materials projected to be
available through mining or recycling of photovoltaic
and other electronic devices; and
(D) a list of other significant uses for each of
these materials.
(2) Priorities.--The Secretary, working with private
industry, shall develop a plan to establish priorities and
requirements for the database under this subsection, including
the protection of proprietary information, trade secrets, and
other confidential business information.
(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 database for electronic
manufacturing and recycling.
Union Calendar No. 169
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3585
[Report No. 111-302]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To guide and provide for United States research, development, and
demonstration of solar energy technologies, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
October 15, 2009
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed