[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 111 (Monday, July 11, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H4649-H4651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SOLAR FUELS INNOVATION ACT
Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5638) to provide for the establishment at the Department of
Energy of a Solar Fuels Basic Research Initiative, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5638
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 ``Solar Fuels Innovation
Act''.
SEC. 2. SOLAR FUELS BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
(a) Amendment.--Section 973 of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16313) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 973. SOLAR FUELS BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
``(a) Initiative.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a research
initiative, to be known as the Solar Fuels Basic Research
Initiative, to expand theoretical and fundamental knowledge
of photochemistry, electrochemistry, biochemistry, and
materials science useful for the practical development of
experimental systems to convert solar energy to chemical
energy.
``(2) Leveraging.--The Secretary shall leverage expertise
and resources from the Basic Energy Sciences 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) and (c).
``(3) Teams.--The Secretary shall organize activities under
the Solar Fuels 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) Artificial Photosynthesis.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, as part of the
Solar Fuels Basic Research Initiative, carry out a program to
support research needed to bridge scientific barriers and
discover knowledge relevant to artificial photosynthetic
systems. In carrying out activities under this subsection,
the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences shall
support basic research to pursue distinct lines of scientific
inquiry, including photoinduced production of hydrogen and
oxygen from water, and the sustainable photoinduced reduction
of carbon dioxide to fuel products including hydrocarbons,
alcohols, carbon monoxide, and natural gas. 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 (d), 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) Biochemistry, Replication of Natural Photosynthesis,
and Related Processes.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, as part of the
Solar Fuels Basic Research Initiative, carry out a program to
support research needed to replicate natural photosynthetic
processes by use of artificial photosynthetic components and
materials. In carrying out activities under this subsection,
the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences shall
support basic research to expand fundamental knowledge to
replicate natural synthesis processes, including the
photoinduced reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia, absorption
of carbon dioxide from ambient air, molecular-based charge
separation and storage, photoinitiated electron transfer, and
catalysis in biological or biomimetic systems. The Associate
Director of Biological and Environmental Research shall
[[Page H4650]]
support systems biology and genomics approaches to understand
genetic and physiological pathways connected to
photosynthetic mechanisms. 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 (d), 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 and Biological and Environmental Research
Program accounts; 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.
``(d) Funding.--No additional funds are authorized to be
appropriated under this section. This section shall be
carried out using funds otherwise authorized by law.''.
(b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The item relating to
section 973 in the table of contents of such Act is amended
to read as follows:
``Sec. 973. Solar Fuels Basic Research Initiative.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Knight) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie
Bernice Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 5638, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Today it is my honor and privilege to bring H.R. 5638, the Solar
Fuels Innovation Act, to the House of Representatives with several of
my colleagues.
This bill, the first solar R&D bill to be considered on the House
floor this Congress, will advance the policies of the America COMPETES
Act that passed the House last year and establish a basic research
initiative and groundbreaking solar fuels.
The solar fuel process, also known as artificial photosynthesis,
harnesses energy from sunlight to create a range of chemical fuels.
Basic research in artificial photosynthesis and related research could
lead to a solar fuels system that consolidates solar power and energy
storage into a cohesive process and fundamentally change the way we
extract energy from our natural resources. This would be a game changer
for our country.
Scientists up and down the coast of California are undertaking this
research, from universities in southern California to Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory in the bay area. Research authorized in this
legislation could solve this key scientific challenge and open the door
for American entrepreneurs to develop the next generation of solar
technology.
The Solar Fuels Innovation Act will also enable universities and the
DOE labs to train the next generation of scientists through a
multidisciplinary approach, bringing together students in chemistry,
physics, and materials science.
This legislation provides a framework for more coordination between
basic research and early-stage translational research in solar fuels.
{time} 2015
H.R. 5638 refocuses the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy on the early-stage research where the Federal Government can
have the most significant impact.
H.R. 5638 reaffirms the Federal Government's key role in research and
development.
