298 
tems to provide a significant source of energy in the 
United States. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report under paragraph 
(1) shall include a summary of research, develop-
ment, demonstration, and commercial application 
needs, including an estimate of Federal funding re-
quirements, to further examine and validate the 
technical and economic viability of airborne wind en-
ergy concepts over the 10-year period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(e) COORDINATION.—To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, the Secretary shall coordinate activities under the 
program established under subsection (a) with other rel-
evant programs and capabilities of the Department of En-
ergy and other Federal research programs. 
(f) CONFORMING REPEALS.— 
(1) Section 931(a)(2) of the Energy Policy Act 
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16231(a)(2)) is amended by 
striking subparagraph (B) and redesignating sub-
paragraphs (C) through (E) as subparagraphs (A) 
through (C). 
(2) Section 4(a) of the Renewable Energy and 
Energy Efficiency Technology Competitiveness Act 
of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 12003(a)) is amended by strik-
ing paragraph (1).
299 
SEC. 2523. WIND ENERGY DEMONSTRATION AND VALIDA-
TION PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program es-
tablished under section 2522(a), the Secretary shall award 
grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to eligible 
entities to support activities that demonstrate and validate 
new wind energy technologies with the potential to be cost- 
competitive for land-based, offshore, and distributed appli-
cations. 
(b) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity seeking a grant 
under this section shall submit an application in such form 
and manner as the Secretary may prescribe and that con-
tains— 
(1) a certification that any demonstration or 
validation project carried out using grant funds 
are— 
(A) conducted in collaboration with indus-
try and, as appropriate, with institutions of 
higher education and other Federal research 
programs; and 
(B) of sufficient size and geographic diver-
sity to measure wind energy system perform-
ance under the full productive range of wind 
conditions in the United States; and 
(2) such other information as the Secretary 
may require.
300 
(c) FACILITY FOR HYBRID ENERGY SYSTEM RE-
SEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.—In carrying 
out the program established under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall support a facility to conduct research, develop-
ment, demonstration, and commercial application projects 
for wind turbines and plants in hybrid energy systems that 
incorporate diverse generation sources, loads, and storage 
technologies. 
(d) OFFSHORE RESEARCH FACILITY.—In carrying 
out the program established under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall establish a facility to conduct research, devel-
opment, demonstration, and commercial application 
projects for ocean and atmospheric resource characteriza-
tion relevant to offshore wind energy development in co-
ordination with the ocean and atmospheric science com-
munities. The facility shall be an offshore area used to 
evaluate, test, and advance atmospheric, oceanic, biologic, 
and geologic monitoring technologies that improve off-
shore wind energy development, including the generation 
of benchmark data sets for testing offshore wind energy 
technologies and informing how such technologies can be 
financed, insured, and regulated. 
(e) OFFSHORE SUPPORT STRUCTURE TESTING FA-
CILITY.—In carrying out the program established under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall create a facility to con-
301 
duct research, development, demonstration, and commer-
cial application projects for large-scale and full-scale off-
shore wind energy support structure components and sys-
tems. 
SEC. 2524. WIND ENERGY INCUBATOR FUNDING. 
In carrying out the program established under section 
2522(a), the Secretary shall support, in accordance with 
section 2522(b), incubators advancing innovative tech-
nologies that are not represented in a significant way in— 
(1) the portfolio of wind energy research activi-
ties carried out by the Department of Energy as of 
the date of the enactment of this Act; or 
(2) technology roadmaps used by the Depart-
ment of Energy as of such date of enactment. 
SEC. 2525. MITIGATING REGULATORY AND MARKET BAR-
RIERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program es-
tablished under section 2522(a), the Secretary shall re-
search, develop, test, and evaluate, in accordance with sec-
tion 2522(b), ways to reduce regulatory and market bar-
riers to the widespread adoption of wind power, includ-
ing— 
(1) grid transmission and integration chal-
lenges; and
302 
(2) siting and permitting issues associated with 
the potential impacts of wind power systems on wild-
life, radar systems (including for air traffic control, 
air defense, and weather detection), local commu-
nities, military operations, and airspace. 
(b) WILDLIFE IMPACT MITIGATION.—In carrying out 
the activities described in subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall support the research, development, demonstration, 
and commercial application of wildlife impact mitigation 
technologies or strategies to avoid, minimize, and offset 
the potential impacts of wind energy facilities on— 
(1) bald and golden eagles; 
(2) bat species; 
(3) marine wildlife; and 
(4) other sensitive species and habitats. 
(c) EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.—In carrying out 
the activities described in subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall support education and outreach activities, with a 
focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities, to 
disseminate information and promote public under-
standing of wind technologies and the wind energy work-
force, including through the Collegiate Wind Competition. 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND WORKFORCE DE-
VELOPMENT.—In carrying out the program established 
under section 2522(a), the Secretary shall also conduct,
303 
for purposes of supporting technical, non-hardware, and 
information based advances in wind energy systems’ devel-
opment and operation, including activities expanding ac-
cess to wind energy for low-income individuals and dis-
advantaged individuals and communities— 
(1) technical assistance and analysis activities 
with eligible entities; and 
(2) workforce development and training activi-
ties, including— 
(A) activities that support the dissemina-
tion of standards and best practices for ena-
bling wind power production; and 
(B) through the use of proven techniques 
to expand the number of individuals from 
underrepresented groups pursuing and attain-
ing skills relevant to wind energy. 
SEC. 2526. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this part— 
(1) $163,800,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
(2) $171,990,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
(3) $180,589,500 for fiscal year 2023; 
(4) $189,618,975 for fiscal year 2024; and 
(5) $199,099,923 for fiscal year 2025.
304 
PART 3—ADVANCED GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 2541. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 612 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17191) is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) ENGINEERED.—When referring to en-
hanced geothermal systems, the term ‘engineered’ 
means designed to access subsurface heat, including 
stimulation and nonstimulation technologies to ad-
dress one or more of the following issues: 
‘‘(A) Lack of effective permeability, poros-
ity or open fracture connectivity within the heat 
reservoir. 
‘‘(B) Insufficient contained geofluid in the 
heat reservoir. 
‘‘(C) A low average geothermal gradient 
which necessitates deeper drilling, or the use of 
alternative heat sources or heat generation 
processes.’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 
(7) as paragraphs (3) through (8), respectively; 
(3) by adding after paragraph (1) the following: 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means any of the following entities:
305 
‘‘(A) An institution of higher education. 
‘‘(B) A National laboratory. 
‘‘(C) A Federal research agency. 
‘‘(D) A State research agency. 
‘‘(E) A nonprofit research organization. 
‘‘(F) An industrial entity. 
‘‘(G) A consortium of 2 or more entities 
described in subparagraphs (A) through (F).’’; 
and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C 1001).’’. 
SEC. 2542. HYDROTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT. 
Section 613 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17192) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 613. HYDROTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
program of research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application for geothermal energy production 
from hydrothermal systems.
306 
‘‘(b) PROGRAMS.—The program authorized in sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) ADVANCED
HYDROTHERMAL
RESOURCE 
TOOLS.—The research and development of advanced 
geologic tools to assist in locating hydrothermal re-
sources, and to increase the reliability of site charac-
terization, including the development of new imaging 
and sensing technologies and techniques to assist in 
prioritization of targets for characterization; 
‘‘(2) 
EXPLORATORY
DRILLING
FOR
GEO-
THERMAL RESOURCES.—The demonstration of ad-
vanced technologies and techniques of siting and ex-
ploratory drilling for undiscovered resources in a va-
riety of geologic settings, carried out in collaboration 
with industry partners that will assist in the acquisi-
tion of high quality data sets relevant for hydro-
thermal subsurface characterization activities.’’. 
SEC. 2543. GENERAL GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 614 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17193) is amended to read as 
follows:
307 
‘‘SEC. 614. GENERAL GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) SUBSURFACE COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS.— 
The Secretary shall support a program of research, devel-
opment, demonstration, and commercial application of 
components and systems capable of withstanding geo-
thermal environments and necessary to develop, produce, 
and monitor geothermal reservoirs and produce geo-
thermal energy. 
‘‘(b) ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS.—The Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) support a program of research, develop-
ment, demonstration, and commercial application of 
technologies and practices designed to mitigate or 
preclude potential adverse environmental impacts of 
geothermal energy development, production or use; 
and 
‘‘(2) support a research program to identify po-
tential environmental impacts, including induced 
seismicity, and environmental benefits of geothermal 
energy development, production, and use, and ensure 
that the program described in paragraph (1) ad-
dresses such impacts, including water use and ef-
fects on groundwater and local hydrology; 
‘‘(3) support a program of research to compare 
the potential environmental impacts and environ-
308 
mental benefits identified as part of the develop-
ment, production, and use of geothermal energy with 
the potential emission reductions of greenhouse 
gases gained by geothermal energy development, 
production, and use; and 
‘‘(4) in carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, consult 
with relevant federal agencies, including the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency. 
‘‘(c) RESERVOIR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE.—The 
Secretary shall support a program of research, develop-
ment, and demonstration of reservoir thermal energy stor-
age, emphasizing cost-effective improvements through 
deep direct use engineering, design, and systems research. 
‘‘(d) OIL AND GAS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER INITIA-
TIVE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall sup-
port an initiative among the Office of Fossil Energy, 
the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable En-
ergy, and the private sector to research, develop, and 
demonstrate relevant advanced technologies and op-
eration techniques used in the oil and gas sector for 
use in geothermal energy development. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITIES.—In carrying out paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall prioritize technologies with
309 
the greatest potential to significantly increase the 
use and lower the cost of geothermal energy in the 
United States, including the cost and speed of geo-
thermal drilling surface technologies, and well con-
struction. 
‘‘(e) COPRODUCTION OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND 
MINERALS PRODUCTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
INITIATIVE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a research and development initiative under 
which the Secretary shall award grants to dem-
onstrate the coproduction of critical minerals from 
geothermal resources. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—An award made under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) improve the cost effectiveness of re-
moving minerals from geothermal brines as part 
of the coproduction process; 
‘‘(B) increase recovery rates of the tar-
geted mineral commodity; 
‘‘(C) decrease water use and other environ-
mental impacts, as determined by the Sec-
retary; and 
‘‘(D) demonstrate a path to commercial vi-
ability.
