[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2986 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 379
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2986
[Report No. 116-472]
To amend the United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007
to establish a research, development, and demonstration program for
grid-scale energy storage systems, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 23, 2019
Mr. Foster (for himself, Mr. Casten of Illinois, Ms. Herrera Beutler,
and Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
August 7, 2020
Additional sponsors: Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Welch, Mr. Bacon, Mr.
Grijalva, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Lipinski, Mr.
Stivers, Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. McHenry, Mr. Case, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Weber
of Texas, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Spanberger, Mr. Katko, Ms. Kuster
of New Hampshire, Mr. Kind, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Cox of
California, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Himes, Ms. Haaland, Mrs.
Luria, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Smith
of New Jersey, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Brindisi, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Connolly, Mr.
Kim, Mr. Schneider, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Mr. Harder
of California, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Keating, Mr. Meeks, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms.
Johnson of Texas, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Ms.
Barragan, Mr. Cole, Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. Meuser, Mr. McAdams, Ms.
Sherrill, Mr. Olson, Mr. DeFazio, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Steil, Mr. Soto, Ms.
Judy Chu of California, Mr. Cicilline, Miss Rice of New York, Mr.
Khanna, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Crist, Mr. Joyce of Ohio, Mr. Aguilar, Ms.
Brownley of California, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mrs. Rodgers
of Washington, Mr. Phillips, Mr. San Nicolas, Ms. Bonamici, Mr.
Thompson of California, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Rose of New York, Mrs. Watson
Coleman, Mr. Golden, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Gallego, Ms. Eshoo,
Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Bera, Mr. Heck,
Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Amodei, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Lujan, Mr.
Horsford, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Curtis, Ms. Titus, Mr. Trone, Mr. Peters,
Ms. Craig, and Ms. Stevens
August 7, 2020
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 May 23,
2019]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007
to establish a research, development, and demonstration program for
grid-scale energy storage systems, 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 ``Better Energy Storage Technology
Act'' or the ``BEST Act''.
SEC. 2. ENERGY STORAGE.
(a) In General.--The United States Energy Storage Competitiveness
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17231) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (l) through (p) as
subsections (p) through (t), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (k) the following:
``(l) Energy Storage Research and Development Program.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of the Better Energy Storage Technology Act, the
Secretary shall establish a research and development program
for energy storage systems, components, and materials across
multiple program offices of the Department.
``(2) Requirements.--In carrying out the program under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
``(A) coordinate across all relevant program
offices throughout the Department, including the Office
of Electricity, the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, the Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Energy, the Office of Science, and the Office of
Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response;
``(B) adopt long-term cost, performance, and
demonstration targets for different types of energy
storage systems and for use in a variety of regions,
including rural areas;
``(C) incorporate considerations of sustainability,
sourcing, recycling, reuse, and disposal of materials,
including critical elements, in the design of energy
storage systems;
``(D) identify energy storage duration needs;
``(E) analyze the need for various types of energy
storage to improve electric grid resilience and
reliability; and
``(F) support research and development of advanced
manufacturing technologies that have the potential to
improve United States competitiveness in energy storage
manufacturing.
``(3) Strategic plan.--
``(A) In general.--No later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of the Better Energy Storage
Technology Act, the Secretary shall develop a 5-year
strategic plan identifying research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application goals for the
program in accordance with this section. The Secretary
shall submit this plan to the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of
the Senate.
``(B) Contents.--The strategic plan submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) identify programs at the Department
related to energy storage systems that support
the research and development activities
described in paragraph (4), and the
demonstration projects under subsection (m);
and
``(ii) include timelines for the
accomplishment of goals developed under the
plan.
``(C) Updates to plan.--Not less frequently than
once every 3 years, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources of the Senate an updated version
of the plan under subparagraph (A).
``(4) Research and development.--In carrying out the
program established in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall focus
on developing--
``(A) energy storage systems that can store energy
and deliver stored energy for a minimum of 6 hours in
duration to balance electricity needs over the course
of a single day;
``(B) long-duration energy storage systems that can
store energy and deliver stored energy for 10 to 100
hours in duration; and
``(C) energy storage systems that can store energy
and deliver stored energy over several months and
address seasonal scale variations in supply and demand.
``(5) Testing and validation.--The Secretary shall support
the standardized testing and validation of energy storage
systems under the program through collaboration with 1 or more
National Laboratories, including the development of
methodologies to independently validate energy storage
technologies by--
``(A) performance of energy storage systems on the
electric grid, including--
``(i) when appropriate, testing of
application-driven charge and discharge
protocols;
``(ii) evaluation of power capacity and
energy output;
``(iii) degradation of the energy storage
systems from cycling and aging;
``(iv) safety; and
``(v) reliability testing under grid duty
cycles; and
``(B) prediction of lifetime metrics.