This legislation is also fiscally responsible. By directing DOE to
conduct this research using existing funds in the Office of Science and
EERE, this legislation ensures the responsible use of limited tax
dollars for the kind of research only the Federal Government has the
tools to undertake.
Today, we hear a lot of enthusiasm for solar power. But far too
often, we focus on today's technology, not the fundamentally new
approach to renewable energy that is possible with this early-stage
research.
In Congress, it is our responsibility to take the long-term view and
be patient, making smart investments in research that can lead to the
next big discovery.
DOE must focus on the kind of groundbreaking R&D that can lead to
disruptive technology. Solar fuels could someday change the way we
think about solar power.
I would like to thank my colleagues who joined me in introducing this
bill and the many research institutions that offered letters of
support.
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 support doing all we can to advance research in solar fuels. These
technologies aim to produce fuels like hydrogen and hydrocarbons from a
combination of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, and do this far
more efficiently than nature's photosynthetic process. If we can figure
out a way to make these technologies cost competitive, solar fuels have
the potential to make a major contribution to reducing our dependence
on oil and other traditional fossil fuels.
But as with the Electricity Storage Innovation Act, I believe we
could have taken a little more time to do this in the right way. Last
week, the Department of Energy raised many of the same concerns with
this bill that it had with the last one, including its attempt to
arbitrarily legislate a bright line between ``basic'' and ``applied''
research when this is neither realistic nor helpful.
Further, I would note that there is absolutely nothing wrong with
Federal support for so-called applied research. Indeed, my colleagues
on the other side of the aisle have had no issue with supporting what
would typically be called applied research and development when it
dealt with nuclear technologies, oil and gas drilling technologies, or
other fossil fuel technologies. Clean power technologies should be
treated no differently.
That said, I do not oppose the 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.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the full committee.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the gentleman
from California, Energy Subcommittee Vice Chairman Knight, for yielding
me time on H.R. 5638, the Solar Fuels Innovation Act.
This legislation provides necessary statutory authority and direction
to the Department of Energy's groundbreaking solar fuels research
program. I appreciate Vice Chairman Knight developing and introducing
this legislation, which is the product of the Science, Space, and
Technology Committee's hearings, oversight, and stakeholder outreach.
Research to create fuels from the Sun, also known as artificial
photosynthesis and photosynthesis replication, relies heavily on the
study of advanced chemistry and materials science. By prioritizing
these areas of fundamental physical science, researchers at our
national labs and universities across the country can develop processes
that take energy from sunlight and create a range of chemical fuels.
This basic research could provide the scientific and technical
underpinnings for the private sector to develop solar fuel systems that
eliminate the problem of the intermittency of direct solar energy and
make it a reliable power source for chemical fuels production.
H.R. 5638 authorizes the Secretary of Energy to carry out a targeted
basic research initiative on photochemistry, electrochemistry,
biochemistry, and the materials science necessary to develop the
complex systems to convert sunlight into usable and storable fuels.
H.R. 5638 focuses the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy on early-stage research that will not be undertaken by the
private sector. DOE must focus on this kind of groundbreaking R&D while
the private sector is responsible for finding ways to deploy innovative
technology in the commercial energy market.
[[Page H4651]]
The Federal Government does not have unlimited resources to pursue
every technology innovation. By directing DOE to conduct this research
using only existing funds in the Office of Science and EERE, the
legislation redirects currently authorized funds. The Department of
Energy has the capability and knowledge to lead on this type of long-
term basic research. This groundbreaking science can lead to the
development of innovative advanced energy technologies by the private
sector.
Again, I want to thank Vice Chairman Knight and both my Republican
and Democratic colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology
Committee for supporting this basic research initiative in solar fuels.
As part of Leader McCarthy's Innovation Initiative, this legislation
deserves the support of our House colleagues.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Weber), the chairman of the Energy Subcommittee.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
California for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5638, the Solar Fuels
Innovation Act.
