To establish a pilot program to provide assistance for partnerships supporting applied sciences in renewable energy.

Summary: Renewable Energy Applied Partnerships (REAP) Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a research pilot program for awarding grants to certain partnerships to improve education and training in support of applied sciences in renewable energy as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instruction at the secondary school and undergraduate levels of education.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Renewable Energy Applied 
Partnerships (REAP) Act''.

SEC. 2. APPLIED SCIENCES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish a 
research pilot program for award grants to partnerships to improve 
education and training in support of applied sciences in the field of 
renewable energy as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the 
quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
instruction at the secondary school and undergraduate levels. Grants 
under this section may be used for--
            (1) professional development and training for teachers;
            (2) purchase, rental, or leasing of equipment, 
        instrumentation, and other educational and training materials;
            (3) improvement of facilities for providing education and 
        training experiences in applied sciences in the field of 
        renewable energy;
            (4) development of instructional programs designed to 
        integrate education and training in applied sciences in 
        renewable energy with the practical application of that 
        education and training;
            (5) recruitment and retention of new faculty;
            (6) encouraging collaboration between faculty and industry 
        partners;
            (7) supporting outreach efforts to recruit students; and
            (8) assessment of the activities funded under this Act.
    (b) Partnerships.--Grants awarded under subsection (a) shall be to 
the institution described in paragraph (1), as part of a partnership 
that--
            (1) includes a 2-year degree granting institution of higher 
        education offering an associates degree in applied science in a 
        renewable energy field;
            (2) includes a 4-year degree granting institution of higher 
        education;
            (3) includes a business or eligible nonprofit organization 
        and labor organization; and
            (4) may include a State educational agency, other public 
        agency, National Laboratory, or community-based organization.
    (c) Preference.--The Secretary of Energy shall give preference to 
awarding grants under this section for partnerships--
            (1) whose proposal incorporates a technical preparation 
        program described in section 203(c) of the Carl D. Perkins 
        Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2373(c)); 
        or
            (2) who can demonstrate the likely long-term stability of 
        the program without continued Federal funding.
    (d) Diversity of Subject Matter.--The Secretary of Energy shall 
ensure that, to the extent possible, grants are provided under this Act 
for partnerships representing a wide diversity of renewable energy 
fields.
    (e) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of activities 
carried out using amounts from a grant under subsection (a) shall not 
exceed 40 percent.
    (f) Limitation.--No single grant under subsection (a) may be made 
in an amount greater than $1,000,000 per year.
    (g) Public Information.--The Secretary of Energy shall make 
publicly available all curricula, planning documents, and other 
materials related to a project supported by a grant made under this 
Act.
    (h) Project Reports.--The Secretary of Energy shall require grant 
recipients under subsection (a) to submit a report to the Secretary, 
not later than 3 years after receiving the grant, on the results of the 
project supported by the grant. Each such report shall include an 
assessment of which elements of the project supported with the grant 
were successful and which were not, along with an identification and 
analysis of improvements that could have made the project more 
successful. The Secretary shall make all reports submitted under this 
subsection available to the public.
    (i) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``renewable 
energy'' has the meaning given that term in section 609(a)(3) and (4) 
of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 
918c(a)(3) and (4)).

SEC. 3. REPORT.

    The Secretary of Energy shall evaluate the effectiveness of 
activities carried out under this Act. A report documenting the results 
of that evaluation shall be submitted to the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate not later than 5 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act. The report shall identify best practices and 
materials developed and demonstrated by partnerships awarded a grant.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            (2) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
            (3) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
        2014 and 2015.