310 
‘‘(f) FLEXIBLE OPERATIONS.—The Secretary shall 
support a research initiative on flexible operation of geo-
thermal power plants. 
‘‘(g) HYBRID ENERGY SYSTEMS.—The Secretary 
shall identify opportunities for joint research, develop-
ment, and demonstration programs between geothermal 
systems and other energy generation or storage systems.’’. 
SEC. 2544. ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 615 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17194) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 615. ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall support a 
program of research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application for enhanced geothermal systems, 
including the programs described in subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) ENHANCED
GEOTHERMAL
SYSTEMS
TECH-
NOLOGIES.—In collaboration with industry partners, insti-
tutions of higher education, and the national laboratories, 
the Secretary shall support a program of research, devel-
opment, demonstration, and commercial application of the 
technologies to achieve higher efficiency and lower cost en-
hanced geothermal systems, including—
311 
‘‘(1) reservoir stimulation; 
‘‘(2) drilled, non-stimulated (e.g. closed-loop) 
reservoir technologies; 
‘‘(3) reservoir characterization, monitoring, and 
modeling and understanding of the surface area and 
volume of fractures; 
‘‘(4) stress and fracture mapping including real 
time monitoring and modeling; 
‘‘(5) tracer development; 
‘‘(6) three and four-dimensional seismic imag-
ing and tomography; 
‘‘(7) well placement and orientation; 
‘‘(8) long-term reservoir management; 
‘‘(9) drilling technologies, methods, and tools; 
‘‘(10) improved exploration tools; 
‘‘(11) zonal isolation; and 
‘‘(12) understanding induced seismicity risks 
from reservoir engineering and stimulation. 
‘‘(c) FRONTIER OBSERVATORY FOR RESEARCH IN 
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY.—The Secretary shall support the 
establishment and construction of up to 3 field research 
sites, which shall each be known as a ‘Frontier Observ-
atory for Research in Geothermal Energy’ or ‘FORGE’ 
site to develop, test, and enhance techniques and tools for 
enhanced geothermal energy.
312 
‘‘(1) DUTIES.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) award grants in support of research 
and development projects focused on advanced 
monitoring technologies, new technologies and 
approaches for implementing multi-zone stimu-
lations, nonstimulation techniques, and dynamic 
reservoir modeling that incorporates all avail-
able high-fidelity characterization data; and 
‘‘(B) seek opportunities to coordinate ef-
forts and share information with domestic and 
international partners engaged in research and 
development of geothermal systems and related 
technology, 
including 
coordination 
between 
FORGE sites. 
‘‘(2) SITE SELECTION.—Of the FORGE sites 
referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) consider applications through a com-
petitive, merit-reviewed process, from National 
Laboratories, multi-institutional collaborations, 
institutes of higher education and other appro-
priate entities best suited to provide national 
leadership on geothermal related issues and 
perform the duties enumerated under this sub-
section; and
313 
‘‘(B) prioritize existing field sites and fa-
cilities with capabilities relevant to the duties 
enumerated under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) EXISTING FORGE SITES.—A FORGE site 
already in existence on the date of enactment of this 
Act may continue to receive support. 
‘‘(4) FUNDING.—Out of funds authorized to be 
appropriated under section 623, there shall be made 
available to the Secretary to carry out the FORGE 
activities under this paragraph— 
‘‘(A) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(B) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(C) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(D) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
and 
‘‘(E) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. 
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall con-
sider the balance between funds dedicated to con-
struction and operations and research activities to 
reflect the state of site development. 
‘‘(d) ENHANCED
GEOTHERMAL
SYSTEMS
DEM-
ONSTRATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary, in collabo-
ration with industry partners, institutions of higher
314 
education, and the national laboratories, shall sup-
port an initiative for demonstration of enhanced geo-
thermal systems for power production or direct use. 
‘‘(2) PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Under the initiative 
described in paragraph (1), demonstration 
projects shall be carried out in locations that 
are commercially viable for enhanced geo-
thermal systems development, while also consid-
ering environmental impacts to the maximum 
extent practicable, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(B) 
REQUIREMENTS.—Demonstration 
projects under subparagraph (A) shall— 
‘‘(i) collectively demonstrate— 
‘‘(I) different geologic settings, 
such as hot sedimentary aquifers, lay-
ered geologic systems, supercritical 
systems, and basement rock systems; 
and 
‘‘(II) a variety of development 
techniques, including open hole and 
cased hole completions, differing well 
orientations, and stimulation and non-
stimulation mechanisms; and
315 
‘‘(ii) to the extent practicable, use ex-
isting sites where subsurface characteriza-
tion or geothermal energy integration anal-
ysis has been conducted. 
‘‘(C) 
EASTERN
DEMONSTRATION.—Not 
fewer than 1 of the demonstration projects car-
ried out under subparagraph (A) shall be lo-
cated an area east of the Mississippi that is 
suitable for enhanced geothermal demonstration 
for power, heat, or a combination of power and 
heat.’’. 
SEC. 2545. GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS AND DIRECT USE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title VI of the Energy Independ-
ence and Security Act of 2007 is amended by inserting 
after section 616 (42 U.S.C. 17195) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 616A. GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS AND DIRECT USE 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
‘‘(1) to improve the understanding of related 
earth sciences, components, processes, and systems 
used for geothermal heat pumps and the direct use 
of geothermal energy; and 
‘‘(2) to increase the energy efficiency, lower the 
cost, increase the use, and improve and demonstrate
316 
the effectiveness of geothermal heat pumps and the 
direct use of geothermal energy. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) DIRECT USE OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY.— 
The term ‘direct use of geothermal energy’ means 
geothermal systems that use water directly or 
through a heat exchanger to provide— 
‘‘(A) heating and cooling to buildings, com-
mercial districts, residential communities, and 
large municipal, or industrial projects; or 
‘‘(B) heat required for industrial processes, 
agriculture, aquaculture, and other facilities. 
‘‘(2) ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREA.—The 
term ‘economically distressed area’ means an area 
described in section 301(a) of the Public Works and 
Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3161(a)). 
‘‘(3) GEOTHERMAL
HEAT
PUMP.—The term 
‘geothermal heat pump’ means a system that pro-
vides heating and cooling by exchanging heat from 
shallow geology, groundwater, or surface water 
using— 
‘‘(A) a closed loop system, which transfers 
heat by way of buried or immersed pipes that 
contain a mix of water and working fluid; or
317 
‘‘(B) an open loop system, which circulates 
ground or surface water directly into the build-
ing and returns the water to the same aquifer 
or surface water source. 
‘‘(c) PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall sup-
port within the Geothermal Technologies Office a 
program of research, development, and demonstra-
tion for geothermal heat pumps and the direct use 
of geothermal energy. 
‘‘(2) AREAS.—The program under paragraph 
(1) may include research, development, demonstra-
tion, and commercial application of— 
‘‘(A) geothermal ground loop efficiency im-
provements, cost reductions, and improved in-
stallation and operations methods; 
‘‘(B) the use of geothermal energy for 
building-scale energy storage; 
‘‘(C) the use of geothermal energy as a 
grid management resource or seasonal energy 
storage; 
‘‘(D) geothermal heat pump efficiency im-
provements; 
‘‘(E) the use of alternative fluids as a heat 
exchange medium, such as hot water found in
318 
mines and mine shafts, graywater, or other 
fluids that may improve the economics of geo-
thermal heat pumps; 
‘‘(F) heating of districts, neighborhoods, 
communities, large commercial or public build-
ings, and industrial and manufacturing facili-
ties; 
‘‘(G) the use of low temperature ground-
water for direct use; and 
‘‘(H) system integration of direct use with 
geothermal electricity production. 
‘‘(3) ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS.—In carrying 
out the program, the Secretary shall identify and 
mitigate potential environmental impacts in accord-
ance with section 614(c). 
‘‘(d) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out the program established in subsection (c) by 
making grants available to State, local, and Tribal 
governments, institutions of higher education, non-
profit entities, National Laboratories, utilities, and 
for-profit companies. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In making grants under this 
subsection, the Secretary may give priority to pro-
posals that apply to large buildings, commercial dis-
319 
tricts, and residential communities that are located 
in economically distressed areas and areas that the 
Secretary determines to have high economic poten-
tial for geothermal district heating based on the re-
port, ‘Geovision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath our 
Feet’ published by the Department in 2019, or a 
successor report.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1(b) of the 
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17001 note) is amended in the table of contents 
by inserting after the item relating to section 616 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘616A. Geothermal heat pumps and direct use research and development.’’. 
SEC. 2546. COST SHARING AND PROPOSAL EVALUATION. 
Section 617(b) of the Energy Independence and Se-
curity Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17196) is amended by strik-
ing paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs (3) and 
(4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively. 
SEC. 2547. ADVANCED GEOTHERMAL COMPUTING AND 
DATA SCIENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 618 of the Energy Inde-
pendence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17197) is 
amended to read as follows:
320 
‘‘SEC. 618. ADVANCED GEOTHERMAL COMPUTING AND 
DATA SCIENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
program of research and development of advanced com-
puting and data science tools for geothermal energy. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAMS.—The program authorized in sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) ADVANCED COMPUTING FOR GEOTHERMAL 
SYSTEMS
TECHNOLOGIES.—Research, development, 
and demonstration of technologies to develop ad-
vanced data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, 
and related computing tools to assist in locating geo-
thermal resources, to increase the reliability of site 
characterization, to increase the rate and efficiency 
of drilling, to improve induced seismicity mitigation, 
and to support enhanced geothermal systems tech-
nologies. 
