‘‘(C) ensure that a broad selection of quali-
fying technologies are represented; 
‘‘(D) require information and knowledge 
gained by each participant in the demonstration 
program to be transferred and shared among all 
participants in the demonstration program; and 
‘‘(E) leverage existing— 
‘‘(i) public-private partnerships; and 
‘‘(ii) Federal resources. 
‘‘(d) COST SHARING.—In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall require cost sharing in accordance with sec-
tion 988. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
on which the Secretary solicits applications under sub-
section (c)(3), and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of jurisdiction of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a report that in-
cludes— 
‘‘(1) a detailed description of how applications 
for cooperative agreements under subsection (b) will 
be solicited and evaluated, including— 
‘‘(A) a list of any activities carried out by 
the Secretary to solicit or evaluate applications; 
and 
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‘‘(B) a process for ensuring that any 
projects carried out under a cooperative agree-
ment are designed to result in the development or 
demonstration of qualifying technologies; 
‘‘(2)(A) in the case of the first report under this 
subsection, a detailed list of technical milestones for 
the development and demonstration of each qualifying 
technology pursued under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(B) in the case of each subsequent report under 
this subsection, the progress made towards achieving 
such technical milestones during the period covered by 
the report; and 
‘‘(3) with respect to the demonstration program 
established under subsection (c), includes— 
‘‘(A) an estimate of the cost of licensing, 
permitting, constructing, and operating each 
carbon capture facility expected to be constructed 
under that demonstration program; 
‘‘(B) a schedule for the planned construction 
and operation of each demonstration or pilot 
project; and 
‘‘(C) an estimate of any financial assist-
ance, compensation, or incentives proposed to be 
paid by the host State, Indian Tribe, or local 
government with respect to each facility. 
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‘‘(f) FUNDING.—For each of fiscal years 2020 through 
2025, out of any amounts appropriated to the Department 
to carry out fossil energy research and development activi-
ties and not otherwise obligated, the Secretary may use to 
carry out this section not more than $50,000,000.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents for 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 
Stat. 600) is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 968 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 969. Natural gas carbon capture research, development, and demonstration 
program.’’. 
SEC. 6. CARBON STORAGE VALIDATION AND TESTING. 
Section 963 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16293) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 963. CARBON STORAGE VALIDATION AND TESTING. 
‘‘(a) CARBON STORAGE.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, shall carry out a program of research, develop-
ment, and demonstration for carbon storage. The program 
shall— 
‘‘(1) in coordination with relevant Federal agen-
cies, develop and maintain mapping tools and re-
sources that assess the capacity of geologic storage for-
mations in the United States; 
‘‘(2) develop monitoring tools, modeling of geo-
logic formations, and analyses to predict and verify 
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carbon dioxide containment and account for seques-
tered carbon dioxide in geologic storage sites; 
‘‘(3) research potential environmental, safety, 
and health impacts in the event of a leak to the at-
mosphere or to an aquifer, and any corresponding 
mitigation actions or responses to limit harmful con-
sequences; 
‘‘(4) evaluate the interactions of carbon dioxide 
with formation solids and fluids, including the pro-
pensity of injections to induce seismic activity; 
‘‘(5) assess and ensure the safety of operations 
related to geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide; 
‘‘(6) determine the fate of carbon dioxide concur-
rent with and following injection into geologic forma-
tions; 
‘‘(7) support cost and business model assessments 
to examine the economic viability of technologies and 
systems developed under this program; and 
‘‘(8) provide information to State, local, and 
Tribal governments, the Environmental Protection 
Agency, and other appropriate entities, to support de-
velopment of a regulatory framework for commercial- 
scale sequestration operations that ensure the protec-
tion of human health and the environment. 
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‘‘(b) GEOLOGIC SETTINGS.—In carrying out research 
activities under this section, the Secretary shall consider a 
variety of candidate geologic settings, both onshore and off-
shore, including— 
‘‘(1) operating oil and gas fields; 
‘‘(2) depleted oil and gas fields; 
‘‘(3) residual oil zones; 
‘‘(4) unconventional reservoirs and rock types; 
‘‘(5) unmineable coal seams; 
‘‘(6) saline formations in both sedimentary and 
basaltic geologies; 
‘‘(7) geologic systems that may be used as engi-
neered reservoirs to extract economical quantities of 
brine from geothermal resources of low permeability 
or porosity; and 
‘‘(8) geologic systems containing in situ carbon 
dioxide mineralization formations. 
