Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act

To provide for grants to clean technology consortia to enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by promoting domestic development, manufacture, and deployment of clean technologies, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Advanced manufacturing (A) In general The term advanced manufacturing (B) Inclusions The term advanced manufacturing (i) new ways to manufacture existing products; and (ii) the manufacture of new products emerging from new advanced technologies. (2) Clean technology The term clean technology (A) produces energy from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal, wave, ocean, or another renewable energy source (as defined in section 609(a) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 7 U.S.C. 918c(a) (B) more efficiently transmits, distributes, or stores energy; (C) enhances energy efficiency for buildings and industry, including combined heat and power; (D) enables the development of a Smart Grid (as described in section 1301 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17381 (E) produces an advanced or sustainable material with energy or energy efficiency applications; (F) improves energy efficiency for transportation, including electric vehicles; or (G) enhances water security through improved water management, conservation, distribution, or end use applications. (3) Cluster The term cluster (4) Consortium The term consortium (5) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education Higher Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) (6) National Laboratory The term National Laboratory 42 U.S.C. 15801 (7) Program The term program (8) Project The term project (9) Qualifying entity The term qualifying entity (A) an institution of higher education that has entered into a partnership agreement with a private-sector entity; (B) a Federal or State entity with a focus on developing clean technologies or clusters, as determined by the Secretary; (C) a nongovernmental organization with expertise in translational research, clean technology, or cluster development; or (D) any other entity determined appropriate by the Secretary. (10) Secretary The term Secretary (11) Translational research The term translational research 3. Establishment of clean technology consortia grant program (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a program to enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by promoting domestic development, manufacture, and deployment of state-of-the-art clean technologies by making grants to eligible clean technology consortia. (b) Consultation and coordination required In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall— (1) leverage the expertise and resources of private research communities, institutions of higher education, industry, venture capital, National Laboratories, and other participants in technology innovation— (A) to support collaborative, cross-disciplinary research and development in clean technologies and advanced manufacturing; and (B) to develop and accelerate the commercial application of innovative clean technologies and advanced manufacturing practices; and (2) coordinate the innovation activities of consortia with activities carried out by the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, other Federal agency heads, industry, and institutions of higher education, including by annually— (A) issuing guidance regarding national clean technology and advanced manufacturing development priorities and strategic objectives; and (B) convening a conference relating to clean technology and advanced manufacturing, which shall bring together representatives of Federal agencies, industry, institutions of higher education, and other entities to share research and commercialization results, program plans, and opportunities for collaboration. (c) Purposes of consortia The purposes of a consortia receiving a grant under the program shall include— (1) promoting new innovative clean technologies that have demonstrated interest and potential for commercialization; (2) expanding advanced manufacturing capabilities, networks, supply chains, and assets, in the area of clean technologies, that contribute to regional and national manufacturing competitiveness and potential for growth; (3) promoting job creation and entrepreneurship through the establishment of new companies, the expansion of existing companies, and commercialization of clean technologies; (4) providing technical or financial assistance to companies desiring to invest in clean technologies, new products or services, or enhanced processes that will grow sales and jobs; (5) determining opportunities and challenges that companies are facing and how to improve the use or production by those companies of clean technologies; (6) assisting individual small- and medium-sized enterprises with adopting and using new clean technologies and related business and advanced manufacturing practices; (7) accelerating investment in, and deployment of, clean technologies through public-private partnerships; (8) encouraging partnering between and among emerging and established clean technology and advanced manufacturing enterprises; and (9) demonstrating a comprehensive and successful model for commercialization of clean technologies for promotion and emulation. (d) Grant program (1) In general The Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis— (A) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, to at least 1 eligible consortium; and (B) not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, to not fewer than 6 eligible consortia. (2) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a consortium shall— (A) consist of— (i) one or more institutions of higher education that can demonstrate a significant annual clean technology research budget, entrepreneurial support programs, and technology licensing expertise; and (ii) a total of 3 or more qualifying entities that can demonstrate expertise in translational research, clean technology, and cluster development; (B) have established a binding agreement among the members of the consortium that documents— (i) the structure of the partnership agreement; (ii) a governance and management structure that enables cost-effective use of grant funds; (iii) a conflicts-of-interest policy, including procedures, consistent with those procedures of the Department of Commerce, to ensure that employees and designees for consortium activities who are in decisionmaking capacities disclose all material conflicts of interest, including financial, organizational, and personal conflicts of interest; (iv) an accounting structure that meets the requirements of the Secretary and that may be audited under subsection (e); and (v) the existence of an external advisory committee under paragraph (5); (C) demonstrate that the consortium receives funding from one or more non-Federal sources, such as a State and participants of the consortium, that may be used to support projects; (D) be