[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 42 (Monday, March 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2408-H2411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACT
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 85) to provide for the establishment of centers to encourage
demonstration and commercial application of advanced energy methods and
technologies, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 85
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 ``Energy Technology Transfer
Act''.
SEC. 2. ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.
Section 917 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16197) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 917. ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTERS.
``(a) Grants.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of the Energy Technology Transfer Act, the
Secretary shall make grants to nonprofit institutions, State
and local governments, cooperative extension services, or
institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof), to
establish a geographically dispersed network of Advanced
Energy Technology Transfer Centers, to be located in areas
the Secretary determines have the greatest need of the
services of such Centers. In making awards under this
section, the Secretary shall--
``(1) give priority to applicants already operating or
partnered with an outreach program capable of transferring
knowledge and information about advanced energy efficiency
methods and technologies;
``(2) ensure that, to the extent practicable, the program
enables the transfer of knowledge and information--
``(A) about a variety of technologies and
``(B) in a variety of geographic areas;
``(3) give preference to applicants that would
significantly expand on or fill a gap in existing programs in
a geographical region; and
``(4) consider the special needs and opportunities for
increased energy efficiency for manufactured and site-built
housing, including construction, renovation, and retrofit.
``(b) Activities.--Each Center shall operate a program to
encourage demonstration and commercial application of
advanced energy methods and technologies through education
and outreach to building and industrial professionals, and to
other individuals and organizations with an interest in
efficient energy use. Funds awarded under this section may be
used for the following activities:
``(1) Developing and distributing informational materials
on technologies that could use energy more efficiently.
``(2) Carrying out demonstrations of advanced energy
methods and technologies.
``(3) Developing and conducting seminars, workshops, long-
distance learning sessions, and other activities to aid in
the dissemination of knowledge and information on
technologies that could use energy more efficiently.
``(4) Providing or coordinating onsite energy evaluations,
including instruction on the commissioning of building
heating and cooling systems, for a wide range of energy end-
users.
``(5) Examining the energy efficiency needs of energy end-
users to develop recommended research projects for the
Department.
``(6) Hiring experts in energy efficient technologies to
carry out activities described in paragraphs (1) through (5).
``(c) Application.--A person seeking a grant under this
section shall submit to the Secretary an application in such
form and containing such information as the Secretary may
require. The Secretary may award a grant under this section
to an entity already in existence if the entity is otherwise
eligible under this section. The application shall include,
at a minimum--
``(1) a description of the applicant's outreach program,
and the geographic region it would serve, and of why the
program would be capable of transferring knowledge and
information about advanced energy technologies that increase
efficiency of energy use;
``(2) a description of the activities the applicant would
carry out, of the technologies that would be transferred, and
of any other organizations that will help facilitate a
regional approach to carrying out those activities;
``(3) a description of how the proposed activities would be
appropriate to the specific energy needs of the geographic
region to be served;
``(4) an estimate of the number and types of energy end-
users expected to be reached through such activities; and
``(5) a description of how the applicant will assess the
success of the program.
``(d) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary shall award grants
under this section on the basis of the following criteria, at
a minimum:
``(1) The ability of the applicant to carry out the
proposed activities.
``(2) The extent to which the applicant will coordinate the
activities of the Center with other entities as appropriate,
such as State and local governments, utilities, institutions
of higher education, and National Laboratories.
``(3) The appropriateness of the applicant's outreach
program for carrying out the program described in this
section.
[[Page H2409]]
``(4) The likelihood that proposed activities could be
expanded or used as a model for other areas.
``(e) Cost-Sharing.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall require cost-sharing in accordance with the
requirements of section 988 for commercial application
activities.
``(f) Duration.--
``(1) Initial grant period.--A grant awarded under this
section shall be for a period of 5 years.
``(2) Initial evaluation.--Each grantee under this section
shall be evaluated during its third year of operation under
procedures established by the Secretary to determine if the
grantee is accomplishing the purposes of this section
described in subsection (a). The Secretary shall terminate
any grant that does not receive a positive evaluation. If an
evaluation is positive, the Secretary may extend the grant
for 3 additional years beyond the original term of the grant.
``(3) Additional extension.--If a grantee receives an
extension under paragraph (2), the grantee shall be evaluated
again during the second year of the extension. The Secretary
shall terminate any grant that does not receive a positive
evaluation. If an evaluation is positive, the Secretary may
extend the grant for a final additional period of 3
additional years beyond the original extension.
``(4) Limitation.--No grantee may receive more than 11
years of support under this section without reapplying for
support and competing against all other applicants seeking a
grant at that time.
``(g) Prohibition.--None of the funds awarded under this
section may be used for the construction of facilities.
``(h) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
``(1) Advanced energy methods and technologies.--The term
`advanced energy methods and technologies' means all methods
and technologies that promote energy efficiency and
conservation, including distributed generation technologies,
and life-cycle analysis of energy use.
``(2) Center.--The term `Center' means an Advanced Energy
Technology Transfer Center established pursuant to this
section.