‘‘(c) REGIONAL CARBON SEQUESTRATION PARTNER-
SHIPS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out large-scale carbon sequestration demonstrations 
for geologic containment of carbon dioxide to collect 
and validate information on the cost and feasibility 
of commercial deployment of technologies for the geo-
logic containment of carbon dioxide. The Secretary 
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may fund new demonstrations or expand the work 
completed at one or more of the existing regional car-
bon sequestration partnerships. 
‘‘(2) DEMONSTRATION COMPONENTS.—Each dem-
onstration described in paragraph (1) shall include 
longitudinal tests involving carbon dioxide injection 
and monitoring, mitigation, and verification oper-
ations. 
‘‘(3) CLEARINGHOUSE.—The National Energy 
Technology Laboratory shall act as a clearinghouse of 
shared information and resources for the regional car-
bon sequestration partnerships and any new dem-
onstrations funded under this section. 
‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Fossil Energy Research and 
Development Act of 2019, the Secretary shall provide 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report 
that— 
‘‘(A) assesses the progress of all regional 
carbon sequestration partnerships; 
‘‘(B) identifies the remaining challenges in 
achieving carbon sequestration that is reliable 
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and safe for the environment and public health; 
and 
‘‘(C) creates a roadmap for Department of 
Energy carbon storage research and development 
activities through 2030 with the goal of reducing 
economic and policy barriers to commercial car-
bon sequestration. 
‘‘(5) LARGE-SCALE CARBON SEQUESTRATION.— 
For purposes of this subsection, ‘large-scale carbon se-
questration’ means a scale that demonstrates the abil-
ity to inject and sequester several million metric tons 
carbon dioxide for at least 10 years. 
‘‘(d) INTEGRATED STORAGE PROJECTS.—The Sec-
retary may carry out a program for the purpose of 
transitioning the large-scale carbon sequestration dem-
onstration projects under subsection (c) into integrated, 
commercial storage complexes. The program shall focus 
on— 
‘‘(1) qualifying geologic storage sites in order to 
accept large volumes of carbon dioxide acceptable for 
commercial contracts; 
‘‘(2) understanding the technical and commercial 
viability of storage sites; 
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‘‘(3) developing the qualification processes that 
will be necessary for a diverse range of geologic stor-
age sites to commercially accept carbon dioxide; and 
‘‘(4) any other activities the Secretary deter-
mines necessary to transition the large scale dem-
onstration storage projects into commercial ventures. 
‘‘(e) COST SHARING.—The Secretary shall require cost 
sharing under this section in accordance with section 988. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 
amounts made available under section 961, there are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for activities 
under this section— 
‘‘(1) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(2) $126,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(3) $132,300,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(4) $138,915,000 for fiscal year 2023; and 
‘‘(5) $145,860,750 for fiscal year 2024.’’. 
SEC. 7. CARBON UTILIZATION. 
(a) PROGRAM.—Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.) is amended 
by inserting after section 963 (42 U.S.C. 16293) the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘SEC. 963A. CARBON UTILIZATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
program of research, development, and demonstration for 
carbon utilization. The program shall— 
‘‘(1) assess and monitor potential changes in life 
cycle carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emis-
sions, and other environmental safety indicators of 
new technologies, practices, processes, or methods, 
used in enhanced hydrocarbon recovery as part of the 
activities authorized in section 963 of the Energy Pol-
icy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16293); 
‘‘(2) identify and evaluate novel uses for carbon, 
including the conversion of carbon oxides, in a man-
ner that, on a full life-cycle basis, achieves a perma-
nent reduction in, or avoidance of a net increase in 
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, for use in commer-
cial and industrial products, such as— 
‘‘(A) chemicals; 
‘‘(B) plastics; 
‘‘(C) building materials; 
‘‘(D) fuels; 
‘‘(E) cement; 
‘‘(F) products of coal utilization in power 
systems (as such term is defined in section 
962(e)), or other applications; or 
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‘‘(G) other products with demonstrated 
market value; 
‘‘(3) carbon capture technologies for industrial 
systems; 
‘‘(4) identify and assess alternative uses for coal 
that result in no net emissions of carbon dioxide or 
other pollutants, including products derived from car-
bon engineering, carbon fiber, and coal conversion 
methods. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 
amounts made available under section 961, there are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for activities 
under this section— 
‘‘(1) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(2) $26,250,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(3) $27,562,500 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(4) $28,940,625 for fiscal year 2023; and 
‘‘(5) $30,387,656 for fiscal year 2024.’’. 
