[House Report 117-227]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
117th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2nd Session } { 117-227
======================================================================
STEEL UPGRADING PARTNERSHIPS AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT
_______
January 18, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Johnson of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 4599]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 4599) to strengthen and enhance the
competitiveness of American manufacturing through the research
and development of advanced technologies to reduce steelmaking
emissions, and for other purposes, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that
the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Amendment.......................................................2
II. Purpose of the Bill.............................................4
III. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................4
IV. Committee Hearings..............................................5
V. Committee Consideration and Votes...............................6
VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill.........................6
VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (By Title and Section)..............6
VIII. Committee Views.................................................7
IX. Cost Estimate...................................................7
X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.......................8
XI. Compliance with Public Law 104-4 (Unfunded Mandates)............9
XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations................9
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives...........9
XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement............................9
XV. Duplication of Federal Programs.................................9
XVI. Earmark Identification..........................................9
XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch.........................9
XVIII.Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law..........9
XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, As Reported...........9
XX. Proceedings of Full Committee Markup...........................14
I. Amendment
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Steel Upgrading Partnerships and
Emissions Reduction Act'' or the ``SUPER Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. LOW-EMISSIONS STEEL MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) Program.--Subtitle D of title IV of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17111 et seq.) is amended by inserting
after section 454 the following:
``SEC. 454A. LOW-EMISSIONS STEEL MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PROGRAM.
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to encourage the
research and development of innovative technologies aimed at--
``(1) increasing the technological and economic
competitiveness of industry and manufacturing in the United
States; and
``(2) achieving significant net nonwater greenhouse emissions
reductions in the production processes for iron, steel, and
steel mill products.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Commercially available steelmaking.--The term
`commercially available steelmaking' means the current
production method of iron, steel, and steel mill products.
``(2) Critical material.--The term `critical material' has
the meaning given such term in section 7002 of division Z of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).
``(3) Critical mineral.--The term `critical mineral' has the
meaning given such term in section 7002 of division Z of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).
``(4) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) an institution of higher education;
``(B) an appropriate State or Federal entity,
including a federally funded research and development
center of the Department;
``(C) a nonprofit research institution;
``(D) a private entity;
``(E) any other relevant entity the Secretary
determines appropriate; and
``(F) a partnership or consortium of two or more
entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).
``(5) Low-emissions steel manufacturing.--The term `low-
emissions steel manufacturing' means advanced or commercially
available steelmaking with the reduction, to the maximum extent
practicable, of net nonwater greenhouse gas emissions to the
atmosphere from the production of iron, steel, and steel mill
products.
``(c) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions Reduction
Act, the Secretary shall establish a program of research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application of advanced tools,
technologies, and methods for low-emissions steel manufacturing.
``(d) Requirements.--In carrying out the program under subsection
(c), the Secretary shall--
``(1) coordinate this program with the programs and
activities authorized in title VI of division Z of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021;
``(2) coordinate across all relevant program offices of the
Department, including the Office of Science, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office of Fossil Energy,
and the Office of Nuclear Energy;
``(3) leverage, to the extent practicable, the research
infrastructure of the Department, including scientific
computing user facilities, x-ray light sources, neutron
scattering facilities, and nanoscale science research centers;
and
``(4) conduct research, development, and demonstration of
low-emissions steel manufacturing technologies that have the
potential to increase domestic production and employment in
advanced and commercially available steelmaking.
``(e) Strategic Plan.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions
Reduction Act, the Secretary shall develop a 5-year strategic
plan identifying research, development, demonstration, and
commercial application goals for the program established in
subsection (c). The Secretary shall submit this plan to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate.
``(2) Contents.--The strategic plan submitted under paragraph
(1) shall--
``(A) identify programs at the Department related to
low-emissions steel manufacturing that support the
research, development, demonstration, and commercial
application activities described in this section, and
the demonstration projects under subsection (h);
``(B) establish technological and programmatic goals
to achieve the requirements of subsection (d); and
``(C) include timelines for the accomplishment of
goals developed under the plan.
