59–006 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 114–681 

ELECTRICITY STORAGE INNOVATION ACT 

JULY 11, 2016.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. SMITH of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and 

Technology, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

ADDITIONAL VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 5640] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom was 

referred the bill (H.R. 5640) to provide for the establishment at the 

Department of Energy of an Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with 

an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Committee Statement and Views ........................................................................... 3 

Section-by-Section .................................................................................................... 5 

Explanation of Amendments ................................................................................... 5 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 5 

Application of Law to the Legislative Branch ....................................................... 5 

Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee ...... 5 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 5 

Duplication of Federal Programs ............................................................................ 6 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ..................................................................... 6 

Federal Advisory Committee Act ............................................................................ 6 

Unfunded Mandate Statement ............................................................................... 6 

Earmark Identification ............................................................................................ 6 

New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures ...................................................... 6 

Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate .......................................................... 6 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill as Reported ...................................... 6 

Additional Views ...................................................................................................... 10 

The amendment is as follows: 


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Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Electricity Storage Innovation Act’’. 

SEC. 2. ELECTRICITY STORAGE BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 

(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 975 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16315) 

is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 975. ELECTRICITY STORAGE BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 

‘‘(a) INITIATIVE.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a research initiative, to be 

known as the Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative, to expand theoretical and fundamental knowledge to control, store, and convert electrical energy to chemical energy and the inverse. This initiative shall support scientific 

inquiry into the practical understanding of chemical and physical processes that 

occur within systems involving crystalline and amorphous solids, polymers, and 

organic and aqueous liquids. 

‘‘(2) LEVERAGING.—The Secretary shall leverage expertise and resources from 

the Basic Energy Sciences Program, Advanced Scientific Computing Research 

Program, and Biological and Environmental Research Program within the Office of Science, and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, as 

provided under subsections (b), (c), and (d). 

‘‘(3) TEAMS.—The Secretary shall organize activities under the Electricity 

Storage Basic Research Initiative to include multidisciplinary teams leveraging 

expertise from the National Laboratories, universities, and the private sector to 

the extent practicable. These multidisciplinary teams shall pursue aggressive, 

milestone-driven basic research goals. The Secretary shall provide sufficient resources for those teams to achieve those goals over a period of time to be determined by the Secretary. 

‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary is authorized to organize additional activities under this subsection through Energy Frontier Research Centers, Energy Innovation Hubs, or other organizational structures. 

‘‘(b) MULTIVALENT SYSTEMS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, as part of the Electricity Storage Basic 

Research Initiative, carry out a program to support research needed to bridge 

scientific barriers and discover knowledge relevant to multivalent ion materials 

in electric energy storage systems. In carrying out activities under this subsection, the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences shall investigate 

electrochemical properties and the dynamics of materials, including charge 

transfer phenomena and mass transport in materials. The Assistant Secretary 

for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support translational research, development, and validation of physical concepts developed under this 

subsection. 

‘‘(2) STANDARD OF REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review the program activities 

under this subsection to determine the achievement of technical milestones. 

‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

‘‘(A) AUTHORIZATION.—Subject to subsection (e), there are authorized for 

carrying out activities under this subsection for each of fiscal years 2017 

through 2020— 

‘‘(i) $50,000,000 from funds within the Basic Energy Sciences Program account; and 

‘‘(ii) $25,000,000 from funds within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account. 

‘‘(B) PROHIBITION.—No funds authorized under this subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial application of energy technology. 

‘‘(c) ELECTROCHEMISTRY MODELING AND SIMULATION.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, as part of the Electricity Storage Basic 

Research Initiative, carry out a program to support research to model and simulate organic electrolytes, including their static and dynamic electrochemical behavior and phenomena at the molecular and atomic level in monovalent and 

multivalent systems. In carrying out activities under this subsection, the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences shall, in coordination with the Associate Director of Advanced Scientific Computing Research, support the development of high performance computational tools through a joint development process to maximize the effectiveness of current and projected high performance 

computing systems. The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support translational research, development, and validation 

of physical concepts developed under this subsection. 