‘‘(2) GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESERVOIR MOD-
ELING.—Research, development, and demonstration 
of models of geothermal reservoir performance and 
enhanced geothermal systems reservoir stimulation 
technologies and techniques, with an emphasis on 
accurately modeling fluid and heat flow, permeability 
evolution, geomechanics, geochemistry, seismicity,
321 
and operational performance over time, including 
collaboration with industry and field validation. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—In carrying out these pro-
grams, the Secretary shall ensure coordination and con-
sultation with the Department of Energy’s Office of 
Science. The Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum ex-
tent practicable, coordination of these activities with the 
Department of Energy National Laboratories, institutes 
of higher education, and the private sector.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1(b) of the 
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17001 note) is amended in the table of contents 
by amending the item related to section 618 to read as 
follows: 
‘‘Sec. 618. Advanced geothermal computing and data science research and de-
velopment.’’. 
SEC. 2548. GEOTHERMAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 619 of the Energy Inde-
pendence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17198) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 619. GEOTHERMAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
‘‘The Secretary shall support the development of a 
geothermal energy workforce through a program that— 
‘‘(1) facilitates collaboration between university 
students and researchers at the national labora-
tories; and
322 
‘‘(2) prioritizes science in areas relevant to the 
mission of the Department through the application 
of geothermal energy tools and technologies.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1(b) of the 
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17001 note) is amended in the table of contents 
by amending the item related to section 619 to read as 
follows: 
‘‘Sec. 619. Geothermal workforce development.’’. 
SEC. 2549. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 621 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17200) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 621. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PRO-
GRAMS. 
‘‘(a) EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.—In carrying out 
the activities described in this subtitle, the Secretary shall 
support education and outreach activities to disseminate 
information on geothermal energy technologies and the 
geothermal energy workforce, including activities at the 
Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy 
site or sites. 
‘‘(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—In carrying out this 
subtitle, the Secretary shall also conduct technical assist-
ance and analysis activities with eligible entities for the
323 
purpose of supporting the commercial application of ad-
vances in geothermal energy systems development and op-
erations, which may include activities that support ex-
panding access to advanced geothermal energy tech-
nologies for rural, Tribal, and low-income communities. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—Every 5 years after the date of enact-
ment of this section, the Secretary shall report to the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources of the Senate on advanced concepts and 
technologies to maximize the geothermal resource poten-
tial of the United States. 
‘‘(d) PROGRESS REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this section, and every 2 
years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Science and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate a report on the results of projects 
undertaken under this part and other such information 
the Secretary considers appropriate.’’. 
SEC. 2550. REPEALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle B of title VI of the En-
ergy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 
17191 et seq.) is amended by striking section 620.
324 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1(b) of the 
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17001 note) is amended in the table of contents 
by striking the item related to section 620. 
SEC. 2551. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 623 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17202) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 623. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out the programs under this subtitle— 
‘‘(1) $182,062,500 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(2) $199,125,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(3) $216,187,500 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(4) $225,750,000 for fiscal year 2024; and 
‘‘(5) $227,812,500 for fiscal year 2025.’’. 
SEC. 2552. INTERNATIONAL GEOTHERMAL ENERGY DEVEL-
OPMENT. 
Section 624 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17203) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy, in co-
ordination with other appropriate Federal and multilateral 
agencies (including the United States Agency for Inter-
325 
national Development) shall support collaborative efforts 
with international partners to promote the research, devel-
opment, and demonstration of geothermal technologies 
used to develop hydrothermal and enhanced geothermal 
system resources.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (c). 
SEC. 2553. REAUTHORIZATION OF HIGH COST REGION GEO-
THERMAL ENERGY GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 625 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17204) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ‘‘ or heat’’ 
after ‘‘electrical power’’; and 
(2) by amending subsection (e) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Out of 
funds authorized under section 623, there is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.’’. 
PART 4—WATER POWER RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 2561. WATER POWER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle C of title VI of the En-
ergy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 
17211 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:
326 
‘‘Subtitle C—Water Power 
Research and Development 
‘‘SEC. 632. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this subtitle: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means any of the following entities: 
‘‘(A) An institution of higher education. 
‘‘(B) A National Laboratory. 
‘‘(C) A Federal research agency. 
‘‘(D) A State research agency. 
‘‘(E) A nonprofit research organization. 
‘‘(F) An industrial entity or a multi-insti-
tutional consortium thereof. 
‘‘(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
‘‘(3) MARINE ENERGY.—The term ‘marine en-
ergy’ means energy from— 
‘‘(A) waves, tides, and currents in oceans, 
estuaries, and tidal areas; 
‘‘(B) free flowing water in rivers, lakes, 
streams, and man-made channels; 
‘‘(C) differentials in salinity and pressure 
gradients; and
327 
‘‘(D) differentials in water temperature, in-
cluding ocean thermal energy conversion. 
‘‘(4) NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘Na-
tional Laboratory’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 2(3) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801(3)). 
‘‘(5) WATER POWER.—The term ‘water power’ 
refers to hydropower, including conduit power, 
pumped storage, and marine energy technologies. 
‘‘(6) MICROGRID.—The term ‘microgrid’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 641 of the 
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17231). 
‘‘SEC. 633. WATER POWER TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, DE-
VELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION. 
‘‘The Secretary shall carry out a program to conduct 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial ap-
plication of water power technologies in support of each 
of the following purposes: 
‘‘(1) To promote research, development, dem-
onstration, and commercial application of water 
power generation technologies in order to increase 
capacity and reduce the cost of those technologies.
328 
‘‘(2) To promote research and development to 
improve the environmental impact of water power 
technologies. 
‘‘(3) To provide grid reliability and resilience, 
including through technologies that facilitate new 
market opportunities, such as ancillary services, for 
water power. 
‘‘(4) To promote the development of water 
power technologies to improve economic growth and 
enhance cross-institutional foundational workforce 
development in the water power sector, including in 
coastal communities. 
‘‘SEC. 634. HYDROPOWER RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND 
DEMONSTRATION. 
‘‘The Secretary shall conduct a program of research, 
development, demonstration, and commercial application 
for technologies that improve the capacity, efficiency, resil-
ience, security, reliability, affordability, and environmental 
impact, including potential cumulative environmental im-
pacts, of hydropower systems. In carrying out such pro-
gram, the Secretary shall prioritize activities designed 
to— 
‘‘(1) develop technology for— 
‘‘(A) non-powered dams, including aging 
and potentially hazardous dams;
329 
‘‘(B) pumped storage; 
‘‘(C) constructed waterways; 
‘‘(D) new stream-reach development; 
‘‘(E) modular and small dams; 
‘‘(F) increased operational flexibility; and 
‘‘(G) enhancement of relevant existing fa-
cilities; 
‘‘(2) develop new strategies and technologies, 
including analytical methods, physical and numerical 
tools, and advanced computing, as well as methods 
to validate such methods and tools, in order to— 
‘‘(A) extend the operational lifetime of hy-
dropower systems and their physical structures, 
while improving environmental impact, includ-
ing potential cumulative environmental impacts; 
‘‘(B) assist in device and system design, 
installation, operation, and maintenance; and 
‘‘(C) reduce costs, limit outages, and in-
crease unit and plant efficiencies, including by 
examining the impact of changing water and 
electricity demand on hydropower generation, 
flexibility, and provision of grid services; 
‘‘(3) study, in conjunction with other relevant 
Federal agencies as appropriate, methods to improve 
the hydropower licensing process, including by com-
330 
piling current and accepted best practices, public 
comments, and methodologies to assess the full 
range of potential environmental and economic im-
pacts; 
‘‘(4) identify opportunities for joint research, 
development, and demonstration programs between 
hydropower systems, which may include— 
‘‘(A) pumped storage systems and other 
renewable energy systems; 
‘‘(B) small hydro facilities and other en-
ergy storage systems; 
‘‘(C) other hybrid energy systems; 
‘‘(D) small hydro facilities and critical in-
frastructure, including water infrastructure; 
and 
‘‘(E) hydro facilities and responsive load 
technologies, which may include smart buildings 
and city systems; 
‘‘(5) improve the reliability of hydropower tech-
nologies, including during extreme weather events; 
‘‘(6) develop methods and technologies to im-
prove environmental impact, including potential cu-
mulative environmental impacts, of hydropower and 
pumped storage technologies, including potential im-
pacts on wildlife, such as—
331 
‘‘(A) fisheries; 
‘‘(B) aquatic life and resources; 
‘‘(C) navigation of waterways; and 
‘‘(D) upstream and downstream environ-
mental conditions, including sediment move-
ment, water quality, and flow volumes; 
‘‘(7) identify ways to increase power generation 
by— 
‘‘(A) diversifying plant configuration op-
tions; 
‘‘(B) improving pump-back efficiencies; 
‘‘(C) investigating multi-phase systems; 
‘‘(D) developing, testing, and monitoring 
advanced generators with faster cycling times, 
variable speeds, and improved efficiencies; 
‘‘(E) developing, testing, and monitoring 
advanced turbines capable of improving environ-
mental impact, including potential cumulative 
environmental impacts, including small turbine 
designs; 
‘‘(F) developing standardized powertrain 
components; 
‘‘(G) developing components with advanced 
materials and manufacturing processes, includ-
ing additive manufacturing; and
333 
identify opportunities for hydropower applica-
tions in pumped storage and hybrid energy sys-
tems, including forecasting of seasonal and an-
nual energy storage; 
‘‘(B) considering aggregating small distrib-
uted hydropower assets; and 
‘‘(C) identifying barriers to grid scale im-
plementation of hydropower and pumped stor-
age technologies; 
‘‘(11) improve computational fluid dynamic 
modeling methods; 
‘‘(12) improve flow measurement methods, in-
cluding maintenance of continuous flow measure-
ment equipment; 
‘‘(13) identify best methods for compiling data 
on all hydropower resources and assets, including 
identifying potential for increased capacity; and 
‘‘(14) identify mechanisms to test and validate 
performance of hydropower and pumped storage 
technologies. 
