(8) an annual $100,000,000 multiyear author-
ization offset by a reallocation of resources from
more mature fossil technologies is justified; and
(9) the national interest demands the accelera-
tion of research, development, and demonstration ef-
forts that will make possible the near-term commer-
cial introduction of hydrogen into the current energy
consumption system in order to increase supply to
support economic growth, decrease airborne emis-
sions from mobile and stationary sources, improve
fuel efficiency, and invigorate industries that can de-
velop hydrogen enabling technologies that will lead
to new markets and jobs, and that will provide stim-
ulus for the transfer of information and relevant
technology from the space and aerospace industries
to the broader energy and transportation market.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Act is to provide
the fundamental scientific basis to support the develop-
ment of commercial, economically feasible technologies for
the production and use of hydrogen as a zero- or low-emis-
sion power source on a national scale by the year 1998.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of Energy;
(2) the term ‘‘United States’’ means the several
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands,
Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory
or possession of the United States; and
(3) the term ‘‘United States company’’ means
a business entity that is incorporated in the United
States and that conducts business operations in the
United States.
SEC. 3. CONSULTATION.
The Secretary shall consult with the Department of
Energy’s Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel established
under section 108 of Public Law 101–566 as necessary
in implementing this Act.
SEC. 4. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
(a) PRODUCTION.—The Secretary shall support in-
dustrial hydrogen energy production research and develop-
ment in the following areas:
(1) Photoconversion:
(A) Photochemical.
(B) Photoelectrochemical.
(C) Photobiological.
(2) Coal gasification and hydrogen purification.
(3) Bioconversion:
(A) Biomass growth, harvesting, and con-
version.
(B) Municipal solid waste and sewage
sludge disposal.
(4) ‘‘Water-cracking’’ using the excess capacity
at hydropower and nuclear electricity production fa-
cilities during off-peak hours.
(5) Fuel cell power plants suitable for vehicle
propulsion.
(6) Fuel cell systems for stationary applica-
tions.
(b) USE.—The Secretary shall support industrial hy-
drogen energy use research and development in the follow-
ing areas, including funding for at least one technical dem-
onstration in each such area:
(1) Economically feasible, low-emission motor
vehicles using hydrogen as a combustible power sup-
ply, either in pure form or mixed with other fuels
(such as methane).
(2) Economically feasible, zero-emission auto-
motive and locomotive engines using hydrogen as a
constituent for the release of chemical energy.
(3) Electricity generation using hydrogen as a
fuel source for utility applications.
(4) Heating and cooling using hydrogen as a
fuel source for building and appliance applications.
(5) Stationary power generation using hydrogen
as a fuel source for industrial applications.
(c) SCHEDULE.—Within 90 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall solicit proposals
for carrying out the research, development, and dem-
onstration activities authorized under subsections (a) and
(b). Awards of financial assistance for such activities shall
be made within 1 year after such date of enactment.
(d) RESTRICTIONS ON RECIPIENTS.—Financial as-
sistance may be awarded under this section only to United
States companies or consortia of United States companies,
alone or in conjunction with universities and independent
nonprofit research organizations. Awards under subsection
(a) may be made separately for each area described in
paragraphs (1) through (6) of that subsection or collec-
tively for more than 1 or all such areas. Awards for tech-
nical demonstrations under subsection (b) shall be made
separately for each area described in paragraphs (1)
through (5) of that subsection.
(e) PROCEDURES.—(1) Except as otherwise provided
in this Act, research, development, and demonstration ac-
tivities under this Act may be carried out using the proce-
dures of the Federal Nonnuclear Research and Develop-
ment Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5901–5920), the Atomic En-
ergy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), or any other
Act under which the Secretary is authorized to carry out
such activities.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, in carry-
ing out research, development, and demonstration pro-
grams and activities under this Act, the Secretary may
use, to the extent authorized under applicable provisions
of law, contracts, cooperative agreements, cooperative re-
search and development agreements under the Stevenson-
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, grants, joint
ventures, and any other form of agreement available to
the Secretary.
(3) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘‘joint
venture’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘joint research
and development venture’’ under section 2(a)(6) and (b)
of the National Cooperative Research Act of 1984 (15
U.S.C. 4301(a)(6) and (b)).
(f) ANTITRUST.—The National Cooperative Research
Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4301 et seq.) shall apply to con-
sortia supported under this Act.
(g) COST SHARING.—(1) The Secretary shall require
at least 50 percent of the costs directly and specifically
related to any research, development, or demonstration
project under this Act to be provided from non-Federal
sources.
(2) The Secretary shall also require that at least 50
percent of the non-Federal share of the costs related to
any research, development, or demonstration project
under this Act be provided by United States companies.
SEC. 5. HIGHLY INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
Of the amounts made available for carrying out sec-
tion 4 of this Act, up to 5 percent may be used to support
research on highly innovative energy technologies, includ-
ing those based on yet unproven scientific theory.
Amounts so transferred under this section shall not be
subject to the requirements stated in section 4.
SEC. 6. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.
The Secretary shall foster the exchange of generic,
nonproprietary information and technology developed pur-
suant to section 4 or other similar Federal programs (in-
cluding activities under the Automotive Propulsion Re-
search and Development Act of 1978, the National Aero-
Space Plane program, and programs carried out under
section 2025 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992) among
industry, academia, and the Federal Government with re-
gard to the production and use of hydrogen.