A bill to establish an energy technologies innovation network, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. ENERGY-RELATED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) information and opinions provided by individuals and 
        entities of the academic and industrial sectors should be an 
        important consideration with respect to energy-related research 
        and development activities carried out by the Federal 
        Government;
            (2) in carrying out energy-related research and development 
        activities, the Federal Government should regularly seek input 
        from multiple sources, including the industrial sector, 
        academia, and other relevant sectors;
            (3) research is better focused around well-defined problems 
        that need to be resolved;
            (4) a number of potential problems to be resolved are 
        likely to require input from a diverse selection of 
        technologies and contributing sectors;
            (5) sharing of information relating to energy research and 
        development is important to the development and innovation of 
        energy technologies;
            (6) necessary intellectual property protection can lead to 
        delays in sharing valuable information that could aid in 
        resolving major energy-related problems;
            (7) the Federal Government should facilitate the sharing of 
        information from a diverse array of industries by ensuring the 
        protection of intellectual property while simultaneously 
        creating an environment of openness and cooperation; and
            (8) the Federal Government should revise the methods of the 
        Federal Government regarding energy-related research and 
        development to encourage faster development and implementation 
        of energy technologies.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Network.--The term ``network'' means the Energy 
        Technologies Innovation Network established by subsection 
        (d)(1).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            (3) Survey.--The term ``survey'' means a survey conducted 
        pursuant to subsection (c).
    (c) Energy-Related Research and Development Priorities.--
            (1) In general.--Not less frequently than once every 5 
        years, the Secretary shall conduct a survey in accordance with 
        this subsection to determine the 10 highest-priority energy-
        related problems to resolve to ensure the goals of--
                    (A) maximizing the energy security of the United 
                States;
                    (B) maximizing improvements in energy efficiency 
                within the United States; and
                    (C) minimizing damage to the economy and the 
                environment of the United States.
            (2) Survey.--
                    (A) In general.--Each survey shall contain a 
                request that the respondent shall list, in descending 
                order of priority, the 10 highest-priority energy-
                related problems that, in the opinion of the 
                respondent, require resolution as quickly as 
                practicable to ensure the goals described in paragraph 
                (1).
                    (B) Announcement.--The Secretary shall announce the 
                existence of each survey by--
                            (i) publishing an announcement in the 
                        Federal Register; and
                            (ii) placing an announcement in a prominent 
                        position on the homepage of the website of the 
                        Department of the Energy.
                    (C) Availability.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
                each survey is made available--
                            (i) in an electronic format only through a 
                        link on the Department of Energy website;
                            (ii) for a period of not less than 21 days 
                        and not more than 30 days; and
                            (iii) to any individual or entity that 
                        elects to participate.
                    (D) Additional information gathering.--Each 
                survey--
                            (i) shall require each respondent to 
                        provide information regarding--
                                    (I) the age of the respondent;
                                    (II) the occupational category of 
                                the respondent;
                                    (III) the period of time during 
                                which the respondent has held the 
                                current occupation of the respondent; 
                                and
                                    (IV) the State and country in which 
                                the respondent resides; and
                            (ii) may request, but shall not require--
                                    (I) the name of the respondent;
                                    (II) an identification of the 
                                employer of the respondent;
                                    (III) the electronic mail address 
                                of the respondent; and
                                    (IV) such other information as the 
                                Secretary determines to be appropriate.
                    (E) Respondents.--The Secretary shall seek 
                responses to a survey from appropriate representatives 
                of--
                            (i) the energy, transportation, 
                        manufacturing, construction, mining, and 
                        electronic industries;
                            (ii) academia;
                            (iii) research facilities;
                            (iv) nongovernmental organizations;
                            (v) the Federal Government; and
                            (vi) units of State and local government.
                    (F) Nonpolitical requirement.--The Secretary shall 
                ensure that each survey is conducted, to the maximum 
                extent practicable--
                            (i) in a transparent, nonpolitical, and 
                        scientific manner; and
                            (ii) without any political bias.
                    (G) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
                on which a survey under this subsection is no longer 
                available under subparagraph (C)(ii), the Secretary 
                shall submit to Congress and make available to the 
                public (including through publication in the Federal 
                Register and on the website of the Department of 
                Energy) a report that--
                            (i) describes the results of the survey; 
                        and
                            (ii) includes a list of the 10 highest-
                        priority energy-related problems based on all 
                        responses to the survey.