``(3) Updates to plan.--Not less than once every two years,
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate an
updated version of the plan under paragraph (1).
``(f) Focus Areas.--In carrying out the program established in
subsection (c), the Secretary shall focus on--
``(1) medium- and high-temperature heat generation
technologies used for low-emissions steel manufacturing, which
may include--
``(A) alternative fuels, including hydrogen and
biomass;
``(B) alternative reducing agents, including
hydrogen;
``(C) renewable heat generation technology, including
solar and geothermal;
``(D) electrification of heating processes, including
through electrolysis; and
``(E) other heat generation sources;
``(2) carbon capture technologies for advanced and
commercially available steelmaking processes, which may
include--
``(A) combustion and chemical looping technologies;
``(B) use of slag to reduce carbon dioxide emissions;
``(C) pre-combustion technologies; and
``(D) post-combustion technologies;
``(3) smart manufacturing technologies and principles,
digital manufacturing technologies, and advanced data analytics
to develop advanced technologies and practices in information,
automation, monitoring, computation, sensing, modeling, and
networking to--
``(A) model and simulate manufacturing production
lines;
``(B) monitor and communicate production line status;
and
``(C) model, simulate, and optimize the energy
efficiency of manufacturing processes;
``(4) technologies and practices that minimize energy and
natural resource consumption, which may include--
``(A) designing products that enable reuse,
refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling;
``(B) minimizing waste from advanced and commercially
available steelmaking processes, including through the
reuse of waste as resources in other industrial
processes for mutual benefit;
``(C) increasing resource efficiency; and
``(D) increasing the energy efficiency of advanced
and commercially available steelmaking processes;
``(5) alternative materials and technologies that produce
fewer emissions during production and result in fewer emissions
during use, which may include--
``(A) innovative raw materials;
``(B) high-performance lightweight materials;
``(C) substitutions for critical materials and
critical minerals; and
``(D) other technologies that achieve significant
carbon emission reductions in low-emissions steel
manufacturing, as determined by the Secretary; and
``(6) high-performance computing to develop advanced
materials and manufacturing processes contributing to the focus
areas described in paragraphs (1) through (5), including--
``(A) modeling, simulation, and optimization of the
design of energy efficient and sustainable products;
and
``(B) the use of digital prototyping and additive
manufacturing to enhance product design.
``(g) Testing and Validation.--The Secretary, in consultation with
the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology,
shall support the development of standardized testing and technical
validation of advanced and commercially available steelmaking and low-
emissions steel manufacturing through collaboration with one or more
National Laboratories, and one or more eligible entities.
``(h) Demonstration.--
``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions
Reduction Act, the Secretary, in carrying out the program
established in subsection (c), and in collaboration with
industry partners, institutions of higher education, and the
National Laboratories, shall support an initiative for the
demonstration of low-emissions steel manufacturing, as
identified by the Secretary, that uses either--
``(A) a single technology; or
``(B) a combination of multiple technologies.
``(2) Selection requirements.--Under the initiative
established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall select
eligible entities to carry out demonstration projects and to
the maximum extent practicable--
``(A) encourage regional diversity among eligible
entities, including participation by rural States;
``(B) encourage technological diversity among
eligible entities; and
``(C) ensure that specific projects selected--
``(i) expand on the existing technology
demonstration programs of the Department; and
``(ii) prioritize projects that leverage
matching funds from non-Federal sources.
``(3) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate--
``(A) not less frequently than once every two years
for the duration of the demonstration initiative under
this subsection, a report describing the performance of
the initiative; and
``(B) if the initiative established under this
subsection is terminated, an assessment of the success
of, and education provided by, the measures carried out
by recipients of financial assistance under the
initiative.
``(i) Additional Coordination.--
``(1) Manufacturing u.s.a..--In carrying out this section the
Secretary shall consider--
``(A) leveraging the resources of relevant existing
Manufacturing USA Institutes described in section 34(d)
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278s(d));
``(B) integrating program activities into a relevant
existing Manufacturing USA Institute; or
``(C) establishing a new institute focused on low-
emissions steel manufacturing.