part of an existing cluster or demonstrate high potential to develop a new cluster; (E) operate as a nonprofit organization or a public-private partnership under an operating agreement led by a nonprofit organization; and (F) establish an external advisory committee under paragraph (5). (3) Grant period; amount of grant (A) Grant period (i) In general The initial period of a grant awarded under paragraph (1) shall not exceed 5 years. (ii) Extension The Secretary may extend the term of a grant for a period of not more than 5 additional years. (B) Amount of grant (i) In general A grant awarded under paragraph (1) shall not exceed the lesser of— (I) $30,000,000 per fiscal year; or (II) the collective contributions of non-Federal entities to the consortium, as described in paragraph (2)(C). (ii) Flexibility In determining the amount of a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider— (I) the translational research capacity of the consortium; (II) the financial, human, and facility resources of the qualifying entities; and (III) the cluster of which the consortium is a part. (iii) Increases in amounts Subject to clause (i), a consortium may request an increase in the amount of a grant at the time the consortium requests an extension under subparagraph (A)(ii). (4) Applications (A) In general An eligible consortium desiring a grant under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (B) Disqualification The Secretary may disqualify an application if the Secretary determines that the conflicts-of-interest policy of the consortium, as described in paragraph (2)(B)(iii), is inadequate. (5) External advisory committees (A) In general To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a consortium shall establish an external advisory committee, the members of which shall have extensive and relevant scientific, technical, industry, financial, or research management expertise. (B) Duties An external advisory committee shall— (i) review the proposed plans, programs, project selection criteria, and projects of the consortium; and (ii) ensure that projects selected by the consortium meet the applicable conflicts-of-interest policy of the consortium. (C) Members An external advisory committee shall consist of— (i) representatives of the members of the consortium; and (ii) such representatives of industry, including entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, as the members of the consortium determine to be necessary. (D) Secretary as member The Secretary shall join the external advisory committee of each consortium that receives a grant. (6) Use of grant funds (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (C), a consortium awarded a grant under paragraph (1) shall use the grant amounts to support translational research, technology development, manufacturing innovation, and commercialization activities relating to clean technology. (B) Project selection As a condition of receiving a grant under paragraph (1), a consortium shall— (i) develop and make available to the public on the website of the Department of Commerce proposed plans, programs, project selection criteria, and terms for individual project awards; (ii) establish policies— (I) to prevent resources provided to the consortium from being used to displace private sector investment otherwise likely to occur, including investment from private sector entities that are members of the consortium; (II) to facilitate the participation of private entities that invest in clean technologies— (aa) to perform due diligence on award proposals; (bb) to participate in the award review process; and (cc) to provide guidance to projects supported by the consortium; and (III) to facilitate the participation of entities with a demonstrated history of commercial application of clean technologies in the development of consortium projects; (iii) oversee project solicitations, review proposed projects, and select projects for awards; and (iv) monitor project implementation. (C) Limitations (i) Administrative expenses A consortium may not use greater than 10 percent of the grant amounts for administrative expenses. (ii) Prohibition on use A consortium may not use any grant amounts to construct a new building or facility. (e) Audits (1) In general A consortium that receives a grant under subsection (d)(1) shall carry out, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary may prescribe, an annual audit to determine whether the grant has been used in accordance with this Act. (2) Report The consortium shall submit a copy of each audit under paragraph (1) to the Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States. (3) GAO review As a condition of receiving a grant under this Act, a consortium shall allow the Comptroller General of the United States, on the request of the Comptroller General, full access to the books, records, and personnel of consortium. (4) Reports to Congress The Secretary shall submit to Congress annually a report that includes— (A) a copy of each audit carried out under paragraph (1); and (B) any recommendations of the Secretary relating to the program. (f) Revocation of awards The Secretary may— (1) review the grants awarded under subsection (d)(1); and (2) revoke a grant awarded under subsection (d)(1) if the Secretary determines that a consortium has used the grant in a manner that is not consistent with this Act. 4. Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act $100,000,000.

Summary: Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program of clean technology consortia by leveraging the expertise and resources of private research communities, higher education institutions, industry, venture capital, National Laboratories, and other participants in technology innovation. Describes such technology as a technology, production process, or methodology that, among other things, produces energy from renewable sources, produces an advanced or sustainable material with energy or energy efficiency applications, improves energy efficiency or water conservation and management, or addresses challenges in advanced manufacturing and supply chain integration. Sets forth eligibility criteria for support under this Act, including regarding technology expertise, membership agreement policies, funding sources, and operation as a nonprofit organization or a public-private partnership under the leadership of a nonprofit organization. Requires a consortium, in order to receive a grant, to establish an external advisory committee to review plans, programs, and projects and ensure that projects comply with the consortium's conflict of interest policy. Provides the terms of grants, which shall not exceed five years initially. Limits grant amounts to $30 million per fiscal year or the collective contributions of non-federal entities. Requires grants to be used for support of translational research, technology development, manufacturing innovation, and commercialization activities relating to clean technology. Sets forth audit and reporting requirements.