[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2668 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 358
116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2668

To establish a program for research, development, and demonstration of 
           solar energy technologies, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 22, 2019

Ms. Sinema (for herself and Ms. McSally) introduced the following bill; 
   which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

                           December 17, 2019

              Reported by Ms. Murkowski, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a program for 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,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Solar Energy Research and 
Development Act of 2019''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this Act:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Economically distressed area.--The term 
        ``economically distressed area'' means an area described in 
        section 301(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act 
        of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3161(a)).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' 
        means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) an institution of higher 
                education;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) a National Laboratory;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) a Federal research agency;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) a State research agency;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) a nonprofit research 
                organization;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) an industrial entity; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) a consortium of 2 or more entities 
                described in subparagraphs (A) through (F).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Native American 
        Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 
        U.S.C. 4103).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) 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).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Photovoltaic device.--The term ``photovoltaic 
        device'' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) a device that converts light directly 
                into electricity through a solid-state, semiconductor 
                process;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the photovoltaic cells of a device 
                described in subparagraph (A); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the electronic and electrical 
                components of a device described in subparagraph 
                (A).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Program.--The term ``program'' means the 
        program established under section 3(a)(1).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
        Secretary of Energy.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Program.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        solar energy technology program under which the Secretary 
        shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) award grants on a competitive, merit-
                reviewed basis to eligible entities to conduct 
                research, development, testing, and evaluation of solar 
                energy technologies; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) carry out other activities in 
                accordance with this section.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Purposes.--The purposes of the program are the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) To improve the energy efficiency, 
                reliability, resilience, security, and capacity of 
                solar energy generation.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) To optimize the design and 
                adaptability of solar energy systems to the broadest 
                practical range of geographic and atmospheric 
                conditions.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) To reduce the cost of manufacturing, 
                installation, operation, and maintenance of solar 
                energy systems.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) To create and improve conversion of 
                solar energy to useful forms.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Targets.--In carrying out the program, the 
        Secretary shall address near-term (up to 2 years), mid-term (up 
        to 7 years), and long-term (up to 15 years) challenges to the 
        advancement of solar energy systems.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Stewardship of national laboratory 
        resources.--In awarding grants under the program, the Secretary 
        shall steward relevant capabilities and programs of the 
        National Laboratories.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Technical assistance and workforce 
        development.--In carrying out the program, for purposes of 
        supporting technical, nonhardware, and information-based 
        advances in solar energy systems development and operations, 
        the Secretary may--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) provide technical assistance and carry 
                out analysis activities with eligible entities, 
                including activities that support expanding access to 
                solar energy for low-income individuals and 
                communities, including in economically distressed 
                areas; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) carry out workforce development and 
                training activities, including to support the 
                dissemination of standards and best practices for 
                enabling solar power production.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Wildlife impact mitigation.--In carrying out 
        the program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, support wildlife impact mitigation technologies 
        and strategies, including the use of distributed solar 
        technologies, to reduce the potential negative impacts of solar 
        energy systems on fish or wildlife, or plants (as those terms 
        are defined in section 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
        (16 U.S.C. 1532)).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Sustainable chemistry.--Each entity receiving 
        a grant under the program shall endeavor, in carrying out 
        activities under the grant, to incorporate, where appropriate, 
        sustainable and green chemistry and engineering principles, 
        practices, and methodologies.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Grant Subject Areas.--In addition to awarding the 
grants described in subsections (c) through (e), the Secretary shall 
award grants under the program to eligible entities to carry out 
research, development, testing, and evaluation in the following subject 
areas:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Photovoltaic devices and related electronic 
        components, including converters, sensors, energy monitors, 
        communication and control equipment, and protocols.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Concentrated solar power, including solar 
        thermal and concentrating solar photovoltaic 
        technologies.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Low cost, high-quality solar energy 
        systems.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Solar heating and cooling systems, including 
        distributed solar-powered air conditioning.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Low cost, thin-film solar technologies, 
        including the use of perovskite materials in solar 
        cells.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Solar technology products that can be easily 