(b) STUDY.—The Secretary shall enter into an agree-
ment with the National Academies to conduct a study as-
sessing the barriers, and opportunities related to the com-
mercial application of carbon dioxide in the United States. 
Such study shall— 
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(1) analyze the technical feasibility, related chal-
lenges, and impacts to commercializing carbon diox-
ide, including— 
(A) creating a national system of carbon di-
oxide pipelines and geologic sequestration sites; 
(B) mitigating environmental and land-
owner impacts; and 
(C) regional economic challenges and oppor-
tunities; 
(2) identify potential markets, industries, or sec-
tors that may benefit from greater access to commer-
cial carbon dioxide; 
(3) assess the current state of infrastructure and 
any necessary updates to allow for the integration of 
safe and reliable carbon dioxide transportation, utili-
zation, and storage; 
(4) estimate the economic, climate, and environ-
mental impacts of any well-integrated national car-
bon dioxide pipeline system, including suggestions for 
policies that could improve the economic impact of 
the system; 
(5) assess the global status and progress of car-
bon utilization technologies (both chemical and bio-
logical) in practice today that utilize waste carbon 
(including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, 
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and biogas) from power generation, biofuels produc-
tion, and other industrial processes; 
(6) identify emerging technologies and ap-
proaches for carbon utilization that show promise for 
scale-up, demonstration, deployment, and commer-
cialization; 
(7) analyze the factors associated with making 
carbon utilization technologies viable at a commercial 
scale, including carbon waste stream availability, eco-
nomics, market capacity, energy and lifecycle require-
ments; 
(8) assess the major technical challenges associ-
ated with increasing the commercial viability of car-
bon reuse technologies, and identify the research and 
development questions that will address those chal-
lenges; 
(9) assess current research efforts, including en-
gineering and computational, that are addressing 
these challenges and identify gaps in the current re-
search portfolio; and 
(10) develop a comprehensive research agenda 
that addresses both long- and short-term research 
needs and opportunities. 
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SEC. 8. ADVANCED ENERGY SYSTEMS. 
Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 969A. ADVANCED ENERGY SYSTEMS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a pro-
gram, with the purpose of reducing emissions from fossil 
fuel power generation by not less than 50 percent, of re-
search, development, demonstration, and commercial appli-
cation with respect to the following: 
‘‘(1) High-efficiency turbines in accordance with 
the program under section 969A–1. 
‘‘(2) Supercritical and ultrasupercritical carbon 
dioxide, with an emphasis on developing directly-fired 
and indirectly fired cycles in the next 10 years. 
‘‘(3) Advanced combustion systems, including 
oxy-combustion systems and chemical looping. 
‘‘(4) Fuel cell technologies for low-cost, high-effi-
ciency, fuel-flexible, modular power systems, including 
solid oxide fuel cell technology for commercial, resi-
dential, and distributed generation systems, using im-
proved manufacturing production and processes. 
‘‘(5) Gasification systems to enable carbon cap-
ture, improve efficiency, and reduce capital and oper-
ating costs. 
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‘‘(6) Thermal cycling with ramping or rapid 
black start capabilities that do not compromise effi-
ciency or environmental performance. 
‘‘(7) Small-scale and modular coal-fired tech-
nologies with reduced carbon outputs or carbon cap-
ture that can support incremental power generation 
capacity additions. 
‘‘(b) PRIORITY.—In carrying out the program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary is encouraged to prioritize 
transformational technologies that enable a step change in 
reduction of emissions as compared to the technology in ex-
istence on the date of enactment of this section. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 
amounts made available under section 961, there are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for activities 
under this section and section 969A–1— 
‘‘(1) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(2) $157,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(3) $165,375,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(4) $173,643,750 for fiscal year 2023; and 
‘‘(5) $182,325,938 for fiscal year 2024. 
