To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to community colleges and advanced technology education centers partnering with community colleges to support the education and training of technicians in the fields of bioenergy and other agriculture-based, renewable energy resources, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Endowment for Workforce 
Education in Renewables and Agriculture Act of 2007'' or ``NEW ERA Act 
of 2007''.

SEC. 2. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR BIOENERGY TECHNICIAN EDUCATION AND 
              TRAINING THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND ADVANCED 
              TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CENTERS PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY 
              COLLEGES.

    (a) Competitive Grants.--The Secretary of Agriculture may make 
competitive grants to community colleges and advanced technology 
education centers described in subsection (b) to support the education 
and training of technicians in the fields of bioenergy and other 
agriculture-based, renewable energy resources.
    (b) Eligible Entities.--Grants may be made under this section only 
to a community college or advanced technology education center that--
            (1) is in existence as of the date of the enactment of this 
        Act and located in the State of Iowa or other Midwestern States 
        selected by the Secretary;
            (2) the Secretary determines has a proven record of 
        development and implementation of programs to meet the needs of 
        students, educators, and business and industry to supply the 
        agriculture-based, renewable energy field with qualified and 
        trained technicians; and
            (3) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary the 
        ability to leverage existing partnerships and develop 
        educational and occupational outreach and training programs 
        with secondary schools, four-year institutions of higher 
        education, and the agricultural extension system to fill the 
        next generation of emerging technician positions in the fields 
        of bioenergy and other agriculture-based, renewable energy 
        resources.
    (c) Education and Training Priorities.--In selecting grant 
recipients under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to the 
following occupational education and training initiatives:
            (1) Improving the capacity of bioenergy service industry 
        technicians to meet the needs of the agricultural-based 
        bioenergy sector, particularly among small- and medium-sized 
        businesses.
            (2) Enhancement of training of instructors at community 
        colleges and other instructors in the areas of agriculture-
        based bioenergy research, efficiency, and conservation.
            (3) Identification of agricultural-based bioenergy 
        employment opportunities in the renewable energy areas of 
        biomass and other renewable energy areas within the private 
        sector, particularly among small- and medium-sized businesses.
            (4) Advancement of agriculture-based bioenergy advanced 
        environmental technology education and training through 
        curriculum development, professional development, and program 
        improvements at community colleges, in partnership with other 
        institutions of higher education and secondary schools.
            (5) Development of working partnerships between community 
        colleges and nonprofit organizations dedicated to bioenergy 
        education and training for future bioenergy services career 
        opportunities in the agriculture-based renewable energy field.
    (d) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall consult with the National Science Foundation, the Small Business 
Administration, and other appropriate Federal agencies.
    (e) Evaluation Component.--An application for a grant under this 
section shall include a comprehensive evaluation component to ensure 
the quality and achievement of project bioenergy technician education 
and training goals and objectives.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Community college.--The term ``community college'' 
        means an institution of higher education--
                    (A) that admits as regular students persons who are 
                beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the 
                State in which the institution is located and who have 
                the ability to benefit from the training offered by the 
                institution;
                    (B) that does not provide an educational program 
                for which it awards a bachelor's degree, or an 
                equivalent degree; and
                    (C) that--
                            (i) provides an educational program of not 
                        less than two years that is acceptable for full 
                        credit toward such a degree; or
                            (ii) offers a two-year program in 
                        engineering, mathematics, or the physical or 
                        biological sciences, designed to prepare a 
                        student to work as a technician or at the 
                        semiprofessional level in engineering, 
                        scientific, or other technological fields 
                        requiring the understanding and application of 
                        basic engineering, scientific, or mathematical 
                        principles of knowledge.
            (2) Advanced technology education center.--The term 
        ``advanced technology education center'' means an educational 
        entity that features a community college partnering with other 
        institutions of higher education and with direct linkages with 
        private industry involved in the agriculture-based bioenergy 
        economy of the United States.

Summary: National Endowment for Workforce Education in Renewables and Agriculture Act of 2007, or NEW ERA Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to community colleges and advanced technology education centers located in Iowa or other midwestern states to support the education and training of technicians in the fields of bioenergy and other agricultural, renewable energy resources. Requires grant applicants to demonstrate the ability to leverage existing partnerships and develop educational and occupation outreach and training programs with secondary schools, four-year institutions of higher education, and the agricultural extension system. Gives funding priority to specified occupational education and training initiatives, which include: (1) improving the capacity of bioenergy service industry technicians to meet the needs of agricultural bioenergy businesses, (2) teacher training in agricultural bioenergy research, efficiency, and conservation, (3) the identification of agricultural bioenergy employment opportunities. And (4) the development of partnerships with nonprofit organizations dedicated to bioenergy education and training. Requires grant applications to include a comprehensive education and training evaluation component.