        integrated into new buildings, existing buildings, agricultural 
        and aquatic environments, and other infrastructure.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Solar technology that is resilient to extreme 
        weather events.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) Solar technology products integrated into 
        transportation applications in coordination with vehicle 
        technologies research and development activities supported by 
        the Department of Energy.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) Storage technologies that address the 
        transience and intermittency of solar energy resources, 
        including batteries, supercapacitors, and thermal 
        storage.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) Microgrids using solar technology.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (11) Solar technologies enabling safe grid 
        operating conditions, such as fast-disconnect during an 
        emergency.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (12) Distributed solar energy technologies, such 
        as rooftop solar panels.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (13) Technologies and designs that enable a broad 
        range of scales for solar power production.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (14) Advanced solar manufacturing technologies and 
        best practices, including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) materials and processes;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) development of industry 
                standards;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) design and integration practices; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) optimized packaging methods and new 
                device designs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (15) Advanced analytic and computing capabilities 
        for better modeling and simulations of solar energy 
        systems.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (16) Electrical grid integration, including--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) integration of solar technologies into 
                smart grid, transmission, and distribution;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) coordination of solar with other 
                distributed and large-scale energy resources;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) electrical power smoothing;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) microgrid integration;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) community solar;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) solar resource forecasting;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) regional and national electric system 
                balancing and long-distance transmission options, 
                including direct current and superconducting 
                transmission and long-term storage options;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) ways to address system operations over 
                minutes, hours, days, weeks, and seasons with respect 
                to the full range of project scales; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) electric grid security, including 
                cyber and physical security.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (17) Nonhardware and information-based advances in 
        solar energy system design, installation, and 
        operation.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (18) Solar energy technology relating to behind-
        the-meter strategies, including with respect to electricity 
        generation, load, energy efficiency, controls, storage, and 
        electric vehicles.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (19) Next generation demonstration 
        facilities.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (20) Any other subject area determined by the 
        Secretary.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Solar Energy Technology Demonstration Grants.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--In carrying out the program, the 
        Secretary shall award multiyear grants to eligible entities to 
        carry out demonstration projects to advance the development of 
        solar energy technologies and systems production.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Priority.--In awarding grants under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary shall give priority to projects that--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) are located in geographically diverse 
                regions of the United States;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) can be replicated in a variety of 
                regions and climates;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) demonstrate technologies that address 
                intermittency, variability, storage challenges, behind-
                the-meter operations, and independent operational 
                capability;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) coordinate solar technologies with 
                other distributed and large-scale energy 
                resources;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) facilitate identification of optimum 
                approaches among competing solar energy 
                technologies;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) include business commercialization 
                plans that have the potential for production of solar 
                energy equipment at high volumes;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) support the development of advanced 
                manufacturing technologies that have the potential to 
                improve United States competitiveness in the 
                international solar energy manufacturing 
                sector;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) provide the greatest potential to 
                reduce energy costs for consumers and promote 
                accessibility and community implementation of 
                demonstrated technologies;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) increase disclosure and transparency 
                of information to all market participants;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (J) promote overall electric 
                infrastructure reliability and resilience in the event 
                of grid functions being disrupted or damaged;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (K) support the development or 
                demonstration of projects in collaboration with Indian 
                tribes and in economically distressed areas; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (L) satisfy any other priority that the 
                Secretary determines appropriate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Use of funds.--To the extent that funding is 
        not otherwise available through other Federal programs or power 
        purchase agreements, grants awarded under paragraph (1) may be 
        used for--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) any necessary site engineering 
                study;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) an economic assessment of site-
                specific conditions;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) appropriate feasibility studies to 
                determine whether the demonstration project may be 
                replicated;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) installation of equipment, service, 
                and support;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) operating the demonstration project 
                for not less than the minimum period required to fully 
                assess the results and objectives of the project, as 
                determined by a peer-reviewed process; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) validation of technical, economic, and 