‘‘SEC. 635. MARINE ENERGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, 
AND DEMONSTRATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Department of Defense, Secretary of Commerce 
(acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for
334 
Oceans and Atmosphere) and other relevant Federal agen-
cies, shall conduct a program of research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application of marine en-
ergy technology, including activities to— 
‘‘(1) assist technology development to improve 
the components, processes, and systems used for 
power generation from marine energy resources at a 
variety of scales; 
‘‘(2) establish and expand critical testing infra-
structure and facilities necessary to— 
‘‘(A) demonstrate and prove marine energy 
devices at a range of scales in a manner that 
is cost-effective and efficient; and 
‘‘(B) accelerate the technological readiness 
and commercial application of such devices; 
‘‘(3) address marine energy resource variability 
issues, including through the application of energy 
storage technologies; 
‘‘(4) advance efficient and reliable integration 
of marine energy with the electric grid, which may 
include smart building systems; 
‘‘(5) identify and study critical short-term and 
long-term needs to maintaining a sustainable marine 
energy supply chain based in the United States;
335 
‘‘(6) increase the reliability, security, and resil-
ience of marine energy technologies; 
‘‘(7) validate the performance, reliability, main-
tainability, and cost of marine energy device designs 
and system components in an operating environ-
ment; 
‘‘(8) consider the protection of critical infra-
structure, such as adequate separation between ma-
rine energy devices and submarine telecommuni-
cations cables, including through the development of 
voluntary, consensus-based standards for such pur-
poses; 
‘‘(9) identify opportunities for crosscutting re-
search, development, and demonstration programs 
between existing energy research programs; 
‘‘(10) identify and improve, in conjunction with 
the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and At-
mosphere, and other relevant Federal agencies as 
appropriate, the environmental impact, including po-
tential cumulative environmental impacts, of marine 
energy technologies, including— 
‘‘(A) potential impacts on fisheries and 
other marine resources; and
336 
‘‘(B) developing technologies, including 
mechanisms for self-evaluation, and other 
means available for improving environmental 
impact, including potential cumulative environ-
mental impacts; 
‘‘(11) identify, in consultation with relevant 
Federal agencies, potential navigational impacts of 
marine energy technologies and strategies to prevent 
possible adverse impacts, in addition to opportunities 
for marine energy systems to aid the United States 
Coast Guard, such as remote sensing for coastal bor-
der security; 
‘‘(12) develop numerical and physical tools, in-
cluding models and monitoring technologies, to as-
sist industry in device and system design, installa-
tion, operation, and maintenance, including methods 
to validate such tools; 
‘‘(13) support materials science as it relates to 
marine energy technology, such as the development 
of corrosive-resistant materials; 
‘‘(14) improve marine energy resource fore-
casting and general understanding of aquatic system 
behavior, including turbulence and extreme condi-
tions;
337 
‘‘(15) develop metrics and voluntary, consensus- 
based standards, in coordination with the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology and appro-
priate standard development organizations, for ma-
rine energy components, systems, and projects, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) measuring performance of marine en-
ergy technologies; and 
‘‘(B) characterizing environmental condi-
tions; 
‘‘(16) enhance integration with hybrid energy 
systems, including desalination; 
‘‘(17) identify opportunities to integrate marine 
energy technologies into new and existing infrastruc-
ture; and 
‘‘(18) to develop technology necessary to sup-
port the use of marine energy— 
‘‘(A) for the generation and storage of 
power at sea; and 
‘‘(B) for the generation and storage of 
power to promote the resilience of coastal com-
munities, including in applications relating to— 
‘‘(i) desalination; 
‘‘(ii) disaster recovery and resilience; 
and
338 
‘‘(iii) community microgrids in iso-
lated power systems. 
‘‘(b) STUDY OF NON-POWER SECTOR APPLICATIONS 
FOR ADVANCED MARINE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Transportation and the 
Secretary of Commerce, shall conduct a study to ex-
amine opportunities for research and development in 
advanced marine energy technologies for non-power 
sector applications, including applications with re-
spect to— 
‘‘(A) the maritime transportation sector; 
‘‘(B) associated maritime energy infra-
structure, including infrastructure that serves 
ports, to improve system resilience and disaster 
recovery; and 
‘‘(C) enabling scientific missions at sea 
and in extreme environments, including the 
Arctic. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
339 
Representatives a report that describes the results of 
the study conducted under paragraph (1). 
‘‘SEC. 636. NATIONAL MARINE ENERGY CENTERS. 
‘‘(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants, each such grant up to $10,000,000 per year, to 
institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) 
for— 
‘‘(1) the continuation and expansion of the re-
search, development, demonstration, testing, and 
commercial application activities at the National Ma-
rine Energy Centers (referred to in this section as 
‘Centers’) established as of January 1, 2020; and 
‘‘(2) the establishment of new National Marine 
Energy Centers. 
‘‘(b) LOCATION SELECTION.—In selecting institu-
tions of higher education for new Centers, the Secretary 
shall consider the following criteria: 
‘‘(1) Whether the institution hosts an existing 
marine energy research and development program. 
‘‘(2) Whether the institution has proven tech-
nical expertise to support marine energy research. 
‘‘(3) Whether the institution has access to ma-
rine resources.
340 
‘‘(c) PURPOSES.—The Centers shall coordinate 
among themselves, the Department, and National Labora-
tories to— 
‘‘(1) advance research, development, demonstra-
tion, and commercial application of marine energy 
technologies in response to industry and commercial 
needs; 
‘‘(2) support in-water testing and demonstra-
tion of marine energy technologies, including facili-
ties capable of testing— 
‘‘(A) marine energy systems of various 
technology readiness levels and scales; 
‘‘(B) a variety of technologies in multiple 
test berths at a single location; 
‘‘(C) arrays of technology devices; and 
‘‘(D) interconnectivity to an electrical grid, 
including microgrids; and 
‘‘(3) collect and disseminate information on 
best practices in all areas relating to developing and 
managing marine energy resources and energy sys-
tems. 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION.—To the extent practicable, the 
Centers shall coordinate their activities with the Secretary 
of Commerce, acting through the Undersecretary of Com-
341 
merce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and other relevant 
Federal agencies. 
‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—To the extent otherwise author-
ized by law, the Secretary may terminate funding for a 
Center described in paragraph (a) if such Center is under- 
performing. 
‘‘SEC. 637. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PRO-
GRAMS. 
‘‘(a) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this subtitle, 
the Secretary shall coordinate activities, and effectively 
manage cross-cutting research priorities across programs 
of the Department and other relevant Federal agencies, 
including the National Laboratories and the National Ma-
rine Energy Centers. 
‘‘(b) COLLABORATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this sub-
title, the Secretary shall collaborate with industry, 
National Laboratories, other relevant Federal agen-
cies, institutions of higher education, including Mi-
nority Serving Institutions, National Marine Energy 
Centers, Tribal entities, including Alaska Native 
Corporations, and international bodies with relevant 
scientific and technical expertise. 
‘‘(2) PARTICIPATION.—To the extent prac-
ticable, the Secretary shall encourage research
342 
projects that promote collaboration between entities 
specified in paragraph (1) and include entities not 
historically associated with National Marine Energy 
Centers, such as Minority Serving Institutions. 
‘‘(3) INTERNATIONAL
COLLABORATION.—The 
Secretary of Energy, in coordination with other ap-
propriate Federal and multilateral agencies (includ-
ing the United States Agency for International De-
velopment) shall support collaborative efforts with 
international partners to promote the research, de-
velopment, and demonstration of water power tech-
nologies used to develop hydropower, pump storage, 
and marine energy resources. 
‘‘(c) DISSEMINATION
OF RESULTS
AND PUBLIC 
AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) publish the results of projects supported 
under this subtitle through Department websites, re-
ports, databases, training materials, and industry 
conferences, including information discovered after 
the completion of such projects, withholding any in-
dustrial proprietary information; and 
‘‘(2) share results of such projects with the 
public except to the extent that the information is 
protected from disclosure under section 552(b) of 
title 5, United States Code.
343 
‘‘(d) AWARD FREQUENCY.—The Secretary shall so-
licit applications for awards under this subtitle no less fre-
quently than once per fiscal year. 
‘‘(e) EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.—In carrying out 
the activities described in this subtitle, the Secretary shall 
support education and outreach activities to disseminate 
information and promote public understanding of water 
power technologies and the water power workforce, includ-
ing activities at the National Marine Energy Centers. 
‘‘(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND WORKFORCE DE-
VELOPMENT.—In carrying out this subtitle, the Secretary 
may also conduct, for purposes of supporting technical, 
non-hardware, and information-based advances in water 
power systems development and operations— 
‘‘(1) technical assistance and analysis activities 
with eligible entities, including activities that sup-
port expanding access to advanced water power tech-
nologies for rural, Tribal, and low-income commu-
nities; and 
‘‘(2) workforce development and training activi-
ties, including to support the dissemination of stand-
ards and best practices for enabling water power 
production. 
‘‘(g) STRATEGIC PLAN.—In carrying out the activi-
ties described in this subtitle, the Secretary shall—
344 
‘‘(1) not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of the Clean Economy Jobs and Inno-
vation Act, draft a plan, considering input from rel-
evant stakeholders such as industry and academia, 
to implement the programs described in this subtitle 
and update the plan on an annual basis; and 
‘‘(2) the plan shall address near-term (up to 2 
years), mid-term (up to 7 years), and long-term (up 
to 15 years) challenges to the advancement of water 
power systems. 
‘‘(h) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of the Clean Economy 
Jobs and Innovation Act, and at least once every 2 years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall provide, and make available 
to the public and the relevant authorizing and appropria-
tions committees of Congress, a report on the findings of 
research conducted and activities carried out pursuant to 
this subtitle, including the most current strategic plan 
under subsection (g) and the progress made in imple-
menting such plan. 
‘‘SEC. 638. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS. 
‘‘Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed as 
waiving, modifying, or superseding the applicability of any 
requirement under any environmental or other Federal or 
State law.