‘‘SEC. 969A–1. HIGH EFFICIENCY GAS TURBINES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy, through 
the Office of Fossil Energy, shall carry out a multiyear, 
multiphase program of research, development, and tech-
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nology demonstration to improve the efficiency of gas tur-
bines used in power generation systems and to identify the 
technologies that ultimately will lead to gas turbine com-
bined cycle efficiency of 67 percent or simple cycle efficiency 
of 50 percent. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The program under this 
section shall— 
‘‘(1) support first-of-a-kind engineering and de-
tailed gas turbine design for megawatt-scale and util-
ity-scale electric power generation, including— 
‘‘(A) high temperature materials, including 
superalloys, coatings, and ceramics; 
‘‘(B) improved heat transfer capability; 
‘‘(C) manufacturing technology required to 
construct complex three-dimensional geometry 
parts with improved aerodynamic capability; 
‘‘(D) combustion technology to produce 
higher firing temperature while lowering nitro-
gen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions per 
unit of output; 
‘‘(E) advanced controls and systems inte-
gration; 
‘‘(F) advanced high performance compressor 
technology; and 
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‘‘(2) in phase II, to develop the conceptual design 
for advanced high efficiency gas turbines that can 
achieve at least 67-percent combined cycle efficiency 
or 50-percent simple cycle efficiency on a lower heat-
ing value basis. 
‘‘(d) PROPOSALS.—Within 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall solicit grant and 
contract proposals from industry, small businesses, univer-
sities, and other appropriate parties for conducting activi-
ties under this Act. In selecting proposals, the Secretary 
shall emphasize— 
‘‘(1) the extent to which the proposal will stimu-
late the creation or increased retention of jobs in the 
United States; and 
‘‘(2) the extent to which the proposal will pro-
mote and enhance United States technology leader-
ship. 
‘‘(e) COMPETITIVE AWARDS.—The provision of fund-
ing under this section shall be on a competitive basis with 
an emphasis on technical merit. 
‘‘(f) COST SHARING.—Section 988 of the Energy Pol-
icy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352) shall apply to an award 
of financial assistance made under this section. 
‘‘(g) LIMITS ON PARTICIPATION.—The limits on par-
ticipation applicable under section 999E of the Energy Pol-
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icy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16375) shall apply to financial 
assistance awarded under this section.’’. 
SEC. 9. RARE EARTH ELEMENTS. 
Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 969B. RARE EARTH ELEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In coordination with the relevant 
Federal agencies, the Secretary shall conduct research to de-
velop and assess methods to separate and recover rare earth 
elements and other strategic minerals and coproducts from 
coal and coal byproduct streams. The program shall— 
‘‘(1) develop advanced rare earth element separa-
tion and extraction processes using coal-based re-
sources as feedstock materials; 
‘‘(2) assess the technical and economic feasibility 
of recovering rare earth elements from coal-based re-
sources and validate such feasibility with prototype 
systems producing salable, high-purity rare earth ele-
ments from coal-based resources; and 
‘‘(3) assess and mitigate any environmental and 
public health impacts of recovering rare earth ele-
ments from coal-based resources. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 
amounts made available under section 961, there are au-
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thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for activities 
under this section— 
‘‘(1) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(2) $24,150,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(3) $25,357,500 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(4) $26,625,375 for fiscal year 2023; and 
‘‘(5) $27,956,644 for fiscal year 2024.’’. 
SEC. 10. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AMENDMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4(b) of the Methane Hy-
drate Research and Development Act of 2000 (30 U.S.C. 
2003(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS, INTERAGENCY FUNDS TRANSFER AGREEMENTS, 
AND FIELD WORK PROPOSALS.— 
‘‘(1) ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION.—In car-
rying out the program of methane hydrate research 
and development authorized by this section, the Sec-
retary may award grants, or enter into contracts or 
cooperative agreements to— 
‘‘(A) conduct research to identify the envi-
ronmental, health, and safety impacts of meth-
ane hydrate development; 
‘‘(B) assess and develop technologies to miti-
gate environmental impacts of the exploration 
and commercial development of methane hy-
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drates as an energy resource, including the use 
of seismic testing, and to reduce the public health 
and safety risks of drilling through methane hy-
drates; 
‘‘(C) conduct research to assess and mitigate 
the environmental impact of hydrate degassing 
(including natural degassing and degassing asso-
ciated with commercial development); or 
‘‘(D) expand education and training pro-
grams in methane hydrate resource research and 
resource development through fellowships or other 
means for graduate education and training. 