                environmental assumptions and documentation of lessons 
                learned.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Solicitation.--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 described in paragraph (1).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Organic photovoltaic cell technologies.--At 
        least 1 grant awarded under paragraph (1) during fiscal year 
        2020 shall be for a project to demonstrate organic photovoltaic 
        cell technologies.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Next Generation Solar Energy Manufacturing 
Initiative.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Grants.--In carrying out the program, the 
        Secretary shall award multiyear grants to eligible entities for 
        research, development, and demonstration projects to advance 
        new solar energy manufacturing technologies and techniques, 
        including to manufacture solar cells, hardware, and enabling 
        devices.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Priority.--In awarding grants under paragraph 
        (1), to the extent practicable, the Secretary shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) follow the recommendations in the 
                report described in paragraph (3)(B)(ii); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) give priority to solar energy 
                manufacturing projects that--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) reduce capital expenditures or 
                        provide lower-cost manufacturing 
                        options;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) eliminate manufacturing 
                        process steps;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) reduce energy, water, and 
                        material inputs;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) establish alternative supply 
                        chains for materials and components;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (v) are located on land owned by 
                        Indian tribes;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (vi) are located on land in 
                        economically distressed areas; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (vii) take advantage of rapid 
                        prototyping, small batch manufacturing, and 
                        roll-to-roll processing.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Strategic vision study.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                conduct a study on the viable market opportunities 
                available for solar energy technology manufacturing in 
                the United States, including solar cells, hardware, and 
                enabling technologies.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Report.--Not later than September 1, 
                2020, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
                Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the 
                Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
                House of Representatives, and any other relevant 
                Committee of Congress a report containing the results 
                of the study under subparagraph (A), including--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) a description of--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) the ability of 
                                relevant businesses or other entities 
                                to competitively manufacture solar 
                                technology in the United States, 
                                including the manufacture of--
                                </DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    (aa) new and 
                                        advanced materials, such as 
                                        cells made with new, cost-
                                        effective, high-efficiency 
                                        materials;</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    (bb) solar module 
                                        equipment and enabling 
                                        technologies, including smart 
                                        inverters, sensors, and 
                                        tracking equipment; 
                                        and</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    (cc) innovative 
                                        solar module designs and 
                                        applications, including designs 
                                        and applications that can 
                                        directly integrate with new and 
                                        existing buildings and other 
                                        infrastructure; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) opportunities and 
                                barriers in solar energy technology 
                                supply chains in the United States and 
                                internationally;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) policy recommendations for 
                        enhancing solar energy technology manufacturing 
                        in the United States;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) an aggressive 10-year target 
                        and plan, beginning in calendar year 2021, to 
                        enhance the competitiveness of solar energy 
                        technology manufacturing in the United States; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) needs for future research, 
                        development, and demonstration projects in 
                        solar manufacturing and related areas, as 
                        determined by the Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Evaluation.--Not later than 3 years after the 
        date on which the report under paragraph (3)(B) is submitted, 
        and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct, and 
        make available to the public and the relevant committees of 
        Congress, an independent review of the progress of the grants 
        awarded under paragraph (1) in meeting the recommendations and 
        targets included in the report.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Photovoltaic Device Recycling Research, Development, 
and Demonstration Grants.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--In carrying out the program, the 
        Secretary shall award multiyear grants to eligible entities for 
        research, development, and demonstration projects to create 
        innovative and practical approaches to increase the reuse and 
        recycling of photovoltaic devices, including by addressing--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) 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 lifecycle environmental 
                impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions and water 
                usage;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) expanded uses for materials from 
                recycled photovoltaic devices;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the development and demonstration of 
                environmentally responsible alternatives to the use of 
                hazardous materials in photovoltaic devices and the 
                production of those devices;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) the development of methods to separate 
                and remove hazardous materials from photovoltaic 
                devices and to recycle or dispose of those materials in 
                a safe manner;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) product design and construction to 
                facilitate disassembly and recycling of photovoltaic 
