[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 111 (Monday, July 11, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H4647-H4649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2000
                   ELECTRICITY STORAGE INNOVATION ACT

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 5640) to provide for the establishment at the Department 
of Energy of an Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5640

       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 ``Electricity Storage 
     Innovation Act''.

     SEC. 2. ELECTRICITY STORAGE BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

       (a) Amendment.--Section 975 of the Energy Policy Act of 
     2005 (42 U.S.C. 16315) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 975. ELECTRICITY STORAGE BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

       ``(a) Initiative.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a research 
     initiative, to be known as the Electricity Storage Basic 
     Research Initiative, to expand theoretical and fundamental 
     knowledge to control, store, and convert electrical energy to 
     chemical energy and the inverse. This initiative shall 
     support scientific inquiry into the practical understanding 
     of chemical and physical processes that occur within systems 
     involving crystalline and amorphous solids, polymers, and 
     organic and aqueous liquids.
       ``(2) Leveraging.--The Secretary shall leverage expertise 
     and resources from the Basic Energy Sciences Program, 
     Advanced Scientific Computing Research Program, and 
     Biological and Environmental Research Program within the 
     Office of Science, and the Office of Energy Efficiency and 
     Renewable Energy, as provided under subsections (b), (c), and 
     (d).
       ``(3) Teams.--The Secretary shall organize activities under 
     the Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative to include 
     multidisciplinary teams leveraging expertise from the 
     National Laboratories, universities, and the private sector 
     to the extent practicable. These multidisciplinary teams 
     shall pursue aggressive, milestone-driven basic research 
     goals. The Secretary shall provide sufficient resources for 
     those teams to achieve those goals over a period of time to 
     be determined by the Secretary.
       ``(4) Additional activities.--The Secretary is authorized 
     to organize additional activities under this subsection 
     through Energy Frontier Research Centers, Energy Innovation 
     Hubs, or other organizational structures.
       ``(b) Multivalent Systems.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, as part of the 
     Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative, carry out a 
     program to support research needed to bridge scientific 
     barriers and discover knowledge relevant to multivalent ion 
     materials in electric energy storage systems. In carrying out 
     activities under this subsection, the Director of the Office 
     of Basic Energy Sciences shall investigate electrochemical 
     properties and the dynamics of materials, including charge 
     transfer phenomena and mass transport in materials. The 
     Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
     Energy shall support translational research, development, and 
     validation of physical concepts developed under this 
     subsection.
       ``(2) Standard of review.--The Secretary shall review the 
     program activities under this subsection to determine the 
     achievement of technical milestones.
       ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--
       ``(A) Authorization.--Subject to subsection (e), there are 
     authorized for carrying out activities under this subsection 
     for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020--
       ``(i) $50,000,000 from funds within the Basic Energy 
     Sciences Program account; and
       ``(ii) $25,000,000 from funds within the Energy Efficiency 
     and Renewable Energy account.
       ``(B) Prohibition.--No funds authorized under this 
     subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial 
     application of energy technology.
       ``(c) Electrochemistry Modeling and Simulation.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, as part of the 
     Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative, carry out a 
     program to support research to model and simulate organic 
     electrolytes, including their static and dynamic 
     electrochemical behavior and phenomena at the molecular and 
     atomic level in monovalent and multivalent systems. In 
     carrying out activities under this subsection, the Director 
     of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences shall, in coordination 
     with the Associate Director of Advanced Scientific Computing 
     Research, support the development of high performance 
     computational tools through a joint development process to 
     maximize the effectiveness of current and projected high 
     performance computing systems. The Assistant Secretary for 
     Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support 
     translational research, development, and validation of 
     physical concepts developed under this subsection.
       ``(2) Standard of review.--The Secretary shall review the 
     program activities under this subsection to determine the 
     achievement of technical milestones.
       ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--
       ``(A) Authorization.--Subject to subsection (e), there are 
     authorized for carrying out activities under this subsection 
     for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020--
       ``(i) $30,000,000 from funds within the Basic Energy 
     Sciences Program and Advanced Scientific Computing Research 
     Program accounts; and
       ``(ii) $15,000,000 from funds within the Energy Efficiency 
     and Renewable Energy account.
       ``(B) Prohibition.--No funds authorized under this 
     subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial 
     application of energy technology.
       ``(d) Mesoscale Electrochemistry.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, as part of the 
     Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative, carry out a 
     program to support research needed to reveal electrochemistry 
     in confined mesoscale spaces, including scientific 
     discoveries relevant to bio-electrochemistry and 
     electrochemical energy conversion and storage in confined 
     spaces and the dynamics of these phenomena. In carrying out 
     activities under this subsection, the Director of the Office 
     of Basic Energy Sciences and the Associate Director of 
     Biological and Environmental Research shall investigate 
     phenomena of mesoscale electrochemical confinement for the 
     purpose of replicating and controlling new electrochemical 
     behavior. The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and 
     Renewable Energy shall support translational research, 
     development, and validation of physical concepts developed 
     under this subsection.
       ``(2) Standard of review.--The Secretary shall review the 
     program activities under this subsection to determine the 
     achievement of technical milestones.
       ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--
       ``(A) Authorization.--Subject to subsection (e), there are 
     authorized for carrying out activities under this subsection 
     for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020--
       ``(i) $20,000,000 from funds within the Basic Energy 
     Sciences Program and the Biological and Environmental 
     Research Program accounts; and
       ``(ii) $10,000,000 from funds within the Energy Efficiency 
     and Renewable Energy account.
       ``(B) Prohibition.--No funds authorized under this 
     subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial 
     application of energy technology.
       ``(e) Funding.--No additional funds are authorized to be 
     appropriated under this section. This section shall be 
     carried out using funds otherwise authorized by law.''.