345 
‘‘SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this subtitle— 
‘‘(1) $229,125,000 for fiscal year 2021, includ-
ing 
$168,870,000 
for 
marine 
energy 
and 
$60,255,000 for hydropower research, development, 
and demonstration activities; 
‘‘(2) $236,517,450 for fiscal year 2022, includ-
ing 
$174,454,800 
for 
marine 
energy 
and 
$62,062,650 for hydropower research, development, 
and demonstration activities; 
‘‘(3) $244,187,873 for fiscal year 2023, includ-
ing 
$180,263,343 
for 
marine 
energy 
and 
$63,924,530 for hydropower research, development, 
and demonstration activities; 
‘‘(4) $252,147,209 for fiscal year 2024, includ-
ing 
$186,304,944 
for 
marine 
energy 
and 
$65,842,265 for hydropower research, development, 
and demonstration activities; and 
‘‘(5) $260,406,837 for fiscal year 2025, includ-
ing 
$192,589,304 
for 
marine 
energy 
and 
$67,817,533 for hydropower research, development, 
and demonstration activities.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING TABLE
OF CONTENTS AMEND-
MENT.—The table of contents for the Energy Independ-
ence and Security Act of 2007 is amended by striking the
346 
items relating to subtitle C of title VI and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘Subtitle C—Water Power Research and Development 
‘‘Sec. 632. Definitions. 
‘‘Sec. 633. Water power technology research, development, and demonstration. 
‘‘Sec. 634. Hydropower research, development, and demonstration. 
‘‘Sec. 635. Marine energy research, development, and demonstration. 
‘‘Sec. 636. National Marine Energy Centers. 
‘‘Sec. 637. Organization and administration of programs. 
‘‘Sec. 638. Applicability of other laws. 
‘‘Sec. 639. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 
SEC. 2562. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005.—The Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801 et seq.) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in section 201(a), by striking ‘‘ocean (in-
cluding tidal, wave, current, and thermal)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘marine’’; 
(2) in section 203(b)(2), by— 
(A) inserting ‘‘marine energy (as defined 
in section 632 of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007) or’’ before ‘‘electric en-
ergy’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘ocean (including tidal, 
wave, current, and thermal)’’; 
(3) in section 931(a)(2)(E)(i), by striking 
‘‘ocean energy, including wave energy’’ and inserting 
‘‘marine energy (as defined in section 632 of the En-
ergy Independence and Security Act of 2007)’’; and
347 
(4) in section 1833(a), by striking ‘‘ocean en-
ergy resources (including tidal, wave, and thermal 
energy)’’ and inserting ‘‘marine energy resources 
(within the meaning of section 632 of the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007)’’. 
(b) ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 1992.—Section 1212 of 
the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13317) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(4)(A)(i), by striking 
‘‘ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and ther-
mal)’’ and inserting ‘‘marine energy (as defined in 
section 632 of the Energy Independence and Secu-
rity Act of 2007)’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘ocean (including tidal, 
wave, current, and thermal)’’ and inserting ‘‘marine 
energy (as defined in section 632 of the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007)’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e)(1), in the first sentence, by 
striking ‘‘ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and 
thermal)’’ and inserting ‘‘marine energy (as defined 
in section 632 of the Energy Independence and Se-
curity Act of 2007)’’. 
(c) RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY 
TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS ACT OF 1989.—The Re-
348 
newable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technology Com-
petitiveness Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 12001 et seq.) is 
amended— 
(1) in section 4 (42 U.S.C. 12003)— 
(A) in subsection (a)(5), by striking 
‘‘Ocean’’ and inserting ‘‘Marine’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c), in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Ocean’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Marine’’; and 
(2) in section 9(c) (42 U.S.C. 12006(c)), by 
striking ‘‘ocean,’’ and inserting ‘‘marine,’’. 
SEC. 2563. PRODUCED WATER RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—As soon as possible after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy 
shall establish a research and development program on 
produced water to develop— 
(1) new technologies and practices to reduce the 
environmental impact; and 
(2) opportunities for reprocessing of produced 
water at natural gas or oil development sites. 
(b) PRIORITIZATION.—The Secretary shall give pri-
ority to projects that develop and bring to market— 
(1) effective systems for on-site management or 
repurposing of produced water; and
349 
(2) new technologies or approaches to reduce 
the environmental impact of produced water on local 
water sources and the environment. 
(c) CONDUCT OF PROGRAM.—In carrying out the 
program described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
carry out science-based research and development activi-
ties to pursue— 
(1) improved efficiency, technologies, and tech-
niques for produced water recycling stations; and 
(2) B. alternative approaches to treating, 
reusing, storing, or decontaminating produced water. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of this sec-
tion $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 
2025. 
SEC. 2564. PRODUCED WATER DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Energy 
shall establish a demonstration program for on-site treat-
ment of produced water. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In developing the demonstra-
tion program under this section, the Secretary shall con-
sult with the heads of other relevant Federal departments 
and agencies, including the Department of the Interior 
and the Environmental Protection Agency.
350 
(c) PRIORITIZATION.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary should prioritize— 
(1) first-of-a-kind or new approaches to treating 
produced water stationed on site; and 
(2) technologies that can be used at natural gas 
or oil development sites to reduce other environ-
mental harm either through emissions or other envi-
ronmental impact. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of this sec-
tion $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 
2025. 
PART 5—ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE 
ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 2571. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Energy or their designee to carry out research, 
development, demonstration, and commercial application 
activities under the Office of Energy Efficiency and Re-
newable Energy— 
(1) $3,228,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
(2) $3,250,775,500 for fiscal year 2022; 
(3) $3,291,488,750 for fiscal year 2023; 
(4) $3,334,238,188 for fiscal year 2024; and 
(5) $3,379,125,097 for fiscal year 2025.
351 
Subtitle F—Public Lands 
Renewable Energy Development 
SEC. 2601. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) COVERED LAND.—The term ‘‘covered land’’ 
means land that is— 
(A) public lands administered by the Sec-
retary; and 
(B) not excluded from the development of 
geothermal, solar, or wind energy under— 
(i) a land use plan established under 
the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or 
(ii) other Federal law. 
(2) EXCLUSION
AREA.—The term ‘‘exclusion 
area’’ means covered land that is identified by the 
Bureau of Land Management as not suitable for de-
velopment of renewable energy projects. 
(3) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 
means public lands. 
(4) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Re-
newable Energy Resource Conservation Fund estab-
lished by section 2608(c)(1). 
(5) PRIORITY AREA.—The term ‘‘priority area’’ 
means covered land identified by the land use plan-
352 
ning process of the Bureau of Land Management as 
being a preferred location for a renewable energy 
project, including a designated leasing area (as de-
fined in section 2801.5(b) of title 43, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations (or a successor regulation)) that is 
identified under the rule of the Bureau of Land 
Management 
entitled 
‘‘Competitive 
Processes, 
Terms, and Conditions for Leasing Public Lands for 
Solar and Wind Energy Development and Technical 
Changes and Corrections’’ (81 Fed. Reg. 92122 
(December 19, 2016)) (or a successor regulation). 
(6) PUBLIC LANDS.—The term ‘‘public lands’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 103 of 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702). 
(7) RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT.—The term 
‘‘renewable energy project’’ means a project carried 
out on covered land that uses wind, solar, or geo-
thermal energy to generate energy. 
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(9) VARIANCE
AREA.—The term ‘‘variance 
area’’ means covered land that is— 
(A) not an exclusion area; 
(B) not a priority area; and
353 
(C) identified by the Secretary as poten-
tially available for renewable energy develop-
ment and could be approved without a plan 
amendment, consistent with the principles of 
multiple use (as that term is defined in the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)). 
SEC. 2602. LAND USE PLANNING; SUPPLEMENTS TO PRO-
GRAMMATIC 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
IMPACT 
STATEMENTS. 
(a) PRIORITY AREAS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish 
priority areas on covered land for geothermal, solar, 
and wind energy projects. Projects located in those 
priority areas shall be given the highest priority for 
review, and shall be offered the opportunity to par-
ticipate in any regional mitigation plan developed for 
the relevant priority areas. 
(2) DEADLINE.— 
(A) GEOTHERMAL
ENERGY.—For geo-
thermal energy, the Secretary shall establish 
priority areas as soon as practicable, but not 
later than 5 years, after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.
354 
(B) SOLAR
ENERGY.—For solar energy, 
solar Designated Leasing Areas, including the 
solar energy zones established by the 2012 
western solar plan of the Bureau of Land Man-
agement and any subsequent land use plan 
amendments, shall be considered to be priority 
areas for solar energy projects. The Secretary 
shall establish additional solar priority areas as 
soon as practicable, but not later than 3 years, 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(C) WIND ENERGY.—For wind energy, the 
Secretary shall establish additional wind pri-
ority areas as soon as practicable, but not later 
than 3 years, after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(b) VARIANCE AREAS.—To the maximum extent 
practicable, variance areas shall be considered for renew-
able energy project development, consistent with the prin-
ciples of multiple use (as defined in the Federal Land Pol-
icy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.)). 
(c) REVIEW AND MODIFICATION.—Not less than once 
every 5 years, the Secretary shall— 
(1) review the adequacy of land allocations for 
geothermal, solar, and wind energy priority and vari-
355 
ance areas for the purpose of encouraging new re-
newable energy development opportunities; and 
(2) based on the review carried out under para-
graph (1), add, modify, or eliminate priority, vari-
ance, and exclusion areas. 
(d) COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL ENVIRON-
MENTAL POLICY ACT.—For purposes of this section, com-
pliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall be accomplished— 
(1) for geothermal energy, by supplementing 
the October 2008 final programmatic environmental 
impact statement for geothermal leasing in the 
Western United States and incorporating any addi-
tional regional analyses that have been completed by 
Federal agencies since the programmatic environ-
mental impact statement was finalized; 
(2) for solar energy, by supplementing the July 
2012 final programmatic environmental impact 
statement for solar energy development and incor-
porating any additional regional analyses that have 
been completed by Federal agencies since the pro-
grammatic environmental impact statement was fi-
nalized; and 
(3) for wind energy, by supplementing the July 
2005 final programmatic environmental impact
356 
statement for wind energy development and incor-
porating any additional regional analyses that have 
been completed by Federal agencies since the pro-
grammatic environmental impact statement was fi-
nalized. 