                devices;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) tools and methods to aid in assessing 
                the environmental impacts of the production of 
                photovoltaic devices and photovoltaic device recycling 
                and disposal;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) product design and construction and 
                other tools and techniques to extend the lifecycle of 
                photovoltaic devices, including methods to promote the 
                safe reuse of those devices;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) strategies to increase consumer 
                acceptance and practice of recycling of photovoltaic 
                devices;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) the development or demonstration of 
                projects in collaboration with Indian tribes and in 
                economically distressed areas; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (J) processes to reduce the costs and 
                environmental impact of disposal of toxic materials 
                used in photovoltaic devices.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Applications.--An eligible entity seeking a 
        grant under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary an 
        application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require, including a 
        description of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the proposed project and the 
                contributions of each participating entity;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the applicability of the project to 
                increasing the reuse and recycling of photovoltaic 
                devices with the least environmental impacts as 
                measured by lifecycle analyses;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the potential for incorporating the 
                research results into industry practice; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) the manner in which the project will 
                promote collaboration among scientists and engineers 
                from different disciplines, such as the electrical 
                engineering, materials science, and social science 
                disciplines.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Dissemination of results.--The Secretary shall 
        publish the results of the projects carried out through grants 
        awarded under paragraph (1) through--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) best practices or training materials 
                relating to those grants, for use in the photovoltaics 
                manufacturing, design, installation, refurbishing, or 
                recycling industries;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) coordination with information 
                dissemination programs relating to general recycling of 
                electronic devices; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) educational materials for the public, 
                produced in conjunction with State and local 
                governments or nonprofit organizations, on the problems 
                and solutions relating to the reuse and recycling of 
                photovoltaic devices.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Photovoltaic Materials Physical Property Database.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than September 1, 2021, 
        the Secretary shall establish a comprehensive physical property 
        database of materials for use in photovoltaic devices, which 
        shall include--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) identification of materials used in 
                photovoltaic devices;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the quantity of each commercially 
                available material identified under subparagraph (A) 
                and the country of origin of that material;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the quantity of materials used in 
                photovoltaic devices projected to be available through 
                mining or recycling of photovoltaic and other 
                electronic devices; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) a list of other significant uses for 
                each material identified under subparagraph 
                (A).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Priorities.--Not later than September 1, 2020, 
        the Secretary, in collaboration with private industry, shall 
        develop a plan to establish priorities and requirements for the 
        database described in paragraph (1), including the protection 
        of proprietary information, trade secrets, and other 
        confidential business information.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate 
        with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
        Agency, and the Secretary of the Interior to facilitate the 
        incorporation of the database under paragraph (1) with any 
        existing database for materials involved in electronic 
        manufacturing and recycling.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program such sums 
as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) The Solar Energy Research, Development, and 
Demonstration Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5551 et seq.) is 
repealed.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Section 6(b)(3) of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy 
Research and Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5905(b)(3)) is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking subparagraph (L); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (M) through (S) 
        as subparagraphs (L) through (R), respectively.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) The Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, 
and Demonstration Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5581 et seq.) is 
repealed.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Section 4(a) of the Renewable Energy and Energy 
Efficiency Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 12003(a)) 
is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``photovoltaics, and solar thermal energy'' and 
        inserting ``alcohol from biomass, and other 
        technologies'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3); 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
        paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Section 931 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16231) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a)(2)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking subparagraph (A); 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 
                through (E) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), 
                respectively;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by striking subsection (d); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by redesignating subsections (e) through (g) 
        as subsections (d) through (f), respectively.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Sections 606 and 607 of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17174, 17175) are repealed.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. SAVINGS PROVISION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The repeal of the Solar Energy Research, Development, and 
Demonstration Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5551 et seq.) under section 4(a) 
shall not affect the authority of the Secretary to conduct research and 
development on solar energy.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Solar Energy Research and 
Development Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Economically distressed area.--The term ``economically 
        distressed area'' means an area described in section 301(a) of 
        the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 
        U.S.C. 3161(a)).