            (3) Effect of results on energy-related research and 
        development.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), on 
                receipt of a report under paragraph (2)(G), the 
                Secretary shall ensure that, during the 5-year period 
                beginning on the date of receipt of the report, all 
                energy-related research and development activities of 
                the Department of Energy are carried out for the 
                purpose of resolving, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, the 10 problems included on the list of 
                the report under paragraph (2)(G)(ii).
                    (B) Additional problems.--In addition to the 
                activities described in subparagraph (A), during the 5-
                year period beginning on the date of receipt of a 
                report under paragraph (2)(G), the Secretary may carry 
                out, using the same quantity of resources as are 
                allocated to any 1 energy-related problem included on 
                the list of the report under paragraph (2)(G)(ii), 
                energy-related research and development activities for 
                the purpose of resolving, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, 2 additional energy-related problems 
                that--
                            (i) are not included on the list; and
                            (ii) are high-priority energy-related 
                        problems, as determined by the Secretary.
    (d) Energy Technologies Innovation Network.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established an information and 
        collaboration network, to be known as the ``Energy Technologies 
        Innovation Network''.
            (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the network shall be to 
        provide a forum through which interested parties (including 
        scientists and entrepreneurs) can present, discuss, and 
        collaborate with respect to information and ideas relating to 
        energy technologies.
            (3) Operation of network.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall offer to enter 
                into a contract, after an open bidding process, with a 
                third party to operate the network.
                    (B) Requirements.--The third party selected under 
                subparagraph (A) shall--
                            (i) have experience with respect to the 
                        establishment and maintenance of a 
                        comprehensive database of Federal research and 
                        development projects that is--
                                    (I) easily searchable;
                                    (II) open to the public; and
                                    (III) capable of expansion;
                            (ii) provide a secure electronic forum to 
                        enable collaboration among users of the 
                        network; and
                            (iii) collaborate with the Secretary to 
                        protect the intellectual property rights of 
                        individual users and governmental agencies 
                        participating in the network in accordance with 
                        paragraph (6).
            (4) Required contributors.--Each research laboratory or 
        other facility that receives Federal funding shall provide to 
        the network the results of the research conducted using that 
        funding, regardless of whether the research relates to energy, 
        subject to the condition that revelation of the research will 
        not adversely effect national security.
            (5) Other contributors.--Other entities, including entities 
        in the academic and industrial sectors and individuals, may 
        participate in the network to actively contribute to 
        resolving--
                    (A) the energy-related problems included on the 
                list of the report under subsection (c)(2)(G)(ii); or
                    (B) any other energy-related problem that the 
                contributor determines would advance the goals 
                described in subsection (c)(1).
            (6) Protection of information and ideas.--In collaborating 
        with a third party in operating the network under paragraph 
        (3), the Secretary shall employ such individuals and entities 
        with experience relating to--
                    (A) intellectual property as the Secretary 
                determines to be necessary to ensure that--
                            (i) information and ideas presented, and 
                        discussed in the network are--
                                    (I) monitored with respect to the 
                                intellectual property owners and 
                                components of the information or ideas; 
                                and
                                    (II) protected in accordance with 
                                applicable Federal intellectual 
                                property law (including regulations);
                            (ii) information and ideas developed within 
                        the network are--
                                    (I) monitored with respect to the 
                                intellectual property components of the 
                                developers of the information or ideas; 
                                and
                                    (II) protected in accordance with 
                                applicable Federal intellectual 
                                property law (including regulations); 
                                and
                            (iii) contributors to the network are 
                        provided adequate assurances that intellectual 
                        property rights of the contributors will be 
                        protected with respect to participation in the 
                        network;
                    (B) setting up, maintaining, and operating a 
                network that ensures security and reliability.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

Summary: Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a survey every five years to determine the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems to resolve to ensure the goals of: (1) maximizing US energy security, (2) maximizing improvements in energy efficiency within the United States. And (3) minimizing damage to the domestic economy and the environment. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress the survey results, including a list of the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems based on survey responses. And (2) ensure that, during the five year period beginning on the date of receipt of the report, all energy-related research and development activities of the Department of Energy (DOE) are implemented for the purpose of resolving the problems listed. Establishes the Energy Technologies Innovation Network to provide a forum through which interested parties can present, discuss, and collaborate with respect to information and ideas relating to energy technologies. Requires each research facility that receives federal funding to provide to the Network the results of the research conducted using that funding, regardless of whether the research relates to energy.