``(6) Coordination.--In carrying out this subsection, the
Secretary shall coordinate with--
``(A) programs and offices that aim to increase
domestic manufacturing and production of energy storage
systems, such as those within the Department and within
the National Institute of Standards and Technology;
``(B) other Federal agencies that are carrying out
initiatives to increase energy reliability through the
development of energy storage systems, including the
Department of Defense; and
``(C) other stakeholders working to advance the
development of commercially viable energy storage
systems.
``(7) Technical assistance program.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall provide
technical assistance for commercial application of
energy storage technologies to eligible entities.
``(B) Technical assistance.--Technical assistance
provided under this paragraph--
``(i) may include assistance with--
``(I) assessment of relevant
technical and geographic
characteristics;
``(II) interconnection of
electricity storage systems with the
electric grid; and
``(III) engineering design; and
``(ii) may not include assistance relating
to modification of Federal, State, or local
regulations or policies with respect to energy
storage systems.
``(C) Applications.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall seek
applications for technical assistance and
grants under the program--
``(I) on a competitive basis; and
``(II) on a periodic basis, but not
less frequently than once every 12
months.
``(ii) Priorities.--In selecting eligible
entities for technical assistance for
commercial applications, the Secretary shall
give priority to eligible entities with
projects that have the greatest potential for--
``(I) strengthening the reliability
and resilience of the electric grid to
the impact of extreme weather events,
power grid failures, and interruptions
in supply of electricity;
``(II) reducing the cost of energy
storage systems; or
``(III) facilitating the use of net
zero emission energy resources.
``(8) Program defined.--In this subsection, the term
`program' means the research and development program
established under paragraph (1).''.
(b) Energy Storage Demonstration Program.--The United States Energy
Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17231), as amended, is
further amended by inserting after subsection (l), as added by
subsection (a), the following:
``(m) Energy Storage Demonstration Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a
competitive grant program for the demonstration of energy
storage systems, as identified by the Secretary, that use
either--
``(A) a single system; or
``(B) aggregations of multiple systems.
``(2) Eligibility.--Entities eligible to receive a grant
under paragraph (1) include--
``(A) a State, territory, or possession of the
United States;
``(B) a State energy office;
``(C) a tribal organization (as defined in section
3765 of title 38, United States Code);
``(D) an institution of higher education (as
defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001));
``(E) an electric utility, including--
``(i) a rural electric cooperative;
``(ii) a political subdivision of a State,
such as a municipally owned electric utility,
or any agency, authority, corporation, or
instrumentality of one or more State political
subdivisions; and
``(iii) an investor-owned utility; and
``(F) a private company, such as but not limited to
an energy storage company.
``(3) Selection requirements.--In selecting eligible
entities to receive a grant under this section, the Secretary
shall, to the maximum extent practicable--
``(A) ensure regional diversity among eligible
entities that receive the grants, including
participation by rural States and small States;
``(B) ensure that specific projects selected for
grants--
``(i) expand on the existing technology
demonstration programs of the Department of
Energy; and
``(ii) are designed to achieve one or more
of the objectives described in paragraph (4);
``(C) give consideration to proposals from eligible
entities for securing energy storage through
competitive procurement or contract for service; and
``(D) prioritize projects that leverage matching
funds from non-Federal sources.
``(4) Objectives.--Each demonstration project selected for
a grant under paragraph (1) shall include one or more of the
following objectives:
``(A) To improve the security of critical
infrastructure and emergency response systems.
``(B) To improve the reliability of the
transmission and distribution system, particularly in
rural areas, including high energy cost rural areas.
``(C) To optimize transmission or distribution
system operation and power quality to defer or avoid
costs of replacing or upgrading electric grid
infrastructure, including transformers and substations.
``(D) To supply energy at peak periods of demand on
the electric grid or during periods of significant
variation of electric grid supply or demand.
``(E) To reduce peak loads of homes and businesses,
particularly to defer or avoid investments in new
electric grid capacity.
``(F) To advance power conversion systems to make
the systems smarter, more efficient, able to
communicate with other inverters, and able to control
voltage.
``(G) To provide ancillary services for grid
stability and management.
``(H) To integrate one or more energy resources,
including renewable energy resources, at the source or
away from the source.
``(I) To increase the feasibility of microgrids or
islanding.
``(J) To enable the use of stored energy in forms
other than electricity to support the natural gas
system and other industrial processes.
``(5) Restriction on use of funds.--Any eligible entity
that receives a grant under paragraph (1) may only use the
grant to fund programs relating to the demonstration of energy
storage systems connected to the electric grid, or that
provides bi-directional energy storage capable of providing
back-up energy in the event of grid outages, including energy
storage systems sited behind a customer revenue meter.
``(6) Cost sharing.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall require cost sharing under this section in
accordance with section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(42 U.S.C. 16352).
``(7) No project ownership interest.--The United States
shall hold no equity or other ownership interest in an energy
storage system for which a grant is provided under paragraph
(1).