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‘‘(2) STANDARD OF REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review the program activities 

under this subsection to determine the achievement of technical milestones. 

‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— ‘‘(A) AUTHORIZATION.—Subject to subsection (e), there are authorized for 

carrying out activities under this subsection for each of fiscal years 2017 

through 2020— ‘‘(i) $30,000,000 from funds within the Basic Energy Sciences Program and Advanced Scientific Computing Research Program accounts; 

and 

‘‘(ii) $15,000,000 from funds within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account. 

‘‘(B) PROHIBITION.—No funds authorized under this subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial application of energy technology. 

‘‘(d) MESOSCALE ELECTROCHEMISTRY.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, as part of the Electricity Storage Basic 

Research Initiative, carry out a program to support research needed to reveal 

electrochemistry in confined mesoscale spaces, including scientific discoveries 

relevant to bio-electrochemistry and electrochemical energy conversion and storage in confined spaces and the dynamics of these phenomena. In carrying out 

activities under this subsection, the Director of the Office of Basic Energy 

Sciences and the Associate Director of Biological and Environmental Research 

shall investigate phenomena of mesoscale electrochemical confinement for the 

purpose of replicating and controlling new electrochemical behavior. The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support 

translational research, development, and validation of physical concepts developed under this subsection. 

‘‘(2) STANDARD OF REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review the program activities 

under this subsection to determine the achievement of technical milestones. 

‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— ‘‘(A) AUTHORIZATION.—Subject to subsection (e), there are authorized for 

carrying out activities under this subsection for each of fiscal years 2017 

through 2020— ‘‘(i) $20,000,000 from funds within the Basic Energy Sciences Program and the Biological and Environmental Research Program accounts; and ‘‘(ii) $10,000,000 from funds within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account. 

‘‘(B) PROHIBITION.—No funds authorized under this subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial application of energy technology. 

‘‘(e) FUNDING.—No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated under this 

section. This section shall be carried out using funds otherwise authorized by law.’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The item relating to section 975 in the 

table of contents of such Act is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘Sec. 975. Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative.’’. 

COMMITTEE STATEMENT AND VIEWS

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

This legislation replaces Section 975 (Solid State Lighting) of 

Title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16315) with 

new policy direction and program authority for the Department of 

Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science. Section 975 will now direct DOE 

to prioritize basic research in chemistry and materials science relevant to advanced electricity storage systems by establishing an 

electricity storage basic research initiative. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On June 15, 2016, the Energy Subcommittee of the Committee 

on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, ‘‘Innovation in Solar Fuels, Electricity Storage, and Advanced Materials,’’ 

which explored opportunities in basic and early stage research for 

experimental solar fuels systems. 

On June 17, 2015, the Energy Subcommittee of the Committee 

on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing titled ‘‘DepartVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jul 13, 2016 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR681.XXX HR681

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ment of Energy Oversight: Energy Innovation Hubs,’’ which scrutinized the effectiveness of the DOE’s model for energy innovation 

through the leveraging of expertise from the DOE laboratories, universities, and the private sector. 

On May 1, 2015, the Energy Subcommittee of the Committee on 

Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, ‘‘Innovations in Battery Storage for Renewable Energy,’’ which explored 

the state of large-scale battery storage and key technology breakthroughs achieved through research at the national labs and the 

Department of Energy, and how innovative energy storage companies use basic science research to develop and move breakthrough 

battery storage technology to the energy market. 

On January 28, 2015, the Energy Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, 

‘‘Supercomputing and American Technology Leadership,’’ which addressed the impact of accelerating research and development 

through high performance computational modeling and simulation. 