``(2) Other federal agencies.--In carrying out this section,
the Secretary shall coordinate with other Federal agencies that
are carrying out research and development initiatives to
increase industrial competitiveness and achieve significant net
nonwater greenhouse emissions reductions through low-emissions
steel manufacturing, including the Department of Defense,
Department of Transportation, and the National Institute of
Standards and Technology.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--Section 1(b) of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17001 note) is amended in the table of
contents by inserting after the item relating to section 454 the
following:
``Sec. 454A. Low-Emissions Steel Manufacturing Research Program.''.
II. Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of the bill is to amend the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007 to strengthen and enhance the
competitiveness of American manufacturing through the research
and development of advanced technologies to reduce steelmaking
emissions, and for other purposes. H.R. 4599 is sponsored by
Mr. Gonzalez and co-sponsored by Mr. Lamb, Mr. McKinley, Ms.
Wild, Ms. Miller-Meeks, Mr. Mrvan, Mr. Delgado, and Mr. Rogers.
III. Background and Need for the Legislation
While recent emphasis has been placed on reducing power
sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the need to
substantially reduce GHGs in the industrial sector remains a
challenge.\1\ Steel and steelmaking practices are of particular
importance to the industrial sector and play a fundamental role
in supporting U.S. infrastructure, national defense, and
economic security. The steel industry is also among the three
largest global producers of carbon dioxide. In 2018, steel
production alone was responsible for 8 percent of global carbon
dioxide emissions.\2\
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\1\https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-
emissions-and-sinks.
\2\https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-
insights/decarbonization-challenge-for-steel.
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To address this challenge, there is a need for federal
investment in next-generation steelmaking emission reduction
technologies. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the
Department) supports the research and development of industrial
emission reduction technologies primarily through its Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and its Advanced
Manufacturing Office.
In conjunction with the cross-cutting Industrial Emissions
Reduction Technology Development Program established by the
Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021), the Steel Upgrading Partnerships and
Emissions Reduction Act, or the SUPER Act of 2021, provides DOE
with specific program direction to ensure the development of
advanced tools, technologies, and methods for low-emissions
steel manufacturing using both advanced and commercially
available steelmaking processes.
IV. Committee Hearings
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee designates the
following hearings as having been used to develop or consider
the legislation:
On March 26, 2019, the Honorable Haley Stevens presiding,
the Research and Technology Subcommittee and the Energy
Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
held a joint hearing to examine ways to substantially lower
greenhouse gas emissions in the manufacturing sector through
both federal investment and public-private partnerships. This
hearing examined the role of the Manufacturing USA Institutes
in achieving this goal.
Witnesses
Mr. Ryan Myers, Director of Business
Development, DoD for Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
(Hexagon MI)
Mr. Mike Molnar, Director of the Office of
Advanced Manufacturing, National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST)
Dr. John Hopkins, CEO of the Institute for
Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI)
Ms. Valri Lightner, Acting Director of the
Advanced Manufacturing Office, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy
Dr. Mitchell Dibbs, Associate R&D Director
for External Technology--Government Programs, Dow
Chemical Company
On June 19, 2019, the Honorable Conor Lamb presiding, the
Energy Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology held a hearing to examine the Department of Energy's
fossil energy research and development activities. This hearing
included discussion of the Department's current work on
developing technologies to help reduce emissions in industrial
processes.
Witnesses
Ms. Shannon Angielski, Executive Director,
Carbon Utilization Research Council
Mr. Elgie Holstein, Senior Director for
Strategic Planning, Environmental Defense Fund
Mr. Jeff Bobeck, Director of Energy Policy
Engagement, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Ms. Erin Burns, Director of Policy,
Carbon180
Dr. Erik K. Webb, Senior Manager, Geoscience
Research and Applications, Sandia National Laboratories
V. Committee Consideration and Votes
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology met to
consider H.R. 4599 on July 27, 2021.
Mr. Gonzalez offered a manager's amendment to make
technical corrections and conforming changes. The amendment was
agreed to by a voice vote.
Chairwoman Johnson moved that the Committee favorably
report the bill, H.R. 4599, as amended, to the House of
Representatives with the recommendation that the bill be
approved. The motion was agreed to by a voice vote.
VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill
The Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions Reduction
Act'' or the ``SUPER Act of 2021'' (H.R. 4599) directs the
Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to establish a program of
research, development, demonstration, and commercial
application of advanced tools, technologies, and methods for
low-emissions steel manufacturing in order to increase the
competitiveness of U.S. industry and achieve significant
reductions in emissions from both advanced and commercially
available steelmaking processes.
H.R. 4599 directs the Secretary, in carrying out this
program, to focus on a range of key technology areas, including
heat generation, carbon capture, smart manufacturing, resource
efficiency, alternative materials, and high performance
computing, and to leverage the research infrastructure of the
Department as practicable. It requires the Secretary to carry
out this work in coordination with relevant programs of the
Department, other federal agencies including NIST, and with
relevant programs and activities authorized in the Energy Act
of 2020.
VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (By Title and Section)
Sec. 1. Short title
Section 1 establishes that this legislation may be referred
to as the ``Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions
Reduction Act'' or the ``SUPER Act of 2021''
Sec. 2. Low-Emissions Steel Manufacturing Research Program
This section authorizes a DOE research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application program of advanced
tools, technologies, and methods for low-emissions steel
manufacturing, in order to increase the technological and
economic competitiveness of industry and manufacturing in the
United States and achieve significant greenhouse gas emissions
reductions in the production processes for iron, steel, and
steel mill products. The program focuses on several key
technology areas, including heat generation, carbon capture,
smart manufacturing, resource efficiency, alternative
materials, and high performance computing.
This section directs the Secretary to coordinate this
program with the programs and activities authorized in title VI
of division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; to
coordinate with relevant federal agencies and across all
relevant program offices of the Department, including the
Office of Science, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, the Office of Fossil Energy, and the Office Nuclear
Energy; to leverage the research infrastructure of the
Department as practicable; to conduct activities that have the
potential to increase domestic production and employment in
advanced and commercially available steelmaking; to support the
development of standardized testing and validation practices in
consultation with NIST; and to develop a 5-year strategic plan
identifying research, development, demonstration, and
commercial application goals for the program and provide
updates to this plan every two years.
This section also directs the Secretary to support an
initiative for the demonstration of low-emissions steel
manufacturing in collaboration with industry partners,
institutions of higher education, and the National
Laboratories, and to consider leveraging the resources of the
Manufacturing USA Institutes.
Subsection (b) amends the table of contents in the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 by inserting the Low-
Emissions Steel Manufacturing Research Program.
VIII. Committee Views
The Committee intends that the research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application program authorized in
this legislation be cross-cutting in nature, involving all
relevant program offices at the Department of Energy. The
Committee also intends for the research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application program authorized in
this legislation to build from existing activities at the
Department and make use of the Department's unique computing
capabilities and user facilities.
IX. Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the
estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax
expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974.
X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, January 11, 2022.
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chairwoman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4599, the SUPER
Act of 2021.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Aaron
Krupkin.
Sincerely,
Mark P. Hoeller,
(For Phillip L. Swagel, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 4599 would require the Department of Energy (DOE), in
coordination with other federal agencies, to establish a
program to encourage the development of technologies that
reduce greenhouse gas emissions in steel manufacturing. Under
the program, DOE would develop strategic plans, support testing
and validation activities, sponsor demonstration projects, and
report to the Congress on program implementation.
Under current law, DOE's general authorities allow for the
activities specified in the bill, and according to the agency,
the bill's requirements are consistent with its current
research and development plans. On that basis, CBO estimates
that the cost to implement H.R. 4599, including any additional
reporting requirements, would not be significant over the 2022-
2026 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability
of appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aaron Krupkin.
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy
Director of Budget Analysis.
XI. Federal Mandates Statement
H.R. 4599 contains no unfunded mandates.
XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
The Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in the body of this report.