(e) NO EFFECT ON PROCESSING APPLICATIONS.— 
Any requirements to prepare a supplement to a pro-
grammatic environmental impact statement under this 
section shall not result in any delay in processing a pend-
ing application for a renewable energy project. 
(f) COORDINATION.—In developing a supplement re-
quired by this section, the Secretary shall coordinate, on 
an ongoing basis, with appropriate State, Tribal, and local 
governments, transmission infrastructure owners and op-
erators, developers, and other appropriate entities to en-
sure that priority areas identified by the Secretary are— 
(1) economically viable (including having access 
to existing and/or planned transmission lines); 
(2) likely to avoid or minimize impacts to habi-
tat for animals and plants, recreation, cultural re-
sources, and other uses of covered land; and 
(3) consistent with section 202 of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
U.S.C. 1712), including subsection (c)(9) of that 
section (43 U.S.C. 1712(c)(9)).
358 
lish and implement a program to improve Federal permit 
coordination with respect to renewable energy projects on 
covered land and other activities deemed necessary by the 
Secretary. In carrying out the program, the Secretary may 
temporarily assign qualified staff to Renewable Energy 
Coordination Offices to expedite the permitting of renew-
able energy projects. 
(b) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall enter into a memorandum of under-
standing for purposes of this section, including to 
specifically expedite the environmental analysis of 
applications for projects proposed in a variance area 
or a priority area, with the Secretary of Defense. 
(2) STATE AND TRIBAL PARTICIPATION.—The 
Secretary may request the Governor of any inter-
ested State or any Tribal leader of any interested 
Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
(25 U.S.C. 5304)) to be a signatory to the memo-
randum of understanding under paragraph (1). 
(c) DESIGNATION OF QUALIFIED STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the memorandum of under-
359 
standing under subsection (b) is executed, all Fed-
eral signatories, as appropriate, shall identify for 
each of the Bureau of Land Management Renewable 
Energy Coordination Offices one or more employees 
who have expertise in the regulatory issues relating 
to the office in which the employee is employed, in-
cluding, as applicable, particular expertise in— 
(A) consultation regarding, and prepara-
tion of, biological opinions under section 7 of 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1536); 
(B) permits under section 404 of the Fed-
eral Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1344); 
(C) regulatory matters under the Clean Air 
Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); 
(D) the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); 
(E) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 
U.S.C. 703 et seq.); 
(F) the preparation of analyses under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); 
(G) implementation of the requirements of 
section 306108 of title 54, United States Code
360 
(formerly known as section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act); 
(H) the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection 
Act (16 U.S.C. 668 through 668d); and 
(I) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and 
sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753 and 
102101 of title 54 , United States Code (pre-
viously known as the ‘‘National Park Service 
Organic Act’’). 
(2) DUTIES.—Each employee assigned under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) be responsible for addressing all issues 
relating to the jurisdiction of the home office or 
agency of the employee; and 
(B) participate as part of the team of per-
sonnel working on proposed energy projects, 
planning, monitoring, inspection, enforcement, 
and environmental analyses. 
(d) ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.—The Secretary may 
assign such additional personnel for the Bureau of Land 
Management Renewable Energy Coordination Offices as 
are necessary to ensure the effective implementation of 
any programs administered by the offices in accordance 
with the multiple use mandate of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
361 
(e) CLARIFICATION
OF EXISTING AUTHORITY.— 
Under section 307 of the Federal Land Policy and Man-
agement Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1737), the Bureau of 
Land Management may— 
(1) accept donations for the purposes of public 
lands management; and 
(2) accept donations from renewable energy 
companies working on public lands to help cover the 
costs of environmental reviews. 
(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than February 1 
of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and each February 1 there-
after, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and 
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
of Representatives a report describing the progress 
made under the program established under sub-
section (a) during the preceding year. 
(2) INCLUSIONS.—Each report under this sub-
section shall include— 
(A) projections for renewable energy pro-
duction and capacity installations; and 
(B) a description of any problems relating 
to leasing, permitting, siting, or production.
362 
SEC. 2605. INCREASING ECONOMIC CERTAINTY. 
(a) CONSIDERATIONS.—The Secretary is authorized 
to and shall consider acreage rental rates, capacity fees, 
and other recurring annual fees in total when evaluating 
existing rates paid for the use of Federal land by renew-
able energy projects. 
(b) INCREASES IN BASE RENTAL RATES.—Once a 
base rental rate is established upon the issuance of a 
right-of-way authorization, increases in the base rent shall 
be limited to the Implicit Price Deflator–Gross Domestic 
Product (IPD–GDP) index for the entire term of the 
right-of-way authorization. 
(c) REDUCTIONS
IN BASE RENTAL RATES.—The 
Secretary is authorized to reduce acreage rental rates and 
capacity fees, or both, for existing and new wind and solar 
authorizations if the Secretary determines— 
(1) that the existing rates— 
(A) exceed fair market value; 
(B) impose economic hardships; 
(C) limit commercial interest in a competi-
tive lease sale or right-of-way grant; or 
(D) are not competitively priced compared 
to other available land; or 
(2) that a reduced rental rate or capacity fee is 
necessary to promote the greatest use of wind and 
solar energy resources, especially those resources in-
363 
side priority areas. Rental rates and capacity fees 
for projects that are within the boundaries of a Des-
ignated Leasing Area but not formally recognized as 
being in such an area shall be equivalent to rents 
and fees for new leases inside of a Designated Leas-
ing Area. 
SEC. 2606. RENEWABLE ENERGY GOAL. 
The Secretary shall seek to issue permits that, in 
total, authorize production of not less than 25 gigawatts 
of electricity from wind, solar, and geothermal energy 
projects by not later than 2025, through management of 
public lands and administration of Federal laws. 
SEC. 2607. FACILITATION OF COPRODUCTION OF GEO-
THERMAL ENERGY ON OIL AND GAS LEASES. 
Section 4(b) of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 
(30 U.S.C. 1003(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(4) LAND SUBJECT TO OIL AND GAS LEASE.— 
Land under an oil and gas lease issued pursuant to 
the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) or 
the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 
U.S.C. 351 et seq.) that is subject to an approved 
application for permit to drill and from which oil 
and gas production is occurring may be available for
364 
noncompetitive leasing under subsection (c) by the 
holder of the oil and gas lease— 
‘‘(A) on a determination that geothermal 
energy will be produced from a well producing 
or capable of producing oil and gas; and 
‘‘(B) in order to provide for the coproduc-
tion of geothermal energy with oil and gas.’’. 
SEC. 2608. NONCOMPETITIVE LEASING OF ADJOINING 
AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF GEOTHERMAL 
RESOURCES. 
Section 4(b) of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 
(30 U.S.C. 1003(b)) is further amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(5) ADJOINING LAND.— 
‘‘(A) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: 
‘‘(i) 
FAIR
MARKET
VALUE
PER 
ACRE.—The term ‘fair market value per 
acre’ means a dollar amount per acre 
that— 
‘‘(I) except as provided in this 
clause, shall be equal to the market 
value per acre (taking into account 
the determination under subparagraph 
(B)(iii) regarding a valid discovery on 
the adjoining land) as determined by
365 
the Secretary under regulations issued 
under this paragraph; 
‘‘(II) shall be determined by the 
Secretary with respect to a lease 
under this paragraph, by not later 
than the end of the 180-day period 
beginning on the date the Secretary 
receives an application for the lease; 
and 
‘‘(III) shall be not less than the 
greater of— 
‘‘(aa) 4 times the median 
amount paid per acre for all land 
leased under this Act during the 
preceding year; or 
‘‘(bb) $50. 
‘‘(ii) 
INDUSTRY
STANDARDS.—The 
term ‘industry standards’ means the stand-
ards by which a qualified geothermal pro-
fessional assesses whether downhole or 
flowing temperature measurements with 
indications of permeability are sufficient to 
produce energy from geothermal resources, 
as determined through flow or injection
366 
testing or measurement of lost circulation 
while drilling. 
‘‘(iii) QUALIFIED
FEDERAL
LAND.— 
The term ‘qualified Federal land’ means 
land that is otherwise available for leasing 
under this Act. 
‘‘(iv) QUALIFIED GEOTHERMAL PRO-
FESSIONAL.—The 
term 
‘qualified 
geo-
thermal professional’ means an individual 
who is an engineer or geoscientist in good 
professional standing with at least 5 years 
of experience in geothermal exploration, 
development, or project assessment. 
‘‘(v) QUALIFIED LESSEE.—The term 
‘qualified lessee’ means a person who may 
hold a geothermal lease under this Act (in-
cluding applicable regulations). 
‘‘(vi) VALID
DISCOVERY.—The term 
‘valid discovery’ means a discovery of a 
geothermal resource by a new or existing 
slim hole or production well, that exhibits 
downhole or flowing temperature measure-
ments with indications of permeability that 
are sufficient to meet industry standards.
367 
‘‘(B) AUTHORITY.—An area of qualified 
Federal land that adjoins other land for which 
a qualified lessee holds a legal right to develop 
geothermal resources may be available for a 
noncompetitive lease under this section to the 
qualified lessee at the fair market value per 
acre, if— 
‘‘(i) the area of qualified Federal 
land— 
‘‘(I) consists of not less than 1 
acre and not more than 640 acres; 
and 
‘‘(II) is not already leased under 
this Act or nominated to be leased 
under subsection (a); 
‘‘(ii) the qualified lessee has not pre-
viously received a noncompetitive lease 
under this paragraph in connection with 
the valid discovery for which data has been 
submitted under clause (iii)(I); and 
‘‘(iii) sufficient geological and other 
technical data prepared by a qualified geo-
thermal professional has been submitted by 
the qualified lessee to the applicable Fed-
eral land management agency that would
368 
lead individuals who are experienced in the 
subject matter to believe that— 
‘‘(I) there is a valid discovery of 
geothermal resources on the land for 
which the qualified lessee holds the 
legal right to develop geothermal re-
sources; and 
‘‘(II) that geothermal feature ex-
tends into the adjoining areas. 