``(8) Rules and procedures; awarding of grants.--
``(A) Rules and procedures.--Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of the Better Energy
Storage Technology Act, the Secretary shall adopt rules
and procedures for carrying out the grant program under
subsection (m).
``(B) Awarding of grants.--Not later than 1 year
after the date on which the rules and procedures under
paragraph (A) are established, the Secretary shall
award the initial grants provided under this section.
``(9) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress and
make publicly available--
``(A) not less frequently than once every 2 years
for the duration of the grant program under subsection
(m), a report describing the performance of the grant
program, including a synthesis and analysis of any
information the Secretary requires grant recipients to
provide to the Secretary as a condition of receiving a
grant; and
``(B) on termination of the grant program under
subsection (m), an assessment of the success of, and
education provided by, the measures carried out by
grant recipients under the grant program.
``(10) Program defined.--In this subsection, the term
`program' means the demonstration program established under
paragraph (1).''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--The United States Energy
Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17231) is amended, in
subsection (t) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1))--
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``;''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) the research and development program for energy
storage systems under subsection (l)--
``(A) $62,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
``(B) $ 65,100,000 for fiscal year 2021;
``(C) $ 68,355,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(D) $ 71,773,000 for fiscal year 2023; and
``(E) $ 75,362,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
``(8) the demonstration program for energy storage systems
under subsection (m), $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020
through 2024.''.
SEC. 3. CRITICAL MINERAL RECYCLING AND REUSE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
The United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 (42
U.S.C. 17231) is amended by inserting after subsection (m), as added by
section 2(b) of this Act, the following:
``(n) Critical Mineral Recycling and Reuse Research, Development,
and Demonstration Program.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Critical mineral.--The term `critical
mineral' means any of a class of chemical elements that
have a high risk of a supply disruption and are
critical to one or more new, energy-related
technologies such that a shortage of such element would
significantly inhibit large-scale deployment of
technologies that store energy.
``(B) Recycling.--The term `recycling' means the
separation of critical minerals embedded within an
energy storage system through physical or chemical
means and reuse of those separated critical minerals in
other technologies.
``(2) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of the BEST Act, the Secretary shall
establish a research, development, and demonstration program of
recycling of energy storage systems containing critical
minerals.
``(3) Research, development, and demonstration.--In
carrying out the program, the Secretary may focus research,
development, and demonstration activities on--
``(A) technologies, process improvements, and
design optimizations that facilitate and promote
recycling, including--
``(i) improvement of efficiency and rates
of collection of products and scrap containing
critical minerals from consumer, industrial,
and other waste streams;
``(ii) separation and sorting of component
materials in energy storage systems containing
critical minerals, including improving the
recyclability of such energy storage systems;
``(iii) safe storage of energy storage
systems, including reducing fire risk;
``(iv) safe transportation of energy
storage systems and components; and
``(v) development of technologies to
advance energy storage recycling facility
infrastructure, including integrated recycling
facilities that can process multiple materials;
``(B) research and development of technologies that
mitigate emissions and environmental impacts that arise
from recycling, including disposal of toxic reagents
and byproducts related to recycling processes;
``(C) research and development of technologies to
enable recycling of critical materials from batteries
in electric vehicles;
``(D) research on and analysis of non-technical
barriers to improving the transportation of energy
storage systems containing critical minerals; and
``(E) research on technologies and methods to
enable the safe disposal of energy storage systems
containing critical minerals, including waste materials
and components recovered during the recycling process.
``(4) Report to congress.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of the BEST Act, and every 3 years
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
a report summarizing the activities, findings, and progress of
the program.
``(o) Definitions.--For purposes of subsections (l), (m), and (n),
the following definitions apply:
``(1) Energy storage system.--The term `energy storage
system' means a system, equipment, facility, or technology
relating to the electric grid that--
``(A) is capable of absorbing energy, storing such
energy for a period of time, and dispatching such
energy after storage; and
``(B) uses a mechanical, electrical, chemical,
electrochemical, or thermal process to store such
energy, or any other process that the Secretary
determines relevant.
``(2) Island.--The term `island' means one or more
distributed generators or energy storage systems that continues
to power a location in the absence of electricity from the
electric grid.
``(3) Microgrid.--The term `microgrid' means an integrated
energy system consisting of inter-connected loads and
distributed energy resources, including generators and energy
storage systems, within clearly defined electrical boundaries
that--
``(A) acts as a single controllable entity with
respect to the grid;
``(B) can connect and disconnect from the grid to
operate in either grid-connected mode or island-mode;
or
``(C) can operate in the absence of the grid.
``(4) National laboratory.--The term `national laboratory'
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).''.
Union Calendar No. 379
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2986
[Report No. 116-472]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007
to establish a research, development, and demonstration program for
grid-scale energy storage systems, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
August 7, 2020
Reported with an amendment; committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed