A bill to create jobs, increase energy efficiency, and promote technology transfer, and for other purposes.

Summary: NIST Grants for Energy Efficiency, New Job Opportunities, and Business Solutions Act of 2010 or the NIST GREEN JOBS Act of 2010 - Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to require the themes under the competitive grant program within the Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology program to be related to projects: (1) designed to increase the viability both of traditional manufacturing sectors and other sectors, such as construction, that increasingly rely on manufacturing through the use of manufactured components and manufacturing techniques, including supply chain integration and quality management; and (2) related to the transfer of technology based on the technological needs of manufacturers and available technologies from institutions of higher education, laboratories, and other technology producing entities. Authorizes such themes to extend beyond such areas to include projects related to construction industry modernization.

Revises the selection criteria for such grants. Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to: (1) endeavor to select at least one proposal in each of the nine statistical divisions of the United States (as designated by the Bureau of the Census) for a grant; and (2) award grants to proposals that will create jobs or train newly hired employees, promote technology transfer and commercialization of environmentally focused materials, products, and processes, increase energy efficiency, and improve the competitiveness of industries in regions in which the Centers are located. Limits award duration to three years. Authorizes awards to be used by Centers to assist small or medium-sized construction firms.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2011-FY2014.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``NIST Grants for Energy Efficiency, 
New Job Opportunities, and Business Solutions Act of 2010'' or the 
``NIST GREEN JOBS Act of 2010''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Over its 20-year existence, the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership Program has proven its value to 
        manufacturers as demonstrated by the resulting impact on jobs 
        and the economies of all 50 States and the Nation as a whole.
            (2) The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
        Program has helped thousands of companies reinvest in 
        themselves through process improvement and business growth 
        initiatives leading to more sales, new markets, and the 
        adoption of technology to deliver new products and services.
            (3) Manufacturing is an increasingly important part of the 
        construction sector as the industry moves to the use of more 
        components and factory built sub-assemblies.
            (4) Construction practices must become more efficient and 
        precise if the United States is to construct and renovate its 
        building stock to reduce related carbon emissions to levels 
        that are consistent with combating global warming.
            (5) Many companies involved in construction are small, 
        without access to innovative manufacturing techniques, and 
        could benefit from the type of training and business analysis 
        activities that the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
        routinely provides to the Nation's manufacturers and their 
        supply chains.
            (6) Broadening the competitiveness grant program under 
        section 25(f) of the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(f)) could help develop and 
        diffuse knowledge necessary to capture a large portion of the 
        estimated $100 billion dollars or more in energy savings if 
        buildings in the United States met the level and quality of 
        energy efficiency now found in buildings in certain other 
        countries.
            (7) It is therefore in the national interest to expand the 
        capabilities of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to be 
        supportive of the construction and green energy industries.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVE 
              GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 25(f)(3) of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(f)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``to develop'' in the first sentence and 
        inserting ``to add capabilities to the MEP program, including 
        the development of''; and
            (2) by striking the last sentence and inserting ``These 
        themes--
                    ``(A) shall be related to projects designed to 
                increase the viability both of traditional 
                manufacturing sectors and other sectors, such as 
                construction, that increasingly rely on manufacturing 
                through the use of manufactured components and 
                manufacturing techniques, including supply chain 
                integration and quality management;
                    ``(B) shall be related to projects related to the 
                transfer of technology based on the technological needs 
                of manufacturers and available technologies from 
                institutions of higher education, laboratories, and 
                other technology producing entities; and
                    ``(C) may extend beyond these traditional areas to 
                include projects related to construction industry 
                modernization.''.
    (b) Selection.--Section 25(f)(5) of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(f)(5)) is amended to read 
as follows:
            ``(5) Selection.--Awards under this section shall be peer 
        reviewed and competitively awarded. The Director shall endeavor 
        to select at least one proposal in each of the 9 statistical 
        divisions of the United States (as designated by the Bureau of 
        the Census). The Director shall select proposals to receive 
        awards that will--
                    ``(A) create jobs or train newly hired employees;
                    ``(B) promote technology transfer and 
                commercialization of environmentally focused materials, 
                products, and processes;
                    ``(C) increase energy efficiency; and
                    ``(D) improve the competitiveness of industries in 
                the region in which the Center or Centers are 
                located.''.
    (c) Other Modifications.--Section 25(f) of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(f)) is amended--
            (1) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Duration.--Awards under this section shall last no 
        longer than 3 years.
            ``(8) Eligible participants.--In addition to manufacturing 
        firms eligible to participate in the Centers program, awards 
        under this subsection may be used by the Centers to assist 
        small or medium-sized construction firms.
            ``(9) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to any 
        amounts otherwise authorized or appropriated to carry out this 
        section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Secretary of Commerce $7,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
        2011 through 2014 to carry out this subsection.''.