‘‘(C) DETERMINATION
OF
FAIR
MARKET 
VALUE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(I) publish a notice of any re-
quest to lease land under this para-
graph; 
‘‘(II) determine fair market value 
for purposes of this paragraph in ac-
cordance with procedures for making 
those determinations that are estab-
lished by regulations issued by the 
Secretary; 
‘‘(III) provide to a qualified les-
see and publish, with an opportunity 
for public comment for a period of 30
369 
days, any proposed determination 
under this subparagraph of the fair 
market value of an area that the 
qualified lessee seeks to lease under 
this paragraph; and 
‘‘(IV) provide to the qualified les-
see and any adversely affected party 
the opportunity to appeal the final de-
termination of fair market value in an 
administrative proceeding before the 
applicable Federal land management 
agency, in accordance with applicable 
law (including regulations). 
‘‘(ii) LIMITATION ON NOMINATION.— 
After publication of a notice of request to 
lease land under this paragraph, the Sec-
retary may not accept under subsection (a) 
any nomination of the land for leasing un-
less the request has been denied or with-
drawn. 
‘‘(iii) ANNUAL
RENTAL.—For pur-
poses of section 5(a)(3), a lease awarded 
under this paragraph shall be considered a 
lease awarded in a competitive lease sale.
370 
‘‘(D) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 270 
days after the date of the enactment of this 
paragraph, the Secretary shall issue regulations 
to carry out this paragraph.’’. 
SEC. 2609. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, 
the Secretary shall continue to manage public lands under 
the principles of multiple use and sustained yield in ac-
cordance with title I of the Federal Land Policy and Man-
agement Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), including 
due consideration of mineral and nonrenewable energy-re-
lated projects and other nonrenewable energy uses, for the 
purposes of land use planning, permit processing, and con-
ducting environmental reviews. 
Subtitle G—Renewable Energy 
Grant Program 
SEC. 2701. RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es-
tablish a renewable energy program (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘program’’) under which the Secretary 
may award grants to covered entities to facilitate projects, 
in territories of the United States, described in subsection 
(c).
371 
(b) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for a grant under 
the program, a covered entity shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application at such time, in such form, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may require. 
(c) GRANT USES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A covered entity receiving a 
grant under the program may use grant funds for 
a project, in territories of the United States— 
(A) to develop or construct a renewable en-
ergy system; 
(B) to carry out an activity to increase en-
ergy efficiency; 
(C) to develop or construct an energy stor-
age system or device for— 
(i) a system developed or constructed 
under subparagraph (A); or 
(ii) an activity carried out under sub-
paragraph (B); 
(D) to develop or construct— 
(i) a smart grid; or 
(ii) a microgrid; or 
(E) to train residents of territories of the 
United States to develop, construct, maintain, 
or operate a renewable energy system.
372 
(2) LIMITATION.—A covered entity receiving a 
grant under the program may not use grant funds 
to develop or construct a facility that generates elec-
tricity using energy derived from— 
(A) fossil fuels; or 
(B) nuclear power. 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that Department of Energy national laboratories 
offer to provide technical assistance to each covered entity 
carrying out a project assisted with a grant under the pro-
gram. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the es-
tablishment of the program, and on an annual basis there-
after, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report con-
taining— 
(1) an estimate of the amount of funds dis-
bursed under the program; 
(2) an estimate of the energy conservation 
achieved as a result of the program; 
(3) a description of challenges encountered in 
implementing projects described in subsection (c)(1); 
and 
(4) recommendations as to additional legislative 
measures to increase the use of renewable energy in 
territories of the United States, as appropriate.
373 
(f) GAO STUDY AND REPORT.— 
(1) STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall— 
(A) conduct a study regarding renewable 
energy and energy efficiency in territories of the 
United States; and 
(B) submit to Congress a report con-
taining— 
(i) the findings of the study; and 
(ii) related recommendations. 
(2) COMPONENTS.—The study conducted under 
paragraph (1) shall consider, in relation to terri-
tories of the United States, the potential— 
(A) to modify existing electric power sys-
tems to use renewable energy sources; 
(B) to expand the use of microgrids; and 
(C) to improve energy resiliency. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered en-
tity’’ means a not-for-profit organization determined 
eligible by the Secretary for purposes of this section. 
(2) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL LAB-
ORATORIES.—The term ‘‘Department of Energy na-
374 
tional laboratories’’ has the same meaning as the 
term ‘‘National Laboratory’’ under section 2 of the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801). 
(3) MICROGRID.—The term ‘‘microgrid’’ means 
an electric system— 
(A) that serves the local community with a 
power generation and distribution system; and 
(B) that has the ability— 
(i) to disconnect from a traditional 
electric grid; and 
(ii) to operate autonomously when dis-
connected. 
(4) RENEWABLE ENERGY; RENEWABLE ENERGY 
SYSTEM.—The terms ‘‘renewable energy’’ and ‘‘re-
newable energy system’’ have the meanings given 
those terms in section 415(c) of the Energy Con-
servation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6865(c)). 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
(6) SMART
GRID.—The term ‘‘smart grid’’ 
means an intelligent electric grid that uses digital 
communications technology, information systems, 
and automation to, while maintaining high system 
reliability—
375 
(A) detect and react to local changes in 
usage; 
(B) improve system operating efficiency; 
and 
(C) reduce spending costs. 
(7) TERRITORY.—The term ‘‘territory’’ means 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the 
United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is-
lands. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section. 
Subtitle H—Other 
SEC. 2801. AMENDMENT TO ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005 
DEFINITION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 203 of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15852) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘gen-
erated’’ and inserting ‘‘produced’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(1) 
through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C), 
respectively, and indenting appropriately;
376 
(B) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘For pur-
poses’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) SEPARATE CALCULATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of deter-
mining compliance with the requirement of this 
section, any energy consumption that is avoided 
through the use of geothermal energy shall be 
considered to be renewable energy produced. 
‘‘(B) EFFICIENCY
ACCOUNTING.—Energy 
consumption that is avoided through the use of 
geothermal energy that is considered to be re-
newable energy under this section shall not be 
considered energy efficiency for the purpose of 
compliance with Federal energy efficiency goals, 
targets, and incentives.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 2410q(a) 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘section 203(b)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15852(b)(2))’’ and inserting ‘‘section 203(b) of the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15852(b))’’.
377 
TITLE III—CARBON POLLUTION 
REDUCTION TECHNOLOGIES 
Subtitle A—Fossil Energy Research 
and Development 
SEC. 3101. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this part: 
(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Energy. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
SEC. 3102. FOSSIL ENERGY OBJECTIVES. 
Section 961 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16291) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) Decreasing the cost of emissions control 
technologies for fossil energy production, generation, 
and delivery.’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (7) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(7) Increasing the export of emissions control 
technologies from the United States for fossil en-
ergy-related equipment, technology, and services.’’; 
and
378 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) Improving the conversion, use, and storage 
of carbon oxides. 
‘‘(9) Lowering greenhouse gas emissions for all 
fossil fuel production, generation, delivery, and utili-
zation, to the maximum extent possible. 
‘‘(10) Preventing, predicting, monitoring, and 
mitigating the unintended leaking of methane, car-
bon dioxide, or other fossil fuel-related emissions 
into the atmosphere. 
‘‘(11) Improving the separation and purification 
of helium from fossil fuel resources. 
‘‘(12) Reducing water use, improving water 
reuse, and minimizing the surface and subsurface 
environmental impact in the development of uncon-
ventional domestic oil and natural gas resources. 
‘‘(13) Developing carbon removal and utiliza-
tion technologies, products, and methods that result 
in net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, in-
cluding direct air capture and storage and carbon 
use and reuse for commercial application.’’; 
(2) by striking subsections (c) through (e) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) PRIORITIZATION.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary shall prioritize technologies and strategies
379 
that have the potential to meet emissions reduction goals 
in the agreement of the twenty-first session of the Con-
ference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATION.—None of the funds authorized 
under this section may be used for Fossil Energy Environ-
mental Restoration or Import/Export Authorization.’’. 
SEC. 3103. CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGIES. 
(a) CARBON CAPTURE PROGRAM.—Section 962 of 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16292) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 962. CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a 
program of research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application of carbon capture technologies, 
which shall include facilitation of the development and use 
of— 
‘‘(1) carbon capture technologies for coal and 
natural gas; 
‘‘(2) innovations to significantly decrease emis-
sions at existing power plants; 
‘‘(3) innovations to significantly decrease emis-
sions in manufacturing and industrial applications, 
including at biofuel facilities; and 
‘‘(4) advanced separation technologies.
380 
‘‘(b) INVESTMENT.—As a part of the program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall maintain robust invest-
ments in carbon capture technologies for coal and natural 
gas applications. 
‘‘(c) LARGE-SCALE PILOTS.—In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary is encouraged to support pilot 
projects that test carbon capture technologies on coal and 
natural gas power and industrial systems below the 100 
megawatt scale, consistent with section 988(b). 
‘‘(d) COST AND PERFORMANCE GOALS.—In carrying 
out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
establish cost and performance goals to assist in the tran-
sition of carbon capture research to commercially viable 
technologies. 
‘‘(e) CARBON CAPTURE PILOT TEST CENTERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As a part of the program 
under subsection (a), not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall award grants to eligible entities for the oper-
ation of not less than three Carbon Capture Test 
Centers (in this subsection, known as the ‘Centers’) 
to provide unique testing capabilities for innovative 
carbon capture technologies for power and industrial 
systems. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—Each Center shall—
381 
‘‘(A) advance research, development, dem-
onstration, and commercial application of car-
bon capture technologies for power and indus-
trial systems; and 
‘‘(B) test technologies that represent the 
scale of technology development beyond labora-
tory testing, but not yet advanced to testing 
under operational conditions at commercial 
scale. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION.—An entity seeking to oper-
ate a Center under this subsection shall submit to 
the Secretary an application at such time and in 
such manner as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(4) 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 with modular technology capa-
bilities; 
‘‘(B) are institutions of higher education 
with established expertise in engineering and 
design for carbon capture technologies, or part-
nerships with such institutions;
382 
‘‘(C) have access to existing research and 
test facilities for pre-combustion, post-combus-
tion, or oxy-combustion technologies; or 
‘‘(D) have test capabilities to address scal-
ing challenges of integrating carbon capture 
technologies with utility scale power plants. 
