CHP Support Act

Summary: CHP Support Act This bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to redesignate the Department of Energy's Clean Energy Application Centers as the CHP Technical Assistance Partnership Program. The program must encourage deployment of combined heat and power technologies and provide project specific support to building and industrial professionals through economic and engineering assessments and advisory activities. This bill reauthorizes the program through FY2022.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``CHP Support Act''.

SEC. 2. CHP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

    Section 375 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 
6345) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 375. CHP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Renaming.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Clean Energy Application Centers of 
        the Department of Energy are redesignated as the CHP Technical 
        Assistance Partnership Program (referred to in this section as 
        the `Program').
            ``(2) Program description.--The Program shall consist of--
                    ``(A) the 10 regional CHP Technical Assistance 
                Partnerships in existence on the date of enactment of 
                the CHP Support Act;
                    ``(B) such other regional CHP Technical Assistance 
                Partnerships as the Secretary may establish; and
                    ``(C) any supporting technical activities under the 
                Technical Partnership Program of the Advanced 
                Manufacturing Office.
            ``(3) References.--Any reference in any law, rule, 
        regulation, or publication to a Combined Heat and Power 
        Application Center or a Clean Energy Application Center shall 
        be deemed to be a reference to the Program.
    ``(b) CHP Technical Assistance Partnership Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Program shall--
                    ``(A) operate programs to encourage deployment of 
                combined heat and power (referred to in this subsection 
                as `CHP') technologies by providing education and 
                outreach to--
                            ``(i) building, industrial, and electric 
                        and natural gas utility professionals;
                            ``(ii) State and local policymakers; and
                            ``(iii) other individuals and organizations 
                        with an interest in efficient energy use, local 
                        or opportunity fuel use, resiliency, or energy 
                        security, microgrids, and district energy; and
                    ``(B) provide project specific support to building 
                and industrial professionals through economic and 
                engineering assessments and advisory activities.
            ``(2) Funding for certain activities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Program shall make funds 
                available to institutions of higher education, research 
                centers, and other appropriate institutions to ensure 
                the continued operations and effectiveness of the 
                regional CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships.
                    ``(B) Use of funds.--Funds made available under 
                subparagraph (A) may be used--
                            ``(i) to research, develop, and distribute 
                        informational materials relevant to 
                        manufacturers, commercial buildings, 
                        institutional facilities, and Federal sites, 
                        including continued support of the mission 
                        goals of the Department of Defense, on CHP and 
                        microgrid technologies, including continuation 
                        and updating of--
                                    ``(I) the CHP Technical Assistance 
                                Partnerships installation database;
                                    ``(II) CHP technology potential 
                                analyses;
                                    ``(III) State CHP resource pages; 
                                and
                                    ``(IV) CHP Technical Assistance 
                                Partnerships websites;
                            ``(ii) to research, develop, and conduct 
                        target market workshops, reports, seminars, 
                        internet programs, CHP resiliency resources, 
                        and other activities to provide education to 
                        end users, regulators, and stakeholders in a 
                        manner that leads to the deployment of CHP 
                        technologies;
                            ``(iii) to provide or coordinate onsite 
                        assessments for sites and enterprises that may 
                        consider deployment of CHP technology;
                            ``(iv) to perform market research to 
                        identify high profile candidates for deployment 
                        of CHP technologies, hybrid renewable-CHP 
                        technologies, microgrids, and clean energy;
                            ``(v) to provide nonbiased engineering 
                        support to sites considering deployment of CHP 
                        technologies;
                            ``(vi) to assist organizations developing 
                        clean energy technologies and policies in 
                        overcoming barriers to deployment; and
                            ``(vii) to assist companies and 
                        organizations with field validation and 
                        performance evaluations of CHP and other clean 
                        energy technologies implemented.
                    ``(C) Duration.--The Program shall make funds 
                available under subparagraph (A) for a period of 5 
                years.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $12,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2018 through 2022.''.