``(3) Distributed generation.--The term `distributed
generation' means an electric power generation technology,
including photovoltaic, small wind, and micro-combined heat
and power, that serves electric consumers at or near the site
of production.
``(4) Cooperative extension.--The term `Cooperative
Extension' means the extension services established at the
land-grant colleges and universities under the Smith-Lever
Act of May 8, 1914.
``(5) Land-grant colleges and universities.--The term
`land-grant colleges and universities' means--
``(A) 1862 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601));
``(B) 1890 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of that
Act); and
``(C) 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of that
Act).
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to
amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated in section
911, there are authorized to be appropriated for the program
under this section such sums as may be appropriated.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Baird) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
General Leave
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 85, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Washington?
There was no objection.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, when we examine market barriers for advanced research
energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, we find that a
simple lack of public knowledge often keeps those technologies on the
laboratory shelf and out of the marketplace. Outreach and education of
building and industry professionals and other key decisionmakers will
undoubtedly accelerate the deployment of beneficial energy technologies
and practices into the larger marketplace.
Through the guidance of Congressman Brad Miller, we sought to address
these challenges in the energy bill of 2005 by establishing in section
917 a network of Advanced Energy Technology Transfer Centers. These
centers would be a partnership between local entities and DOE to
showcase advanced energy technologies and simply teach the right people
how to utilize them.
Mrs. Biggert worked with Mr. Miller to refine this section of the EPA
Act in her bill, H.R. 85, and I believe it is a valuable improvement
that will get these centers up and running sooner.
This bill came through the Science Committee and passed the House
last year as part of H.R. 6203. It was a good idea then, and Chairman
Gordon saw that it should be treated the same in this Congress. Like
the other two bills before us today, the Science and Technology
Committee passed this bill out of committee with no objection. I again
commend my colleague from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) for working with the
majority on this important bill, and I urge its approval by the House.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 85, the Energy Technology Transfer
Act, that was introduced by Congresswoman Judy Biggert, a most valuable
and respected member of the Science Committee and former chairwoman of
the Energy Subcommittee. I thank her and Mr. Miller from North Carolina
for their work on this bill.
There is concern that there is not enough assistance or education
available in the area of transferring technologies in energy efficiency
and distributed clean energy that has been developed by the Department
of Energy and the national laboratories to energy end users.
In this time of heightened awareness of how much energy we are using
and how much energy costs, how dependent we are on foreign countries
for energy feedstocks and how to continue the emissions reductions
achieved thus far under various programs, it makes sense to do all we
can to make sure that energy end users are as informed as possible
about what is available to them to help them become more energy
efficient.
H.R. 85 would amend section 917 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005,
which requires the Secretary of Energy to distribute grants to
establish a network of advanced energy technology transfer centers for
the transfer of advanced energy technologies and methods to a wide
range of energy end users, including individuals, businesses and
building and industrial professionals.
The bill does not create a new program. It simply improves upon the
current section 917 by specifying types of activities that may be
funded, minimum criteria and priorities for qualifying applications,
duration of funding, and grantee evaluation requirements.
Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill and I encourage my colleagues to
support it.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlelady
from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the full
committee, Mr. Hall, for yielding me the time to discuss H.R. 85, the
Energy Technology Transfer Act. I would also like to commend my friend
and colleague Mr. Baird of Washington for managing this bill, and the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Miller) for his hard work on this
bill.
The provisions in this bill were included in section 11 of H.R. 6203,
the Alternative Energy Research and Development Act, which passed the
House by voice vote in September of last year. The Federal Government
spends billions every year on energy-related research and development
at our universities and national laboratories. The result is often new
technologies that reduce our consumption of energy or encourage the use
of alternative fuels, and thus reduces our dependence on foreign
sources of energy.
But the biggest challenge to realizing these energy savings is
getting these technologies out of the laboratory and into the
marketplace where they can benefit all energy end users. Whether we are
talking about a business owner, a homeowner, or a county or local
government official, these energy end users may be hesitant to embrace
advanced or alternative energy technologies with which they may not be
familiar, have little experience or which may require new
infrastructure.
The risk of investing in new energy technologies is just too great
compared to conventional energy technologies, and getting information
on the latest, greatest energy technologies can just be too costly or
time-consuming.
That is why section 917 of EPACT of 2005 directed the Department of
Energy to create a geographically dispersed network of energy efficient
technology
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transfer centers. The purpose of these centers is to transfer and
provide education on energy efficiency and distribute clean energy
technologies developed by DOE and at the national laboratories to
energy end users.
The bill we are considering today, H.R. 85, the Energy Technology
Transfer Act, would simply improve section 917 of EPACT. Instead of
creating from scratch this network of centers, H.R. 85 would authorize
the DOE to provide grants to and partner with existing community
outreach networks. These existing networks could include cooperative
extension system offices, State energy offices, local governments,
institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations with
expertise in energy technologies or outreach.