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives
Pursuant to clause (3)(c) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the goals of H.R. 4599 are to
strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of American
manufacturing through the research and development of advanced
technologies to reduce steelmaking emission.
XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement
No Federal Advisory Committees are created by H.R. 4599.
XV. Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision
of H.R. 4599 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the
federal government known to be duplicative of another federal
program, including any program that was included in a report to
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
XVI. Earmark Identification
Pursuant to clauses 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 4599 contains no earmarks, limited
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.
XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that H.R. 4599 does not relate to the
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).
XVIII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any state, local, or
tribal law.
XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is
printed in italics and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT OF 2007
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is
as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
* * * * * * *
TITLE IV--ENERGY SAVINGS IN BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRY
* * * * * * *
Subtitle D--Industrial Energy Efficiency
* * * * * * *
Sec. 454A. Low-Emissions Steel Manufacturing Research Program.
* * * * * * *
TITLE IV--ENERGY SAVINGS IN BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRY
* * * * * * *
Subtitle D--Industrial Energy Efficiency
* * * * * * *
SEC. 454A. LOW-EMISSIONS STEEL MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to encourage the
research and development of innovative technologies aimed at--
(1) increasing the technological and economic
competitiveness of industry and manufacturing in the
United States; and
(2) achieving significant net nonwater greenhouse
emissions reductions in the production processes for
iron, steel, and steel mill products.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commercially available steelmaking.--The term
``commercially available steelmaking'' means the
current production method of iron, steel, and steel
mill products.
(2) Critical material.--The term ``critical
material'' has the meaning given such term in section
7002 of division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).
(3) Critical mineral.--The term ``critical mineral''
has the meaning given such term in section 7002 of
division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
(Public Law 116-260).
(4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity''
means--
(A) an institution of higher education;
(B) an appropriate State or Federal entity,
including a federally funded research and
development center of the Department;
(C) a nonprofit research institution;
(D) a private entity;
(E) any other relevant entity the Secretary
determines appropriate; and
(F) a partnership or consortium of two or
more entities described in subparagraphs (A)
through (E).
(5) Low-emissions steel manufacturing.--The term
``low-emissions steel manufacturing'' means advanced or
commercially available steelmaking with the reduction,
to the maximum extent practicable, of net nonwater
greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere from the
production of iron, steel, and steel mill products.
(c) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions
Reduction Act, the Secretary shall establish a program of
research, development, demonstration, and commercial
application of advanced tools, technologies, and methods for
low-emissions steel manufacturing.
(d) Requirements.--In carrying out the program under
subsection (c), the Secretary shall--
(1) coordinate this program with the programs and
activities authorized in title VI of division Z of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021;
(2) coordinate across all relevant program offices of
the Department, including the Office of Science, Office
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office
of Fossil Energy, and the Office of Nuclear Energy;
(3) leverage, to the extent practicable, the research
infrastructure of the Department, including scientific
computing user facilities, x-ray light sources, neutron
scattering facilities, and nanoscale science research
centers; and
(4) conduct research, development, and demonstration
of low-emissions steel manufacturing technologies that
have the potential to increase domestic production and
employment in advanced and commercially available
steelmaking.
(e) Strategic Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships
and Emissions Reduction Act, the Secretary shall
develop a 5-year strategic plan identifying research,
development, demonstration, and commercial application
goals for the program established in subsection (c).
The Secretary shall submit this plan to the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate.
(2) Contents.--The strategic plan submitted under
paragraph (1) shall--
(A) identify programs at the Department
related to low-emissions steel manufacturing
that support the research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application
activities described in this section, and the
demonstration projects under subsection (h);
(B) establish technological and programmatic
goals to achieve the requirements of subsection
(d); and
(C) include timelines for the accomplishment
of goals developed under the plan.
(3) Updates to plan.--Not less than once every two
years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate an updated version of the plan
under paragraph (1).