COMMITTEE VIEWS

Under this Act, the DOE will organize its basic research efforts 

to advance fundamental scientific knowledge relevant to transformative electricity storage concepts under the new Electricity 

Storage Basic Research Initiative (the Initiative). The Initiative 

provides direction for the DOE Office of Science to concentrate its 

approach to electrochemistry through basic research carried out by 

multidisciplinary teams. The Initiative may leverage established 

organizational structures, including energy frontier research centers and DOE’s Energy Innovation Hub on energy storage, known 

as the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research. The Committee 

encourages DOE to consider new mechanisms to efficiently make 

accessible the milestone driven research that will result from this 

initiative in order to most effectively engage with the research community. 

DOE will carry out a coordinated effort for electrochemical modeling and simulation making use of the most advanced high performance computational systems. The Committee encourages DOE 

to incorporate this effort into the Exascale Computing Initiative in 

order to accelerate the development of exascale architectures in the 

United States. The Committee also encourages DOE to leverage its 

experience from the Energy Innovation Hub for modeling and simulation, known as the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of 

Light Water Reactors. 

The Initiative also provides authority for a seamless transition 

from basic research to applied research and development. Once the 

Office of Science makes the determination that its work has met 

the objectives and bounds of its basic research mission, the Office 

of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is authorized to carry 

out the necessary translational research to validate and demonstrate the concepts envisioned by the research teams supported 

by the Office of Science to the private sector and other interested 

stakeholders. 


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SECTION-BY-SECTION

Sec. 1. Short title 

The short title of this legislation is ‘‘Electricity Storage Innovation Act.’’ 

Sec. 2. Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative 

This section amends Section 975 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 

by striking outdated program direction and replacing it. This section also establishes an Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative that will support basic and early stage research to advance 

fundamental scientific knowledge relevant to experimental electricity storage systems. This section also provides statutory direction and authorizes appropriations for the Secretary of Energy to 

leverage expertise from the Office of Science and Office of Energy 

Efficiency and Renewable Energy to carry out research activities. 

No new or additional funds are authorized as all activities under 

this section are to be carried out using existing funding. Also no 

funds authorized under this section are to be used for commercialization activities. 

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

The Committee agreed by voice vote to an amendment that explicitly makes clear that the DOE may organize activities under 

the Initiative through energy innovation hubs. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On July 7, 2016, the Committee met in open session and ordered 

reported favorably the bill, H.R. 5640, as amended, by voice vote, 

a quorum being present. 

APPLICATION OF LAW TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104–1 requires a description of 

the application of this bill to the legislative branch where the bill 

relates to the terms and conditions of employment or access to public services and accommodations. This bill directs DOE to prioritize 

basic research in chemistry and materials science relevant to advanced electricity storage systems by establishing an electricity 

storage basic research initiative. As such this bill does not relate 

to employment or access to public services and accommodations. 

STATEMENT OF OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF

THE COMMITTEE

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause (2)(b)(1) 

of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the 

descriptive portions of this report. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

H.R. 5640, the Electricity Storage Innovation Act, would direct 

DOE to prioritize basic research in chemistry and materials science 

relevant to advanced electricity storage systems by establishing an 

electricity storage basic research initiative. 


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DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

No provision of H.R. 5640 establishes or reauthorizes a program 

of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in any report from the 

Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 

21 of Public Law 111–139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that enacting H.R. 5640 does not direct 

the completion of any specific rule makings within the meaning of 

5 U.S.C. 551. 

FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT

The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish or 

authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within the 

definition of 5 U.S.C. App., Section 5(b). 

UNFUNDED MANDATE STATEMENT

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded Mandate 

Reform Act, P.L. 104–4) requires a statement as to whether the 

provisions of the reported include unfunded mandates. In compliance with this requirement the Committee has received a letter 

from the Congressional Budget Office included herein. 

