[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7516-S7518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself and Mr. DeWine):
  S. 1166. A bill to establish the Next Generation Lighting Initiative 
at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator DeWine to 
introduce a bill authorizing the Secretary of Energy to lead the United 
States into the next generation of lighting technology. If this bill is 
enacted, I believe it will allow us not only to maintain a world 
leadership role that Thomas Edison started, but promote efficiency 
advances in a market which consumes 19 percent of our electrical energy 
supply.
  Lighting is a 40-billion-dollar global industry. The United States 
occupies roughly one-third of that market. It's an extremely 
competitive industry whose technology has been well established over 
the course of 80 years. Today's lighting market primarily consists of 
two technologies. The first technology is incandescent lighting, it's 
the one Thomas Edison invented over 100 years ago. Incandescent 
lighting relies on running a current through a wire to heat it up and 
illuminate your surroundings. Only 5 percent of the electricity in a 
conventional bulb is converted into visible light. The second type of 
lighting is fluorescent lights, which use a combination of chemical 
vapors, mainly mercury, to discharge light when current is passed 
through it. Flourescent lights are six times more efficient than a 
light bulb.
  As I have mentioned, today's lighting uses up about 19 percent of our 
electricity supply. In 1998, lighting electricity cost about 47 billion 
dollars which accounted for about 100 million tons of carbon equivalent 
from fossil energy plants.
  Today, this paradigm is changing, because some scientists recently 
made a leap ahead in lighting research. Technology leaps displace, very 
quickly, traditional markets. We know the stories all too well, the 
horse courier, the telegraph, the telephone and finally the Internet.
  That is why Senator DeWine and I are proposing this legislation, 
because some advances have been made in the areas of solid state 
lighting that require a national investment that no one lighting 
industry can match. This emerging technology has the capability to 
disrupt our existing lighting markets. So quickly in fact, that other 
countries have formed consortia between their governments, industries, 
laboratories and universities. Solid state lighting is being taken very 
seriously around the world.
  Let me describe solid state lighting. The best examples are red light 
emitting diodes, or ``LED's'', found in digital clocks. LED's produce 
only one color but they do not burn up a wire like a bulb and are seven 
times more efficient.
  Until recently LED's were limited to yellow or red. That all changed 
in 1995. In 1995, some Japanese researchers developed a blue LED. Soon 
other bright colors started to emerge, such as green. That is when 
things started to change. Because, white light is a combination of red, 
blue, the recent Japanese breakthrough, and green or yellow. The recent 
Japanese breakthrough of that simple blue LED has now made it possible 
to produce white light from LED's ten times more efficient than a light 
bulb.
  If it is successful, white light LED's will revolutionize lighting 
technology and will disrupt the existing industries. It's imperative 
that we move quickly on these advances. We need a consortia between our 
government, industry, research labs and academia to develop the 
necessary pre-competitive research to maintain our leadership role in 
this field.

  I would like to mention one other technology that will change 
lighting. That technology is found in your cell phone and on your 
computer screen. It's called conductive polymers. Three Nobel Prizes 
were just awarded for this technology. Conductive polymers offer the 
possibility of covering large surface areas and replacing fluorescent 
lamps. These materials will not only provide white light, but like your 
computer screen, display text or programmed color pictures. These 
technologies can be Internet controlled to adjust building lighting 
across the country.
  Given these advances, I would like to describe the Next Generation 
Lighting Initiative Act. If enacted, it will move our country to 
capture these revolutionary mergers between lighting and information. 
It will supply the necessary pre-competitive R&D which no one industry 
alone can provide, and, which we as holders of the public trust of 
basic research owe a duty to further. It will keep the United States in 
a leadership role of commercial lighting while promoting energy 
efficiency that can either be ten times that of incandescent lights or 
twice that of fluorescent lights. We need to enact this legislation 
now.
  The Next Generation Lighting Initiative authorizes the Department of 
Energy to grant up to $480 million over ten years to a consortium of 
the United States lighting industry and research institutions. The 
goals of the Act are to have a 25 percent penetration of solid state 
lighting into the commercial markets by the year 2012. The Next 
Generation's consortium, will perform the basic and manufacturing 
research. The lighting industry will take this R&D and develop the 
necessary technologies to make it commercially viable.
  This is precompetitive research. It is research that no one industry 
by itself can achieve and which we have a duty to promote together with 
industry. It has implications for our country's energy policy far 
broader than economic competitiveness. It is the reduction in energy 
consumption that makes it a national initiative. Once the pre-
competitive research is transitioned to industry then it should be 
terminated, we think that will take about 10 years.
  If this initiative is successful, then by 2025, it can reduce our 
energy consumption by roughly 17 billion watts of