The Cooperative Extension Service and similar community outreach
networks have a long and successful history of transferring knowledge
about new technologies and techniques to farmers and other
constituencies. However, few have the resources to focus on energy
efficiency outside of the agriculture center. H.R. 85 would change that
and would build on the successful model of the ag extension service
without creating any new entity or bureaucracy.
H.R. 85 still demands the same requirements of these centers. They
must be geographically dispersed; they must coordinate regional
resource engineering and business expertise; and they must help apply
energy technologies and methods suitable to local climate. But instead
of limiting these centers to the transfer of energy technologies, H.R.
85 would expand their mission to include all advanced energy
technologies.
In addition to requiring grant recipients to demonstrate results or
risk losing their grant, H.R. 85 would require grantees to provide
feedback to DOE on the research needs related to the production,
storage or use of energy identified by energy end users. It would also
encourage grant recipients to work with utilities to carry out
informational activities for energy end users.
H.R. 85 prohibits grant recipients from using grants funding to
construct facilities to house the tech transfer center. It doesn't
authorize any funding that isn't already authorized in EPACT. In other
words, this bill contains no new funding. Instead, it simply gives new
guidance and direction to the Secretary about how to bolster the
Department's technology transfer capacity.
I just want to give you one example from Chicago about how this
program might work and its potential to save energy through the
deployment of advanced energy technologies.
Before expanding their frozen pizza production plant in Woodridge,
Illinois, Home Run Inn Pizza consulted with the University of Illinois
Chicago's Energy Resource Center. After conducting an assessment of the
plant and its operations, the UIC Energy Resource Center identified
nine ways Home Run Inn Pizza could reduce their energy consumption and
energy costs. Using advanced energy technologies developed as a result
of DOE's funded research, Home Run Inn Pizza could reduce natural gas
consumption by 13 percent and energy consumption by 5 to 6 percent,
saving a total of over $15,000 annually.
Because of resource limitations, the UIC Energy Resource Center will
help 12 companies in this way in fiscal year 2007, saving each on the
average 15 percent of its energy budget and providing a return on
investment within 2 years.
With passage of H.R. 85, the UIC Energy Resource Center and other
cooperative extension and community outreach organizations could add
the capacity and expertise to help many, many more companies, building
managers, home builders and homeowners use technology to save energy
and money.
I want to conclude by thanking the bill's chief cosponsor, my friend
and colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Miller) for his strong interest
in tech transfer and this legislation in particular. As we have worked
with the majority to improve this legislation, his input has been
invaluable. I also want to thank Chairman Gordon for recognizing the
value of this legislation and moving it expeditiously through the
committee. I want to thank Ranking Member Hall for his assistance as
well.
Finally, I want to thank the National Association of State
Universities and Land Grant Colleges and a long list of its members for
their strong support of this bill. This bill represents just a small
investment in the tech transfer capabilities we need to help our
universities and labs move advanced energy technologies from the labs
into the markets so Americans can enjoy the tangible benefits of our
Federal investment in R&D.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
{time} 1430
Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I just would echo Mrs. Biggert's astute
comments. We talk a lot in this body and in the administration about
the importance of launching new energy research initiatives. The fact
is we have a number of efficient technologies before us today, and the
real challenge is getting those out to the public to be implemented as
soon as possible.
The quickest way to address our energy challenge is not to
immediately invent some miracle cure. The quickest way is to implement
the existing technologies and mechanisms that we have already before us
to begin saving energy today.
I encourage passage of this bill and commend Mrs. Biggert for her
leadership.
Mr. MILLER of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I originally introduced as
an amendment to the Energy Bill, what is now section 917 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005. Then Chairman Boehlert accepted that amendment in
the 108th, and then made it part of the base bill the next time that it
came through this committee in the 109th. H.R. 85 makes improving
changes to section 917, to make it an even more effective program.
There has never been a partisan divide over this program. This
committee passed the language in this bill as part of a broader energy
bill that Mrs. Biggert introduced in the last Congress. I thank the
Chairman for working to get this bill to the House floor and thank Mrs.
Biggert for continuing to work with me on the issue of energy
technology transfer.
The purpose of the program is to encourage the use in the real world
of energy efficiency technologies that have been developed with, often,
federally funded research, the Department of Energy, but that has sat
unused on the shelf. Using those energy efficiency technologies offers
the promise of immediate help with our problems, with our energy needs,
our dependency, and we should be using every effort to try to make
ourselves more energy independent.
This bill would extend those ways of delivering energy conservation
and efficiency programs to include cooperative extension services,
which is a definite improvement, and important, that these energy
efficiency technologies make their way into rural America.
And I hope that these improvements to Sec 917 of EPACT really do make
the program much more comprehensive and will send a message to the
Department of Energy and to the appropriators that this program should
be funded.
The President's budget request failed to request funding for this
program this year. In the 109th Congress the appropriators failed to
include funding, despite my best efforts and many efforts to tug at
someone's sleeve and get their attention, to try to include it in the
appropriations bill. And I hope with a strong bipartisan effort this
year, this program can be funded, and we can begin to make sure we get
into practical use the energy efficiency technologies that we have
developed.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I
urge passage of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 85, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
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