[[Page H4648]]

       (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The item relating to 
     section 975 in the table of contents of such Act is amended 
     to read as follows:

``Sec. 975. Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice 
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 5640, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 5640, the 
Electricity Storage Innovation Act, which is part of the majority 
leader's Innovation Initiative in this House. The legislation will 
prioritize basic energy research and innovation and provides important 
statutory authority and direction for the Department of Energy's 
groundbreaking basic research in electricity storage.
  Electricity storage is one of the next frontiers in our energy 
future. Innovations leading to advanced, next generation batteries 
could help bring affordable electricity and renewable energy to the 
market without costly subsidies or mandates. By investing in the basic 
scientific research that will lead to advanced battery technology, we 
can enable utilities to store and deliver power produced elsewhere on 
demand. This will allow us to take advantage of energy from all of our 
diverse national resources across the country.
  As the Nation's lead Federal agency for basic research in the 
physical sciences, the Department of Energy's Office of Science is the 
ideal leader for this fundamental scientific research. The DOE, 
national labs, and our universities have the resources and capacity to 
pursue the science necessary to understand and develop advanced 
electricity storage systems.
  H.R. 5640 authorizes the Secretary of Energy to carry out a basic 
research initiative of advanced chemical and material science focusing 
on multivalent systems, mesoscale electrochemistry, and high-
performance computational modeling and simulation.
  This legislation also provides the necessary statutory direction and 
accountability for translational research in electricity storage, 
bridging the gap between fundamental science and private sector 
innovation.
  H.R. 5640 focuses the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy on early stage research that will not be undertaken by the 
private sector. H.R. 5640 also outlines the Federal Government's role 
in research and development by prohibiting the use of this program's 
funds for the commercial application of energy technology.
  The transformative breakthroughs in energy science achieved by 
researchers at our national labs will empower the private sector to 
develop innovative electricity storage technologies. The private sector 
is best suited to bring new battery technology to the commercial energy 
market.
  By directing DOE to conduct this research using existing funds in the 
Office of Science and the EERE, this legislation ensures responsible 
use of limited tax dollars for basic research. In short, there is no 
new or additional spending in this bill.
  Scientific research, like the work authorized in this Electricity 
Storage Innovation Act, requires a long-term commitment. While this 
groundbreaking science will eventually support the development of new, 
advanced energy technology by the private sector, Congress must ensure 
limited Federal dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. Federal 
research and development can build a foundation for the next major 
scientific breakthrough. As we shape the future of the Department of 
Energy, we must prioritize basic energy science and research that only 
the Federal Government has the resources and mission to pursue.
  I want to thank my colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology 
Committee for their bipartisan support of this important basic research 
initiative. I encourage all of my House colleagues to support this 
legislation tonight.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  I welcome the opportunity to do everything we can to advance research 
in electricity storage. Advanced battery technologies can improve the 
stability of our electric grid and greatly enhance our ability to 
efficiently use the wide range of clean energy resources that our 
country is lucky enough to have at our disposal.
  This area of research could go a long way to addressing one of the 
most critical issues of our time: climate change. I appreciate the 
chairman's enthusiasm for moving as quickly as possible to combat this 
serious threat. However, I think we could have taken at least a little 
more time to make sure that we are doing this the right way before 
rushing this to the floor. Minority committee staff only saw early 
draft language of this bill a few weeks ago, and last Tuesday, the 
Department of Energy raised some significant concerns with the current 
bill.
  Of particular concern is the bill's attempt to limit the initiative 
that it authorizes to basic research activities. As we heard from every 
single witness at a hearing that the Science, Space, and Technology 
Committee held on this topic just a month ago, as well as from DOE, 
there is no clear boundary that divides basic and applied research. It 
is not realistic, and certainly goes against our general understanding 
of the scientific discovery and innovation, to try to confine the 
activities of our top researchers in this way. Moreover, this cuts 
against OMB's definition of the difference between basic and applied 
research, which actually depends on what these researchers had in mind 
when they were making their discoveries.
  DOE noted that the activities ascribed in this bill would easily be 
considered applied research. So language attempting to restrict the 
initiative authorized in this bill to basic research activities could 
create an inherent conflict in its implementation. Mr. Takano offered 
an amendment in the committee to address the problem in our markup last 
week, but, unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears in the majority and was 
rejected. I do not believe that the issues the Department has raised 
are insurmountable, but I still believe that there was little reason to 
take this approach when there was ample opportunity to do this in a 
more bipartisan way.
  That said, I do not oppose passage of this bill today in the hope 
that we can turn it into something we can all support in partnership 
with our friends in the Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Weber), who is the chairman of the Energy Subcommittee.
  Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
5640, the Electricity Storage Innovation Act. This legislation directs 
the Department of Energy to focus on basic research that provides the 
foundation for technology breakthroughs in battery storage technology.
  In the field of electricity storage research, there is a lot of 
excitement about more efficient batteries that could operate for longer 
durations under decreased charge times, but not enough people are 
asking about how we could design a battery system that moves more 
electrons at the atomic level--a key aspect to drastically increasing 
the efficiency or power in a battery. This transformational approach, 
known as multivalent ion intercalation, will use the foundational study 
of electrochemistry to build a better battery from the ground up.