[[Page S7517]]

power or the need for 17 large electricity generating plants. That's as 
much as 17 million homes consume in a single day. That's more homes 
than in California, Oregon, and Washington combined.
  So let me conclude that the Next Generation Lighting Initiative will 
carry the U.S. lighting industry into the twenty first century. It 
capitalizes on technologies that have emerged only five years ago but 
have the potential to quickly displace our lighting industry. This 
Initiative will reduce our nation's energy consumption and greenhouse 
gas emission. The research necessary to advance this technology 
requires a national investment that must be in partnership with 
industry.
  I encourage my colleagues to review this bill, offer their comments, 
and, join Senator DeWine and me in its bipartisan support. I ask that 
the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1166

       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 ``Next Generation Lighting 
     Initiative Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDING.

       Congress finds that it is in the economic and energy 
     security interests of the United States to encourage the 
     development of white light emitting diodes by providing 
     financial assistance to firms, or a consortium of firms, and 
     supporting research organizations in the lighting development 
     sectors.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Consortium.--The term ```consortium'' means the Next 
     Generation Lighting Initiative Consortium established under 
     section 5(b).
       (2) Inorganic white light emitting diode.--The term 
     ``inorganic white light emitting diode'' means a 
     semiconducting package that produces white light using 
     externally applied voltage.
       (3) Lighting initiative.--The term ``Lighting Initiative'' 
     means the Next Generation Lighting Initiative established by 
     section 4(a).
       (4) Organic white light emitting diode.--The term ``organic 
     white light emitting diode'' means an organic semiconducting 
     compound that produces white light using externally applied 
     voltage.
       (5) Planning board.--The term ``planning board'' means the 
     Next Generation Lighting Initiative Planning Board 
     established under section 5(a).
       (6) Research organization.--The term ``research 
     organization'' means an organization that performs or 
     promotes research, development, and demonstration activities 
     with respect to white light emitting diodes.
       (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Energy 
     for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
       (8) White light emitting diode.--The term ``white light 
     emitting diode'' means--
       (A) an inorganic white light emitting diode; and
       (B) an organic white light emitting diode.

     SEC. 4. NEXT GENERATION LIGHTING INITIATIVE.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department 
     of Energy a lighting initiative to be known as the ``Next 
     Generation Lighting Initiative'' to research, develop, and 
     conduct demonstration activities on white light emitting 
     diodes.
       (b) Objectives.--
       (1) In general.--The objectives of the Lighting Initiative 
     shall be to develop, by 2011, white light emitting diodes 
     that, compared to incandescent and fluorescent lighting 
     technologies, are--
       (A) longer lasting;
       (B) more energy-efficient; and
       (C) cost-competitive.
       (2) Inorganic white light emitting diode.--The objective of 
     the Lighting Initiative with respect to inorganic white light 
     emitting diodes shall be to develop an inorganic white light 
     emitting diode that has an efficiency of 160 lumens per watt 
     and a 10-year lifetime.
       (3) Organic white light emitting diode.--The objective of 
     the Lighting Initiative with respect to organic white light 
     emitting diodes shall be to develop an organic white light 
     emitting diode with an efficiency of 100 lumens per watt with 
     a 5-year lifetime that--
       (A) illuminates over a full color spectrum;
       (B) covers large areas over flexible surfaces; and
       (C) does not contain harmful pollutants typical of 
     fluorescent lamps such as mercury.

     SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Planning Board.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a planning 
     board, to be known as the ``Next Generation Lighting 
     Initiative Planning Board'', to assist the Secretary in 
     developing and implementing the Lighting Initiative.
       (2) Composition.--The planning board shall be composed of--
       (A) 4 members from universities, national laboratories, and 
     other individuals with expertise in white lighting, to be 
     appointed by the Secretary; and
       (B) 3 members nominated by the consortium and appointed by 
     the Secretary.
       (3) Study.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the planning board shall complete a 
     study on strategies for the development and implementation of 
     white light emitting diodes.
       (B) Requirements.--The study shall--
       (i) develop a comprehensive strategy to implement, through 
     the Lighting Initiative, the use of white light emitting 
     diodes to increase energy efficiency and enhance United 
     States competitiveness; and
       (ii) identify the research and development, manufacturing, 
     deployment, and marketing barriers that must be overcome to 
     achieve a goal of a 25 percent market penetration by white 
     light emitting diode technologies into the incandescent and 
     fluorescent lighting markets by the year 2012.
       (C) Implementation.--As soon as practicable after the study 
     is submitted to the Secretary, the Secretary shall implement 
     the Lighting Initiative in accordance with the 
     recommendations of the planning board.
       (b) Consortium.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall solicit the 
     establishment of a consortium, to be known as the ``Next 
     Generation Lighting Initiative Consortium'', to initiate and 
     manage basic and manufacturing related research contracts on 
     white light emitting diodes for the Lighting Initiative.
       (2) Composition.--The consortium may be composed of firms, 
     national laboratories, and other entities so that the 
     consortium is representative of the United States solid state 
     lighting industry as a whole.
       (3) Funding.--The consortium shall be funded by--
       (A) membership fees; and
       (B) grants provided under section 6.

     SEC. 6. GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants to firms, 
     the consortium, and research organizations to conduct 
     research, development, and demonstration projects related to 
     white light emitting diode technologies.
       (b) Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     this section, a consortium shall--
       (1) enter into a consortium participation agreement that--
       (A) is agreed to by all members; and
       (B) describes the responsibilities of participants, 
     membership fees, and the scope of research activities; and
       (2) develop a Lighting Initiative annual program plan.
       (c) Annual Review.--
       (1) In general.--An annual independent review of firms, the 
     consortium, and research organizations receiving a grant 
     under this section shall be conducted by--
       (A) a committee appointed by the Secretary under the 
     Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.); or
       (B) a committee appointed by the National Academy of 
     Sciences.
       (2) Requirements.--Using clearly defined standards 
     established by the Secretary, the review shall assess 
     technology advances and commercial applicability of--
       (A) the activities of the firms, consortium, or research 
     organizations during each fiscal year of the grant program; 
     and
       (B) the goals of the firms, consortium, or research 
     organizations for the next fiscal year in the annual program 
     plan developed under subsection (b)(2).
       (d) Allocation and Cost Sharing.--
       (1) In general.--The amount of funds made available for any 
     fiscal year to provide grants under this section shall be 
     allocated in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).
       (2) Research projects.--Funding for basic and manufacturing 
     research projects shall be allocated to the consortium.
       (3) Development, deployment, and demonstration projects.--
     Funding for development, deployment, and demonstration 
     projects shall be allocated to members of the consortium.
       (4) Cost sharing.--Non-federal cost sharing shall be in 
     accordance with section 3002 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 
     (42 U.S.C. 13542).
       (e) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The national 
     laboratories and other pertinent Federal agencies shall 
     cooperate with and provide technical and financial assistance 
     to firms, the consortium, and research organizations 
     conducting research, development, and demonstration projects 
     carried out under this section.
       (f) Audits.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall retain an independent, 
     commercial auditor to determine the extent to which funds 
     made available under this Act have been expended in a manner 
     that is consistent with the objectives under section 4(b) and 
     the annual operating plan of the consortium developed under 
     subsection (b)(2).
       (2) Reports.--The auditor shall submit to Congress, the 
     Secretary, and the Comptroller General of the United States 
     an annual report containing the results of the audit.
       (g) Applicable Law.--The Lighting Initiative shall not be 
     subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

     SEC. 7. PROTECTION OF INFORMATION.

       Information obtained by the Federal Government on a 
     confidential basis under this Act shall be considered to 
     constitute trade secrets and commercial or financial 
     information obtained from a person and privileged or

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     confidential under section 552(b)(4) of title 5, United 
     States Code.

     SEC. 8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

       Members of the consortium shall have royalty-free 
     nonexclusive rights to use intellectual property derived from 
     consortium research conducted under this Act.

     SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act--
       (1) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2002; and
       (2) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 through 2011.
       (b) Availability.--Amounts made available under this 
     section shall remain available until expended.
                                 ______