‘‘(2) ENVIRONMENTAL
MONITORING
AND
RE-
SEARCH.—The Secretary shall conduct a long-term 
environmental monitoring and research program to 
study the effects of production from methane hydrate 
reservoirs. 
‘‘(3) COMPETITIVE PEER REVIEW.—Funds made 
available to carry out paragraphs (1) and (2) shall 
be made available based on a competitive process 
using external scientific peer review of proposed re-
search.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 4(e) of such 
Act (30 U.S.C. 2003(e)) is amended in the matter preceding 
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paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘subsection (b)(1)’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b)’’. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 7 
of such Act (30 U.S.C. 2006) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘Of the amounts made available under section 961 of 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16291), there are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
this Act $15,000,000, to remain available until expended, 
for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.’’. 
SEC. 11. CARBON REMOVAL. 
Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 969C. CARBON REMOVAL. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the appropriate Federal agencies, shall establish 
a research, development, and demonstration program to re-
move carbon dioxide from the atmosphere on a large scale. 
The program may include activities in— 
‘‘(1) direct air capture and storage technologies; 
‘‘(2) enhanced carbon mineralization; 
‘‘(3) bioenergy with carbon capture and seques-
tration; 
‘‘(4) agricultural and grazing practices; 
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‘‘(5) forest management and afforestation; and 
‘‘(6) planned or managed carbon sinks, includ-
ing natural and artificial. 
‘‘(b) PRIORITIZATION.—In carrying out the program 
established 
in 
subsection 
(a), 
the 
Secretary 
shall 
prioritize— 
‘‘(1) the activities described in paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of subsection (a), acting through the Assistant 
Secretary for Fossil Energy; and 
‘‘(2) the activities described in subsection (a)(3), 
acting through the Assistant Secretary for Energy Ef-
ficiency and Renewable Energy and the Assistant 
Secretary for Fossil Energy. 
‘‘(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—The program under this sec-
tion shall identify and develop carbon removal technologies 
and strategies that consider the following: 
‘‘(1) Land use changes, including impacts on 
natural and managed ecosystems. 
‘‘(2) Ocean acidification. 
‘‘(3) Net greenhouse gas emissions. 
‘‘(4) Commercial viability. 
‘‘(5) Potential for near-term impact. 
‘‘(6) Potential for carbon reductions on a gigaton 
scale. 
‘‘(7) Economic co-benefits. 
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‘‘(d) ACCOUNTING.—The Department shall collaborate 
with the Environmental Protection Agency and other rel-
evant agencies to develop and improve accounting frame-
works and tools to accurately measure carbon removal and 
sequestration methods and technologies across the Federal 
Government. 
‘‘(e) AIR CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY PRIZE.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, as part 
of the program carried out under this section, the Secretary 
shall carry out a program to award competitive technology 
prizes for carbon dioxide capture from ambient air or 
water. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) in accordance with section 24 of the Steven-
son-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 
U.S.C. 3719), develop requirements for— 
‘‘(A) the prize competition process; 
‘‘(B) minimum performance standards for 
projects eligible to participate in the prize com-
petition; and 
‘‘(C) monitoring and verification procedures 
for projects selected to receive a prize award; 
‘‘(2) establish minimum levels for the capture of 
carbon dioxide from ambient air or water that are re-
quired to qualify for a prize award; and 
‘‘(3) offer prize awards for any of the following: 
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‘‘(A) A design for a promising capture tech-
nology that will— 
‘‘(i) be operated on a demonstration 
scale; and 
‘‘(ii) have the potential to achieve sig-
nificant reduction in the level of carbon di-
oxide in the atmosphere. 
‘‘(B) A successful bench-scale demonstration 
of a capture technology. 
‘‘(C) An operational capture technology on 
a commercial scale. 