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) an institution of higher education;
                    (B) a National Laboratory;
                    (C) a Federal research agency;
                    (D) a State research agency;
                    (E) a research agency associated with a territory 
                or freely associated state;
                    (F) a tribal energy development organization;
                    (G) an Indian tribe;
                    (H) a tribal organization;
                    (I) a Native Hawaiian community-based organization;
                    (J) a nonprofit research organization;
                    (K) an industrial entity;
                    (L) any other entity, as determined by the 
                Secretary; and
                    (M) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (L).
            (3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (5) 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).
            (6) Native Hawaiian community-based organization.--The term 
        ``Native Hawaiian community-based organization'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517).
            (7) Photovoltaic device.--The term ``photovoltaic device'' 
        means--
                    (A) a device that converts light directly into 
                electricity through a solid-state, semiconductor 
                process;
                    (B) the photovoltaic cells of a device described in 
                subparagraph (A); and
                    (C) the electronic and electrical components of a 
                device described in subparagraph (A).
            (8) Program.--The term ``program'' means the program 
        established under section 3(a)(1).
            (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            (10) Solar energy.--The term ``solar energy'' means--
                    (A) thermal or electric energy derived from 
                radiation from the Sun; or
                    (B) energy resulting from a chemical reaction 
                caused by radiation recently originated in the Sun.
            (11) Territory or freely associated state.--The term 
        ``territory or freely associated state'' has the meaning given 
        the term ``insular area'' in section 1404 of the Food and 
        Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
            (12) Tribal energy development organization.--The term 
        ``tribal energy development organization'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 2601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 
        (25 U.S.C. 3501).
            (13) Tribal organization.--The term ``tribal organization'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

SEC. 3. SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
        conduct research, development, testing, evaluation, 
        demonstration, and commercialization of solar energy 
        technologies in accordance with this section.
            (2) Purposes.--The purposes of the program are the 
        following:
                    (A) To improve the energy efficiency, cost 
                effectiveness, reliability, resilience, security, 
                integration, manufacturability, and recyclability of 
                solar energy technologies.
                    (B) To optimize the performance and operation of 
                solar energy components, cells, and systems, and 
                enabling technologies, including through the 
                development of new materials, hardware, and software.
                    (C) To optimize the design and adaptability of 
                solar energy systems to the broadest practical range of 
                geographic and atmospheric conditions.
                    (D) To support the integration of solar energy 
                technologies with the electric grid and complementary 
                energy technologies.
                    (E) To create and improve the conversion of solar 
                energy to other useful forms of energy or other 
                products.
                    (F) To reduce and mitigate any potential negative 
                impacts of solar energy technologies on humans, 
                wildlife, and wildlife habitats.
                    (G) To address barriers to the commercialization 
                and export of solar energy technologies.
                    (H) To support the domestic solar industry, 
                workforce, and supply chain.
            (3) Targets.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish targets 
        for the program to address near-term (up to 2 years), mid-term 
        (up to 7 years), and long-term (up to 15 years) challenges to 
        the advancement of solar energy systems.
    (b) Activities.--
            (1) Types of activities.--In carrying out the program, the 
        Secretary shall carry out research, development, demonstration, 
        and commercialization activities, including--
                    (A) awarding grants and awards, on a competitive, 
                merit-reviewed basis;
                    (B) performing precompetitive research and 
                development;
                    (C) establishing or maintaining demonstration 
                facilities and projects, including through stewardship 
                of existing facilities;
                    (D) providing technical assistance;
                    (E) entering into contracts and cooperative 
                agreements;
                    (F) providing small business vouchers;
                    (G) establishing prize competitions;
                    (H) conducting education and outreach activities; 
                and
                    (I) conducting analyses, studies, and reports.
            (2) Subject areas.--The Secretary shall carry out research, 
        development, testing, evaluation, demonstration, and 
        commercialization activities in the following subject areas:
                    (A) Advanced solar energy technologies, including--
                            (i) new materials, components, designs, and 
                        systems, including perovskites;
                            (ii) advanced photovoltaic and thin-film 
                        devices;
                            (iii) concentrated solar power;
                            (iv) solar heating and cooling; and
                            (v) enabling technologies for solar energy 
                        systems, including hardware and software.
