Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed Act

To establish a Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed Capability, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed Act 2. Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed (a) Establishment (1) In general The Secretary, in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies, shall administer a competitive, merit reviewed process to establish a Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed Capability (referred to in this section as the Testbed (A) research, development, and demonstration of novel critical materials processing technologies; and (B) scalable performance testing to be conducted on feedstock materials. (2) Selection In administering the process referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider applications from National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, private companies, multi-institutional collaborations, and other entities the Secretary determines appropriate. The Secretary may implement the Testbed as a single site or more than one site as necessary to carry out the mission of the Testbed as described in subsections (a) and (b). (b) Focus areas The Testbed shall include a focus on substantive and innovative improvements to critical materials processing technologies, including relating to the following: (1) Reduced energy intensity. (2) Reduced pollutants. (3) Reduced water consumption. (4) Lower environmental and societal impacts. (5) Lower lifecycle costs. (6) Improved recovery efficiencies. (7) Process improvement beyond traditional thermal or pyro chemical techniques. (8) Reduced volumes and toxicity of waste. (9) Noise reduction. (10) Worker safety. (11) Processing techniques and technologies which have applicability to a wide range of material sources. (c) Duration (1) In general The Testbed shall receive support for a period of not more than five years, subject to the availability of appropriations. (2) Renewal Upon the expiration of any period of support of the Testbed, the Secretary may renew support for the Testbed, on a merit-reviewed process, for a period of not more than five years. (d) Technology transfer The Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Technology Transitions of the Department, shall facilitate the translation and secure transfer to industry of research results produced at the Testbed. (e) Intellectual property The Secretary shall ensure the intellectual property and value proposition generated by research, development, and demonstration activities at the Testbed are retained within the United States. (f) Interagency engagement In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall— (1) consult with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure the goals and objectives of the Testbed align with applicable laws and regulations and environmental justice priorities; and (2) ensure appropriate cooperation with, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the Testbed with the activities of— (A) other research entities of the Department; (B) the National Laboratories; (C) other Federal agencies; (D) institutions of higher education; (E) United States industry; (F) nongovernmental organizations; and (G) other relevant individuals or entities. (g) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary— (A) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 to establish the Testbed; and (B) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027 to carry out the activities of the Testbed. (2) Cost share The Secretary may require that funds made available pursuant to the authorization under paragraph (1)(B) be cost-shared by entities other than a National Laboratory seeking to conduct research, development, or demonstration activities at the Testbed. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Critical material The term critical material (A) A critical material, as such term is defined in section 7002(a)(2) of the Energy Act of 2020 ( 30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(2) Public Law 116–260 (B) A strategic mineral as determined by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to Presidential Determination 2022–11. (2) Department The term Department (3) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) (4) National Laboratory The term National Laboratory 42 U.S.C. 15801(3) (5) Secretary The term Secretary

Summary: Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed Act This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish testbed capability for researching, developing, and demonstrating technologies for processing critical materials, including feedstock materials. (Testbeds are platforms or facilities that allow for rigorous, transparent, and replicable testing of theories, tools, and technologies.)