This legislation directs the Department of Energy to focus on basic
research that provides the foundation for our technology breakthroughs.
Our aim is to shed a little sunlight on this process. As for the solar
fuel process, also known as artificial photosynthesis, new materials
and catalysts will be needed to be developed through basic research
before the private sector will ever be able to develop a commercial
solar fuels system.
If this research yields the right materials, Mr. Speaker, scientists
might create a system that could consolidate solar power and energy
storage into a cohesive process. This would potentially remove the
intermittency of solar energy and make it a reliable power source for
chemical fuels production. Folks, this is a game changer.
Last month, we held a hearing in the Energy Subcommittee that I chair
in order to examine this critical research. We heard from a panel of
experts on America's basic research portfolio, which provides the
foundation for development of solar fuels through the study of
chemistry and advanced materials.
I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Knight, the vice chairman of the
Energy Subcommittee, for introducing this important legislation.
I am also pleased that this legislation directs research within
existing funds appropriated by Congress and does not authorize any new
spending. Let me repeat: does not authorize any new spending.
Mr. Speaker, we have limited Federal resources for research and
development, and it is our responsibility to ensure that those are
spent wisely, on basic research that can provide benefits across the
entire United States economy.
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 yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 5638 authorizes innovative basic research that will lead to
groundbreaking technology in solar fuels.
By harnessing the expertise of our Nation's national labs and
universities, now we can lay the fundamental scientific groundwork for
the private sector's development of advanced solar fuels technology in
the future. This could fundamentally change the way we extract energy
from our natural resources.
I want to thank Chairman Smith and my other colleagues on the
Science, Space, and Technology Committee who have cosponsored H.R.
5638, including Dan Lipinski, Randy Neugebauer, Bill Posey, Randy
Hultgren, Randy Weber, Brian Babin, and John Moolenaar. I also want to
thank the dozens of researchers and stakeholders who provided feedback
as we developed this legislation.
Finally, I want to reiterate that H.R. 5638 authorizes no new Federal
spending. I think we got that from Chairman Weber. The bill reads: ``No
additional funds are authorized to be appropriated under this section.
This section shall be carried out using funds otherwise authorized by
law.''
I urge the adoption of this commonsense, bipartisan legislation,
which is part of Leader McCarthy's Innovation Initiative.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5638,
the ``Solar Fuels Innovation Act,'' bipartisan legislation that
establishes the Solar Fuels Basic Research Initiative at the Department
of Energy.
As a former long-time member of the House Science Committee, I am
well aware of the challenges posed by solar power generation.
In our diversified and globalized economy, it is critical to invest
in innovative solar power research to ensure energy independence of the
United States.
According to the most recent report by the International Energy
Agency in 2014, the United States was fifth in solar power production.
The United States produced 18,317 megawatts of solar power in 2014.
The United States has more land space to harness solar power than
some of the countries currently surpassing us, which includes Italy,
Japan, and Germany.
H.R. 5638 authorizes the Secretary of Energy to implement the Solar
Fuels Basic Research Initiative to expand the scientific knowledge of
photochemistry, biochemistry, electrochemistry, and materials science
needed to convert solar energy to chemical energy.
The legislation encourages multilateral and multidisciplinary
research efforts between National Laboratories, universities, and the
private sector to achieve milestones in advancing and modernizing solar
power research.
H.R. 5638 specifically designates two subsections for innovation: (1)
Artificial Photosynthesis, and (2) Biochemistry, Replication of Natural
Photosynthesis and Related Processes.
The bill authorizes $150 million for each subsection of fiscal years
2017 through 2020.
H.R. 5638 also authorizes the same amount and division of funding
amount to the ``Biochemistry, Replication of Natural Photosynthesis and
Related Processes'' subcategory.
Mr. Speaker, this innovative legislation will help ensure that
America remains a leader on the cutting edge of technological
advancement.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5638.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Weber of Texas). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Knight) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5638, 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.
____________________