                    (B) Solar energy technology performance, 
                operations, and security.
                    (C) Integration of solar energy technologies with--
                            (i) the electric grid, including 
                        transmission, distribution, microgrids, and 
                        distributed energy systems;
                            (ii) other energy technologies, including--
                                    (I) other generation sources;
                                    (II) demand response technologies; 
                                and
                                    (III) energy storage technologies; 
                                and
                            (iii) other nonelectric applications, such 
                        as in the agriculture, transportation, 
                        industrial, and fuels sectors.
                    (D) Advanced solar energy manufacturing 
                technologies and practices, including materials, 
                processes, and design.
                    (E) Methods to improve the lifetime, maintenance, 
                recycling, and reuse of solar energy components and 
                systems.
                    (F) Solar energy forecasting, modeling, and 
                atmospheric measurement systems, including for small-
                scale, large-scale, and aggregated systems.
                    (G) Hybrid solar energy systems that incorporate 
                diverse--
                            (i) generation sources;
                            (ii) loads; and
                            (iii) storage technologies.
                    (H) Reducing market barriers to the adoption of 
                solar energy technologies, including impacts on, or 
                challenges relating to--
                            (i) distributed solar technologies, 
                        including the development of best practices, 
                        models, and voluntary streamlined processes for 
                        local permitting of distributed solar energy 
                        systems to reduce costs;
                            (ii) local communities;
                            (iii) wildlife and wildlife habitats; and
                            (iv) any other appropriate matter, as 
                        determined by the Secretary.
                    (I) Transformational technologies for harnessing 
                solar energy.
                    (J) Other research areas that advance the purposes 
                of the program, as determined by the Secretary.
            (3) Prioritization.--In carrying out activities under the 
        program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that--
                    (A) are located in a geographically diverse range 
                of eligible entities;
                    (B) support the development or demonstration of 
                projects--
                            (i) in collaboration with tribal energy 
                        development organizations, Indian tribes, 
                        tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian 
                        community-based organizations, or territories 
                        or freely associated states; or
                            (ii) in economically distressed areas;
                    (C) can be replicated in a variety of regions and 
                climates;
                    (D) include business commercialization plans that 
                have the potential for--
                            (i) domestic manufacturing and production 
                        of solar energy technologies; or
                            (ii) exports of solar energy technologies; 
                        and
                    (E) satisfy any other priority that the Secretary 
                determines to be appropriate.
            (4) Coordination.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
        Secretary shall coordinate activities under the program with 
        other relevant programs and capabilities of the Department of 
        Energy and other Federal research programs.
            (5) Use of funds.--To the extent that funding is not 
        otherwise available through other Federal programs or power 
        purchase agreements, funding awarded under this subsection may 
        be used for additional nontechnology costs, as determined to be 
        appropriate by the Secretary, such as engineering or 
        feasibility studies.
    (c) Advanced Solar Energy Manufacturing Initiative.--
            (1) Grants.--In addition to the program activities 
        described in subsection (b), in carrying out the program, the 
        Secretary shall award multiyear grants to eligible entities for 
        research, development, and demonstration projects to advance 
        new solar energy manufacturing technologies and techniques.
            (2) Priority.--In awarding grants under paragraph (1), to 
        the extent practicable, the Secretary shall give priority to 
        solar energy manufacturing projects that--
                    (A) increase efficiency and cost effectiveness in--
                            (i) the manufacturing process; and
                            (ii) the use of resources.
                    (B) support domestic supply chains for materials 
                and components;
                    (C) identify and incorporate nonhazardous 
                alternative materials for components and devices;
                    (D) operate in partnership with tribal energy 
                development organizations, Indian tribes, tribal 
                organizations, Native Hawaiian community-based 
                organizations, or territories or freely associated 
                states; or
                    (E) are located in economically distressed areas.
            (3) Evaluation.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, the 
        Secretary shall conduct, and make available to the public and 
        the relevant committees of Congress, an independent review of 
        the progress of the grants awarded under paragraph (1).