‘‘(f) DIRECT AIR CAPTURE TEST CENTER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the Fossil Energy Research 
and Development Act of 2019, the Secretary shall 
award grants to one or more eligible entities for the 
operation of one or more test centers (in this sub-
section, known as ‘Centers’) to provide unique testing 
capabilities for innovative direct air capture and 
storage technologies. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—Each Center shall— 
‘‘(A) advance research, development, dem-
onstration, and commercial application of direct 
air capture and storage technologies; 
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‘‘(B) support pilot plant and full-scale dem-
onstration projects and test technologies that rep-
resent the scale of technology development beyond 
laboratory testing but not yet advanced to test 
under operational conditions at commercial 
scale; 
‘‘(C) develop front-end engineering design 
and economic analysis; and 
‘‘(D) maintain a public record of pilot and 
full-scale plant performance. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY CRITERIA.—In selecting applica-
tions to operate a Center under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall prioritize applicants that— 
‘‘(A) have access to existing or planned re-
search facilities; 
‘‘(B) are institutions of higher education 
with established expertise in engineering for di-
rect air capture technologies, or partnerships 
with such institutions; or 
‘‘(C) have access to existing research and 
test facilities for bulk materials design and test-
ing, component design and testing, or profes-
sional engineering design. 
‘‘(4) SCHEDULE.—Each grant to operate a Cen-
ter under this subsection shall be awarded for a term 
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of not more than 5 years, subject to the availability 
of appropriations. The Secretary may renew such 5- 
year term without limit, subject to a rigorous merit 
review. 
‘‘(5) TERMINATION.—To the extent otherwise au-
thorized by law, the Secretary may eliminate the cen-
ter during any 5-year term described in the last 
paragraph if it is underperforming. 
‘‘(g) LARGE-SCALE PILOTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS.— 
In supporting the technology development activities under 
this section, the Secretary is encouraged to support carbon 
removal pilot and demonstration projects, including— 
‘‘(1) pilot projects that test direct air capture 
systems capable of capturing 10 to 100 tonnes of car-
bon oxides per year to provide data for demonstra-
tion-scale projects; and 
‘‘(2) direct air capture demonstration projects 
capable of capturing greater than 1,000 tonnes of car-
bon oxides per year. 
‘‘(h) INTRA-AGENCY RESEARCH.—In carrying out the 
program established in (a), the Secretary shall encourage 
and promote collaborations among relevant offices and 
agencies within the Department. 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 
amounts made available under section 961, there are au-
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thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for activities 
under this section— 
‘‘(1) 
$75,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2020, 
$15,000,000 of which are authorized to carry out sub-
section (e); 
‘‘(2) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(3) $66,150,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(4) $69,458,000 for fiscal year 2023; and 
‘‘(5) $72,930,000 for fiscal year 2024.’’. 
SEC. 12. METHANE LEAK DETECTION AND MITIGATION. 
Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 969D. METHANE LEAK DETECTION AND MITIGATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall carry 
out a program of methane leak detection and mitigation 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial ap-
plication for technologies and methods that significantly re-
duce emissions. In carrying out the program, the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) develop cooperative agreements with State 
or local governments or private entities to provide 
technical assistance to— 
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‘‘(A) prevent or respond to methane leaks, 
including detection, mitigation, and identifica-
tion of leaks throughout the natural gas infra-
structure (which includes natural gas storage, 
pipelines, and natural gas production sites); and 
‘‘(B) protect public health in the event of a 
major methane leak; 
‘‘(2) promote demonstration and adoption of ef-
fective methane emissions-reduction technologies in 
the private sector; 
‘‘(3) in coordination with representatives from 
private industry, State and local governments, and 
institutions of higher education, create a publicly ac-
cessible resource for best practices in the design, con-
struction, maintenance, performance, monitoring, and 
incident response for— 
‘‘(A) pipeline systems; 
‘‘(B) wells; 
‘‘(C) compressor stations; 
‘‘(D) storage facilities; and 
‘‘(E) other vulnerable infrastructure; 
‘‘(4) identify high-risk characteristics of pipe-
lines, wells, and materials, geologic risk factors, or 
other key factors that increase the likelihood of meth-
ane leaks; and 
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‘‘(5) in collaboration with private entities and 
institutions of higher education, quantify and map 
significant geologic methane seeps across the United 
States. 
‘‘(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the program 
under this section, the Secretary shall consider the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Historical data of methane leaks. 
‘‘(2) Public health consequences. 
‘‘(3) Public safety. 
‘‘(4) Novel materials and designs for pipelines, 
compressor stations, components, and wells (including 
casing, cement, wellhead). 