EARMARK IDENTIFICATION

H.R. 5640 does not include any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule 

XXI. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES

Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does not provide new 

budgetary authority or increased tax expenditures. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives, an estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of Congressional Budget Office 

under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not 

submitted to the Committee before the filing of the report. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 


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ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005 

* * * * * * * 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Energy Policy 

Act of 2005’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act is as 

follows: 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE IX—RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 

* * * * * * * 

Subtitle G—Science 

* * * * * * * 

øSec. 975. Solid state lighting.¿ 

Sec. 975. Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative. 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE IX—RESEARCH AND 

DEVELOPMENT 

* * * * * * * 

Subtitle G—Science 

* * * * * * * 

øSEC. 975. SOLID STATE LIGHTING. 

øThe Secretary shall conduct a program of fundamental research 

on solid state lighting in support of the Next Generation Lighting 

Initiative carried out under section 912.¿ 

SEC. 975. ELECTRICITY STORAGE BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 

(a) INITIATIVE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a research 

initiative, to be known as the Electricity Storage Basic Research 

Initiative, to expand theoretical and fundamental knowledge to 

control, store, and convert electrical energy to chemical energy 

and the inverse. This initiative shall support scientific inquiry 

into the practical understanding of chemical and physical processes that occur within systems involving crystalline and amorphous solids, polymers, and organic and aqueous liquids. 

(2) LEVERAGING.—The Secretary shall leverage expertise and 

resources from the Basic Energy Sciences Program, Advanced 

Scientific Computing Research Program, and Biological and 

Environmental Research Program within the Office of Science, 

and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, as 

provided under subsections (b), (c), and (d). 

(3) TEAMS.—The Secretary shall organize activities under the 

Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative to include multidisciplinary teams leveraging expertise from the National Laboratories, universities, and the private sector to the extent practicable. These multidisciplinary teams shall pursue aggressive, 


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milestone-driven basic research goals. The Secretary shall provide sufficient resources for those teams to achieve those goals 

over a period of time to be determined by the Secretary. 

(4) ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary is authorized to 

organize additional activities under this subsection through Energy Frontier Research Centers, Energy Innovation Hubs, or 

other organizational structures. 

(b) MULTIVALENT SYSTEMS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, as part of the Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative, carry out a program 

to support research needed to bridge scientific barriers and discover knowledge relevant to multivalent ion materials in electric 

energy storage systems. In carrying out activities under this 

subsection, the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences 

shall investigate electrochemical properties and the dynamics of 

materials, including charge transfer phenomena and mass 

transport in materials. The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support translational research, development, and validation of physical concepts developed under this subsection. 

(2) STANDARD OF REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review the 

program activities under this subsection to determine the 

achievement of technical milestones. 

(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

(A) AUTHORIZATION.—Subject to subsection (e), there are 

authorized for carrying out activities under this subsection 

for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020— 

(i) $50,000,000 from funds within the Basic Energy 

Sciences Program account; and 

(ii) $25,000,000 from funds within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account. 

(B) PROHIBITION.—No funds authorized under this subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial application of energy technology. 

(c) ELECTROCHEMISTRY MODELING AND SIMULATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, as part of the Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative, carry out a program 

to support research to model and simulate organic electrolytes, 

including their static and dynamic electrochemical behavior 

and phenomena at the molecular and atomic level in 

monovalent and multivalent systems. In carrying out activities 

under this subsection, the Director of the Office of Basic Energy 

Sciences shall, in coordination with the Associate Director of 

Advanced Scientific Computing Research, support the development of high performance computational tools through a joint 

development process to maximize the effectiveness of current 

and projected high performance computing systems. The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall 

support translational research, development, and validation of 

physical concepts developed under this subsection. 

(2) STANDARD OF REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review the 

program activities under this subsection to determine the 

achievement of technical milestones. 

(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 


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(A) AUTHORIZATION.—Subject to subsection (e), there are 

authorized for carrying out activities under this subsection 

for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020— (i) $30,000,000 from funds within the Basic Energy 

Sciences Program and Advanced Scientific Computing 

Research Program accounts; and (ii) $15,000,000 from funds within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account. 

(B) PROHIBITION.—No funds authorized under this subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial application of energy technology. 