    (d) Solar Energy Technology Recycling Research, Development, and 
Demonstration Program.--
            (1) In general.--In addition to the program activities 
        described in subsection (b), in carrying out the program, the 
        Secretary shall award multiyear grants to eligible entities for 
        research, development, and demonstration projects to create 
        innovative and practical approaches to increase the reuse and 
        recycling of solar energy technologies, including--
                    (A) by increasing the efficiency and cost 
                effectiveness of the recovery of raw materials from 
                solar energy technology components and systems, 
                including enabling technologies such as inverters;
                    (B) by minimizing environmental impacts from the 
                recovery and disposal processes;
                    (C) by addressing any barriers to the research, 
                development, demonstration, and commercialization of 
                technologies and processes for the disassembly and 
                recycling of solar energy devices;
                    (D) by developing alternative materials, designs, 
                manufacturing processes, and other aspects of solar 
                energy technologies and the disassembly and resource 
                recovery process that enable efficient, cost effective, 
                and environmentally responsible disassembly of, and 
                resource recovery from, solar energy technologies; and
                    (E) strategies to increase consumer acceptance of, 
                and participation in, the recycling of photovoltaic 
                devices.
            (2) Dissemination of results.--The Secretary shall make 
        available to the public and the relevant committees of Congress 
        the results of the projects carried out through grants awarded 
        under paragraph (1), including any educational and outreach 
        materials.
    (e) Solar Energy Technology Materials Physical Property Database.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than September 1, 2021, the 
        Secretary shall establish a comprehensive physical property 
        database of materials for use in solar energy technologies, 
        which shall identify the type, quantity, country of origin, 
        source, significant uses, and physical properties of materials 
        used in solar energy technologies.
            (2) Coordination.--In establishing the database described 
        in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall coordinate with--
                    (A) the Director of the National Institute of 
                Standards and Technology;
                    (B) the Administrator of the Environmental 
                Protection Agency;
                    (C) the Secretary of the Interior; and
                    (D) relevant industry stakeholders, as determined 
                by the Secretary.
    (f) Solar Energy Technology Program Strategic Vision.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than September 1, 2021, and 
        every 6 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress a report on the strategic vision, progress, goals, and 
        targets of the program, including assessments of solar energy 
        markets and manufacturing.
            (2) Preparation.--The Secretary shall coordinate the 
        preparation of the report under paragraph (1) with--
                    (A) existing peer review processes;
                    (B) studies conducted by the National Laboratories; 
                and
                    (C) the multiyear program planning required under 
                section 994 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
                16358).
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $270,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.

SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) The Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act 
of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5551 et seq.) is repealed.
    (b) Section 6(b)(3) of the Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and 
Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5905(b)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraph (L); and
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (M) through (S) as 
        subparagraphs (L) through (R), respectively.
    (c) The Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and 
Demonstration Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5581 et seq.) is repealed.
    (d) Section 4 of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 
Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 12003) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``photovoltaics, 
        and solar thermal'' and inserting ``alcohol from biomass, and 
        other technology'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``photovoltaics, and solar thermal energy'' 
                and inserting ``alcohol from biomass, and other energy 
                technology'';
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3); and
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
                paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``the Photovoltaic Energy Systems Program, the 
                Solar Thermal Energy Systems Program,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and 
                        (C) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
                        and
                    (C) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and 
                        (C) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively.
    (e) Section 931 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16231) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (A); and
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (E) 
                as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;
            (2) by striking subsection (d); and
            (3) by redesignating subsections (e) through (g) as 
        subsections (d) through (f), respectively.
    (f) Sections 606 and 607 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17174, 17175) are repealed.

SEC. 5. SAVINGS PROVISION.

    The repeal of the Solar Energy Research, Development, and 
Demonstration Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5551 et seq.) under section 4(a) 
shall not affect the authority of the Secretary to conduct research and 
development on solar energy.
                                                       Calendar No. 358

116th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 2668

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To establish a program for research, development, and demonstration of 
           solar energy technologies, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           December 17, 2019

                       Reported with an amendment