(f) Focus Areas.--In carrying out the program established in
subsection (c), the Secretary shall focus on--
(1) medium- and high-temperature heat generation
technologies used for low-emissions steel
manufacturing, which may include--
(A) alternative fuels, including hydrogen and
biomass;
(B) alternative reducing agents, including
hydrogen;
(C) renewable heat generation technology,
including solar and geothermal;
(D) electrification of heating processes,
including through electrolysis; and
(E) other heat generation sources;
(2) carbon capture technologies for advanced and
commercially available steelmaking processes, which may
include--
(A) combustion and chemical looping
technologies;
(B) use of slag to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions;
(C) pre-combustion technologies; and
(D) post-combustion technologies;
(3) smart manufacturing technologies and principles,
digital manufacturing technologies, and advanced data
analytics to develop advanced technologies and
practices in information, automation, monitoring,
computation, sensing, modeling, and networking to--
(A) model and simulate manufacturing
production lines;
(B) monitor and communicate production line
status; and
(C) model, simulate, and optimize the energy
efficiency of manufacturing processes;
(4) technologies and practices that minimize energy
and natural resource consumption, which may include--
(A) designing products that enable reuse,
refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling;
(B) minimizing waste from advanced and
commercially available steelmaking processes,
including through the reuse of waste as
resources in other industrial processes for
mutual benefit;
(C) increasing resource efficiency; and
(D) increasing the energy efficiency of
advanced and commercially available steelmaking
processes;
(5) alternative materials and technologies that
produce fewer emissions during production and result in
fewer emissions during use, which may include--
(A) innovative raw materials;
(B) high-performance lightweight materials;
(C) substitutions for critical materials and
critical minerals; and
(D) other technologies that achieve
significant carbon emission reductions in low-
emissions steel manufacturing, as determined by
the Secretary; and
(6) high-performance computing to develop advanced
materials and manufacturing processes contributing to
the focus areas described in paragraphs (1) through
(5), including--
(A) modeling, simulation, and optimization of
the design of energy efficient and sustainable
products; and
(B) the use of digital prototyping and
additive manufacturing to enhance product
design.
(g) Testing and Validation.--The Secretary, in consultation
with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, shall support the development of standardized
testing and technical validation of advanced and commercially
available steelmaking and low-emissions steel manufacturing
through collaboration with one or more National Laboratories,
and one or more eligible entities.
(h) Demonstration.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships
and Emissions Reduction Act, the Secretary, in carrying
out the program established in subsection (c), and in
collaboration with industry partners, institutions of
higher education, and the National Laboratories, shall
support an initiative for the demonstration of low-
emissions steel manufacturing, as identified by the
Secretary, that uses either--
(A) a single technology; or
(B) a combination of multiple technologies.
(2) Selection requirements.--Under the initiative
established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
select eligible entities to carry out demonstration
projects and to the maximum extent practicable--
(A) encourage regional diversity among
eligible entities, including participation by
rural States;
(B) encourage technological diversity among
eligible entities; and
(C) ensure that specific projects selected--
(i) expand on the existing technology
demonstration programs of the
Department; and
(ii) prioritize projects that
leverage matching funds from non-
Federal sources.
(3) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources of the Senate--
(A) not less frequently than once every two
years for the duration of the demonstration
initiative under this subsection, a report
describing the performance of the initiative;
and
(B) if the initiative established under this
subsection is terminated, an assessment of the
success of, and education provided by, the
measures carried out by recipients of financial
assistance under the initiative.
(i) Additional Coordination.--
(1) Manufacturing u.s.a.--In carrying out this
section the Secretary shall consider--
(A) leveraging the resources of relevant
existing Manufacturing USA Institutes described
in section 34(d) of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278s(d));
(B) integrating program activities into a
relevant existing Manufacturing USA Institute;
or
(C) establishing a new institute focused on
low-emissions steel manufacturing.
(2) Other federal agencies.--In carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall coordinate with other
Federal agencies that are carrying out research and
development initiatives to increase industrial
competitiveness and achieve significant net nonwater
greenhouse emissions reductions through low-emissions
steel manufacturing, including the Department of
Defense, Department of Transportation, and the National
Institute of Standards and Technology.
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