  Mr. Speaker, in Congress, we must take the long-term view. We must be 
patient. We must make smart investments in research that can lead to 
the next big discovery. H.R. 5640 authorizes the fundamental chemistry 
and materials research that can lead to advanced electricity storage 
technology and allows us to gain new knowledge

[[Page H4649]]

that could provide benefits across the economy. Pardon the pun, but 
that is our charge.
  DOE must prioritize basic research over grants for technology that is 
ready for commercial deployment. When the government steps in to push 
today's technology in the energy market, it competes, Mr. Speaker, 
against private investors and uses limited taxpayer resources to do so. 
But when the government supports basic research and development, 
everyone has the opportunity to access that fundamental knowledge that 
can lead to the development of future energy technologies.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Smith for introducing this 
important legislation to prioritize fundamental science research. I 
urge my colleagues to support this innovative, fiscally responsible 
legislation. You know I am right.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
requests for time.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5640 authorizes innovative basic research that will 
lead to the next generation of electricity storage technology. By 
harnessing the expertise of our Nation's national labs and 
universities, we can lay the fundamental scientific groundwork for the 
private sector's development of new, transformative advanced batteries 
in the future.
  I especially want to thank my colleagues on the Science, Space, and 
Technology Committee who have cosponsored H.R. 5640. They include Dan 
Lipinski, Steve Knight, Randy Neugebauer, Bill Posey, Randy Hultgren, 
Randy Weber, John Moolenaar, and Brian Babin.
  I also want to thank the dozens of researchers and stakeholders who 
provided feedback as we developed this legislation.
  I want to reiterate that H.R. 5640 authorizes no new Federal 
spending.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this commonsense, bipartisan 
legislation, which is part of Majority Leader McCarthy's Innovation 
Initiative.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, tonight we are considering four Science, Space, 
and Technology Committee bills, and I want to thank the staff members 
involved. They include, Chris Wydler, Molly Fromm, John Horton, Cliff 
Shannon, Sarah Jorgenson, Aaron Weston, Emily Domenech, and Ashley 
Smith, whose birthday is today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5640, 
the ``Electricity Storage Innovation Act,'' which is designed to expand 
knowledge to control, store, and convert electrical energy into 
chemical energy.
  Energy is crucial to innovation and economic competitiveness in the 
global economy.
  As a former long-time member of the House Science Committee, I am 
well-aware of the challenges posed by electricity generation and 
storage.
  At present, there is no ability to store electricity generated by our 
nation's power grid.
  H.R. 5640 requires that the Electricity Storage Basic Research 
Initiative include research specific to multivalent ion materials in 
electric energy storage systems and electrochemistry modeling.
  My preference for research legislation is to allow the science to 
lead and not place legislative mandates on what to research.
  The legislation encourages multilateral and multidisciplinary 
research efforts between National Laboratories, universities, and the 
private sector to achieve milestones in advancing and modernizing 
electricity storage innovation.
  H.R. 5640 specifically designates two subsections for innovation: (1) 
Electrochemistry Modeling and Simulation, and (2) Mesoscale 
Electrochemistry.
  I strongly support the $150 million in funding to expand theoretical 
and fundamental knowledge to control, store, and convert electrical 
energy into chemical energy.
  Through this funding, innovation and scientific milestones can be 
made to bring America to the cutting edge of technological advancement.
  H.R. 5640 is an important step in developing the technology needed to 
remain competitive in the global market of alternative energy.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5640.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 5640, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________