‘‘(5) Regional geologic traits. 
‘‘(6) Induced and natural seismicity. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the 
amounts made available under section 961, there are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for activities 
under this section— 
‘‘(1) $22,000,000 for fiscal years 2020; 
‘‘(2) $23,100,000 for fiscal years 2021; 
‘‘(3) $24,255,000 for fiscal years 2022; 
‘‘(4) $25,467,750 for fiscal years 2023; and 
‘‘(5) $26,741,138 for fiscal years 2024.’’. 
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SEC. 13. WASTE GAS UTILIZATION. 
Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 969E. WASTE GAS UTILIZATION. 
‘‘The Secretary shall carry out a program of research, 
development, and demonstration for waste gas utilization. 
The program shall— 
‘‘(1) identify and evaluate novel uses for light 
hydrocarbons, such as methane, ethane, propane, bu-
tane, pentane and hexane, produced during oil and 
shale gas production, including the production of 
chemicals or transportation fuels; 
‘‘(2) develop advanced gas conversion tech-
nologies that are modular and compact, and may le-
verage advanced manufacturing technologies; 
‘‘(3) support demonstration activities at oper-
ating oil and gas facilities to test the performance 
and cost-effectiveness of new gas conversion tech-
nologies; and 
‘‘(4) assess and monitor potential changes in life 
cycle greenhouse gas emissions that may result from 
the use of technologies developed under this pro-
gram.’’. 
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SEC. 14. NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY 
REFORMS. 
(a) SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITY FOR SCIENTIFIC, EN-
GINEERING, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Energy Technology Laboratory shall have the author-
ity to— 
(A) make appointments to positions in the 
Laboratory to assist in meeting a specific project 
or research need, without regard to civil service 
laws, of individuals who— 
(i) have an advanced scientific or engi-
neering background; or 
(ii) have a business background and 
can assist in specific technology-to-market 
needs; 
(B) fix the basic pay of any employee ap-
pointed under this section at a rate not to exceed 
level II of the Executive Schedule; and 
(C) pay any employee appointed under this 
section payments in addition to basic pay, ex-
cept that the total amount of additional pay-
ments paid to an employee under this subsection 
for any 12-month period shall not exceed the 
least of— 
(i) $25,000; 
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(ii) the amount equal to 25 percent of 
the annual rate of basic pay of that em-
ployee; and 
(iii) the amount of the limitation that 
is applicable for a calendar year under sec-
tion 5307(a)(1) of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term of any em-
ployee appointed under this section shall not ex-
ceed 3 years. 
(B) FULL-TIME
EMPLOYEES.—Not more 
than 10 full-time employees appointed under this 
subsection may be employed at the National En-
ergy Technology Laboratory at any given time. 
(b) DISCRETIONARY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
mechanisms under which the Director of the National 
Energy Technology Laboratory may use an amount 
that is, in total, not less than 2 percent and not more 
than 4 percent of all funds available to the Labora-
tory for the following purposes: 
(A) To fund innovative research that is con-
ducted at the Laboratory and supports the mis-
sion of the Department. 
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(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 to carry out this 
section, to remain available until expended. 
SEC. 16. TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENTS. 
The table of contents for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 15801 note) is amended by amending the items 
relating to subtitle F of title IX to read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 961. Fossil energy. 
‘‘Sec. 962. Carbon capture technologies. 
‘‘Sec. 963. Carbon storage validation and testing. 
‘‘Sec. 963A. Carbon utilization. 
‘‘Sec. 964. Research and development for coal mining technologies. 
‘‘Sec. 965. Oil and gas research programs. 
‘‘Sec. 966. Low-volume oil and gas reservoir research program. 
‘‘Sec. 967. Complex well technology testing facility. 
‘‘Sec. 968. Methane hydrate research. 
‘‘Sec. 969. Natural gas carbon capture research, development, and demonstration 
program. 
‘‘Sec. 969A. Advanced energy systems. 
‘‘Sec. 969A–1. High efficiency gas turbines. 
‘‘Sec. 969B. Rare earth elements. 
‘‘Sec. 969C. Carbon removal. 
‘‘Sec. 969D. Methane leak detection and mitigation. 
‘‘Sec. 969E. Waste gas utilization.’’. 
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