11 May BPC Energy Priorities in USICA-COMPETES in Energy and Environment, Uncategorized

BPC Action urges the following energy provisions be included in the finalized Bipartisan Innovation Act:

Regional Clean Energy Innovation Program (Sec. 10642 of COMPETES; based on bipartisan bill H. R. 4588 Wild [D-PA]/Baird [R-IN]) 

  • Authorizes DOE to invest in energy innovation ecosystems in diverse geographic regions of the U.S. to help ensure that the economic benefits of the energy transition will serve all Americans instead of the handful of areas where innovation is traditionally clustered. 

Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (Sec. 2528 of USICA and Sec. 10751 of COMPETES; based on bipartisan bills S. 1359 Coons [D-DE]/Graham [R-SC] and H.R. 4863 Stansbury [D-NM]/Lucas [R-OK])  

  • Authorizes a nonprofit energy foundation that would mobilize private sector financing to invest in energy technologies alongside DOE and reduce barriers for the private sector to work with DOE, enabling more collaboration through less bureaucracy. 
  • There is significant private interest in such a foundation – many companies have dedicated billions of dollars to clean energy technologies but with no plan for collaboration with the federal government. 

Energizing Technology Transfer provisions (Sec. 10621-10637 of COMPETES; based on bipartisan bill H.R.4606 Ross [D-NC]/Meijer [R-MI]) 

  • Authorizes a series of provisions to boost energy commercialization and technology transfer activities including at the DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) by: 
    • Making it easier for small businesses to use facilities at the 17 DOE national labs, 
    • Supporting energy incubators and accelerators across the U.S., and 
    • Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in undergraduate students interested in energy technologies. 

Investments in Key Technology Areas (Sec. 2117 USICA and Div. B, Title I of COMPETES; House provision based on bipartisan bill H.R.3593 Johnson [D-TX]/Lucas [R-OK]) 

  • The Trump administration successfully boosted programs at DOE that commercialize the key technology areas mentioned in USICA – a bipartisan competitiveness package presents an opportunity to formalize and grow these programs at DOE. 
  • DOE has a long history of investing in the 10 key technology areas mentioned in USICA, including artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, quantum information sciences, biotechnology, and advanced energy technologies. 
  • The final bill should authorize DOE to invest in commercialization of the key technology areas (Sec. 2117 USICA) and basic research in these key areas (Div. B, Title I COMPETES). 

Microelectronics Research for Energy Innovation (MICRO) Act (Sec. 10661-10664 of COMPETES; based on bipartisan bills S. 3740 Kelly [D-AZ]/Blackburn [R-TN] and H.R. 6291 Tonko [D-NY]/ Ellzey [R-TX]) 

  • Authorizes a microchip research, development, and demonstration program within DOE including: 
    • Creation of Microelectronics Science Research Centers to be located at universities, national labs, or other research institutions, to address challenges in design, development, prototyping, and fabrication of microelectronics. 
    • Focus on commercialization, technology transfer, and workforce development for next-generation microelectronics. 

Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions Reduction Act (SUPER) Act (Sec. 10721 of COMPETES; based on bipartisan bill H.R. 4599 Gonzalez [R-OH]/Lamb [D-PA]) 

  • Steel production accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions. 
  • This bill authorizes R&D activities to reduce emissions from this key manufacturing sector. 
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