1.Clean energy technology business
competition grant program
(a)The Secretary of Energy (referred to in
this section as the Secretary
) may provide grants to
organizations to conduct business competitions that provide incentives,
training, and mentorship to entrepreneurs and early stage start-up companies
throughout the United States to meet high priority economic, environmental, and
energy security goals in areas including energy efficiency, renewable energy,
air quality, water quality and conservation, transportation, smart grid, green
buildings, and waste management.
(b)
(1)The competitions described in subsection
(a) shall have the purposes of—
(A)accelerating the development and deployment
of clean energy technology businesses and green jobs;
(B)stimulating green economic
development;
(C)providing business training and mentoring
to early stage clean energy technology companies; and
(D)strengthening the competitiveness of United
States clean energy technology industry in world trade markets.
(2)Priority shall be given to business
competitions that—
(A)are led by the private sector;
(B)encourage regional and interregional
cooperation; and
(C)can demonstrate the creation of
cost-effective green jobs through an annual publication of competition
activities and directory of companies.
(c)
(1)To be eligible for a grant under this
section, an organization shall be—
(A)an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under
501(a) of that Code; or
(B)any sponsored entity of an organization
described in subparagraph (A) that is operated as a nonprofit entity.
(2)In making grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to organizations that can demonstrate broad
funding support from private and other non-Federal funding sources to leverage
Federal investment.
(d)Authorization of
appropriationsThere is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000.