(d) MESOSCALE ELECTROCHEMISTRY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, as part of the Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative, carry out a program 

to support research needed to reveal electrochemistry in confined mesoscale spaces, including scientific discoveries relevant 

to bio-electrochemistry and electrochemical energy conversion 

and storage in confined spaces and the dynamics of these phenomena. In carrying out activities under this subsection, the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the Associate 

Director of Biological and Environmental Research shall investigate phenomena of mesoscale electrochemical confinement for 

the purpose of replicating and controlling new electrochemical 

behavior. The Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support translational research, development, and validation of physical concepts developed under this 

subsection. 

(2) STANDARD OF REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review the 

program activities under this subsection to determine the 

achievement of technical milestones. 

(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (A) AUTHORIZATION.—Subject to subsection (e), there are 

authorized for carrying out activities under this subsection 

for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020— (i) $20,000,000 from funds within the Basic Energy 

Sciences Program and the Biological and Environmental Research Program accounts; and (ii) $10,000,000 from funds within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account. 

(B) PROHIBITION.—No funds authorized under this subsection may be obligated or expended for commercial application of energy technology. 

(e) FUNDING.—No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated under this section. This section shall be carried out using 

funds otherwise authorized by law. 

* * * * * * * 


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ADDITIONAL VIEWS 

Last month this Committee held what I thought was a worthwhile hearing that helped illuminate the importance of strengthening our support for research in solar fuels. This is clearly the aim 

of the Electricity Storage Innovation Act, and I appreciate that the 

Majority is attempting to advance technologies that could go a long 

way to improving our energy security and to addressing the serious 

threat of climate change. 

However, I am concerned about what may be some of the unintended consequences of the language in this bill, and the Department of Energy echoed these concerns to Majority and Minority 

Committee staff this week. DOE noted that labeling research as either ‘‘basic’’ or ‘‘applied’’ in legislation could be problematic given 

that the distinction can be unclear and subjective, and the activities described in this bill can easily be considered ‘‘applied’’ research given current guidance by the Office of Management and 

Budget. So language attempting to restrict the initiatives authorized in this bill to ‘‘basic’’ research activities could create an inherent conflict in their implementation. 

I would note that at that hearing last month, I actually asked 

the witnesses about whether it is realistic to assert—and attempt 

to build policy around—a separation between basic and applied research. All of the witnesses agreed that such a division is nonexistent, and policymakers should not try to divide these two categories of research or pit them against one another. 

• Dr. Nathan Lewis said, ‘‘To the extent that the use-inspired fundamental research has an outlet into practical implementation, there should be no boundary.’’ • Dr. Daniel Hallinan agreed and said, ‘‘The questions that 

we need to answer are well-defined by the applied side and 

then we can approach them from a fundamental perspective 

. . . There is not really a clear line between basic and applied.’’ • Dr. Daniel Scherson said, ‘‘10% of the cost of an actual battery goes into materials and 90% into manufacturing, so you 

know we have to be able to bridge the gap between what we 

regard as fundamental research and applied research. I’m 

afraid companies may not want to take the risk.’’ • And Dr. Collin Broholm noted the example of the legendary Bell Labs, a model for research that the private sector 

no longer supports, saying, ‘‘Those who are working in the discovery realm need to have the ability to view some of the challenges that exist in the real world as well so this artificial barrier is in fact very unfortunate.’’ 

So given the expert testimony from Majority and Minority witnesses that we received on this issue just a few weeks ago as well 

as the constructive guidance that the Department provided to us 

this week on this bill, I hope we can all agree that such labels 


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aren’t helpful—and can be harmful. Rather, our goal is to guide 

and support energy research that the private sector is unlikely or 

unwilling to pursue at a sufficient pace to meet national economic, 

environmental, and energy security needs. Any arbitrary barrier to 

that goal, even if it’s well-intentioned, is a step in the wrong direction. 

MARK TAKANO. 

Æ 


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