‘‘(5) CONSIDERATIONS.—In awarding grants 
for the operation of the Centers under this sub-
section, the Secretary shall ensure that— 
‘‘(A) the portfolio of Centers includes a di-
verse representation of regional and resource 
characteristics; and 
‘‘(B) each new Center demonstrates unique 
research capabilities, unique regional benefits, 
or new technology development opportunities. 
‘‘(6) SCHEDULE.—Each grant to operate a 
Center under this subsection shall be awarded for a 
term of not more than 5 years, subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations. The Secretary may renew 
such 5-year term without limit, subject to a rigorous 
merit review. 
‘‘(7) TERMINATION.—To the extent otherwise 
authorized by law, the Secretary may eliminate a 
Center during any 5-year term described in para-
graph (6) if such Center is underperforming.
383 
‘‘(f) DEMONSTRATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As a part of the program 
under subsection (a), the Secretary may provide 
grants for large-scale demonstration projects for 
power and industrial systems that test the scale of 
technology necessary to gain the operational data 
needed to understand the technical and performance 
risks of the technology before the application of the 
technology at commercial scale, in accordance with 
this subsection. 
‘‘(2) ENGINEERING
AND
DESIGN
STUDIES.— 
The Secretary is authorized to fund front-end engi-
neering and design studies in addition to, or in ad-
vance of, issuing an award for a demonstration 
project under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION.—An entity seeking an 
award to conduct a demonstration project under this 
subsection shall submit to the Secretary an applica-
tion at such time and in such manner as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary shall only 
provide an award under this subsection after review-
ing each applicant and application regarding— 
‘‘(A) financial strength; 
‘‘(B) construction schedule;
384 
‘‘(C) market risk; and 
‘‘(D) contractor history. 
‘‘(5) REQUIREMENTS.—A demonstration project 
funded under this subsection shall— 
‘‘(A) utilize technologies that have com-
pleted pilot-scale testing or the equivalent, as 
determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) secure and maintain agreements for 
the utilization or sequestration of captured car-
bon dioxide; and 
‘‘(C) upon completion, demonstrate carbon 
capture technologies on a power or industrial 
system capable of capturing not less than 
100,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITION OF POWER SYSTEM.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘power system’ means any electricity gener-
ating unit that utilizes fossil fuels to generate electricity 
provided to the electric grid or directly to a consumer. 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for ac-
tivities under subsections (a) through (f)— 
‘‘(1) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(2) $315,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(3) $330,750,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(4) $347,288,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
385 
‘‘(5) $364,652,000 for fiscal year 2025. 
‘‘(i) COMMERCIAL DEMONSTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a carbon capture technology commercialization 
program to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, 
cost, and environmental performance of such tech-
nologies for power, industrial, transportation, and 
other commercial applications. Such program shall 
include funding for commercial carbon capture tech-
nology projects for up to five demonstrations of a 
particular technology type. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $1,500,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2021 through 2025.’’. 
(b) GAO STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report 
on the results of a study of the Department’s suc-
cesses, failures, practices, and improvements in car-
rying out demonstration projects for carbon capture
386 
technologies for power and industrial systems. In 
conducting the study, the Comptroller General shall 
consider— 
(A) applicant and contractor qualifications; 
(B) project management practices at the 
Department; 
(C) economic or market changes and other 
factors impacting project viability; 
(D) completion of third-party agreements, 
including power purchase agreements and car-
bon dioxide offtake agreements; 
(E) regulatory challenges; and 
(F) construction challenges. 
(2) CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary shall con-
sider any relevant recommendations, as determined 
by the Secretary, provided in the report required 
under paragraph (1), and shall adopt such rec-
ommendations as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(3) POWER SYSTEM DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘power system’’ means any electricity gen-
erating unit that utilizes fossil fuels to generate elec-
tricity provided to the electric grid or directly to a 
consumer.
387 
SEC. 3104. NATURAL GAS CARBON CAPTURE RESEARCH, 
DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle F of title IX of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 969. NATURAL GAS CARBON CAPTURE RESEARCH, 
DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) NATURAL GAS.—The term ‘natural gas’ 
includes any fuel consisting in whole or in part of— 
‘‘(A) natural gas; 
‘‘(B) liquid petroleum gas; 
‘‘(C) synthetic gas derived from petroleum 
or natural gas liquids; or 
‘‘(D) any mixture of natural gas and syn-
thetic gas. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFYING ELECTRIC GENERATION FA-
CILITY.—The term ‘qualifying electric generation fa-
cility’ means a facility that generates electric energy 
through the use of natural gas or a facility that gen-
erates hydrogen from natural gas. 
‘‘(3) QUALIFYING
TECHNOLOGY.—The term 
‘qualifying technology’ means any technology to cap-
ture carbon dioxide produced during the generation
388 
of electricity from natural gas power systems or dur-
ing the generation of hydrogen from natural gas. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT
OF RESEARCH, DEVELOP-
MENT, AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a program under which the Secretary shall, 
through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, award 
grants to eligible entities to conduct research, devel-
opment, and demonstration of qualifying tech-
nologies. 
‘‘(2) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of the pro-
gram established under paragraph (1) shall be— 
‘‘(A) to conduct research to accelerate the 
development of qualifying technologies to reduce 
the quantity of carbon dioxide emissions re-
leased from qualifying electric generation facili-
ties, including— 
‘‘(i) pre- and post-combustion capture 
technologies; and 
‘‘(ii) technologies to improve the ther-
modynamics, kinetics, scalability, dura-
bility, and flexibility of carbon capture 
technologies for use during the generation 
of electricity from natural gas power sys-
tems;
389 
‘‘(B) to expedite and carry out demonstra-
tion projects (including pilot projects) for quali-
fying technologies in partnership with quali-
fying electric generation facilities in order to 
demonstrate the technical feasibility and eco-
nomic potential for commercial deployment of 
technologies developed pursuant to subpara-
graph (A); and 
‘‘(C) to identify any barriers to the com-
mercial deployment of any qualifying tech-
nologies under development pursuant to re-
search conducted pursuant to subparagraph 
(A). 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— An entity eligible 
to receive a grant under this subsection is— 
‘‘(A) a National Laboratory; 
‘‘(B) an institution of higher education; 
‘‘(C) a research facility; 
‘‘(D) a multi-institutional collaboration; or 
‘‘(E) another appropriate entity or com-
bination of any of the entities specified in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (D). 
‘‘(c) CARBON CAPTURE FACILITIES DEMONSTRATION 
PROGRAM.—
390 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—As part of the pro-
gram established under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall establish a demonstration program under which 
the Secretary shall, through a competitive, merit-re-
viewed process, enter into cooperative agreements 
with entities that submit applications pursuant to 
paragraph (4) for demonstration or pilot projects to 
construct and operate, by not later than September 
30, 2025, up to five facilities to capture carbon diox-
ide from qualifying electric generation facilities. The 
Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
provide technical assistance to any entity seeking to 
enter into such a cooperative agreement in obtaining 
any necessary permits and licenses to demonstrate 
qualifying technologies. 
‘‘(2) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may enter into a cooperative agreement under 
this subsection with industry stakeholders, including 
any such industry stakeholder operating in partner-
ship with National Laboratories, institutions of high-
er education, multi-institutional collaborations, and 
other appropriate entities. 
‘‘(3) GOALS.—Each demonstration or pilot 
project carried out pursuant to the demonstration 
program under this subsection shall—
391 
‘‘(A) be designed to further the develop-
ment of qualifying technologies that may be 
used by a qualifying electric generation facility; 
‘‘(B) be financed in part by the private 
sector; 
‘‘(C) if necessary, secure agreements for 
the offtake of carbon dioxide emissions captured 
by qualifying technologies during the project; 
and 
‘‘(D) support energy production in the 
United States. 
‘‘(4) REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS.—Not later 
than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall solicit applications for coop-
erative agreements for projects— 
‘‘(A) to demonstrate qualifying tech-
nologies at up to five qualifying electric genera-
tion facilities; and 
‘‘(B) to construct and operate three or 
more facilities to capture carbon dioxide from a 
qualifying electric generation facility. 
‘‘(5) REVIEW
OF
APPLICATIONS.—In consid-
ering applications submitted under paragraph (4), 
the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, 
shall—
392 
‘‘(A) ensure a broad geographic distribu-
tion of project sites; 
‘‘(B) ensure that a broad selection of 
qualifying electric generation facilities are rep-
resented; 
‘‘(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 
section 988. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date on which the Secretary solicits applications under 
subsection (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 includes—
393 
‘‘(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 
‘‘(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 pe-
riod 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 con-
structed under that demonstration program;
394 
‘‘(B) a schedule for the planned construc-
tion 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. 
‘‘(f) There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000, to remain 
available until expended, for each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2025.’’. 
(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 re-
lating to section 968 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 969. Natural gas carbon capture research, development, and demonstra-
tion program.’’. 
SEC. 3105. 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, devel-
opment, and demonstration for carbon storage. The pro-
gram shall—
395 
‘‘(1) in coordination with relevant Federal agen-
cies, develop and maintain mapping tools and re-
sources that assess the capacity of geologic storage 
formations in the United States; 
‘‘(2) develop monitoring tools, modeling of geo-
logic formations, and analyses to predict and verify 
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 con-
current with and following injection into geologic 
formations; 
‘‘(7) support cost and business model assess-
ments to examine the economic viability of tech-
nologies and systems developed under this program; 
and
396 
‘‘(8) provide information to State, local, and 
Tribal governments, the Environmental Protection 
Agency, and other appropriate entities, to support 
development of a regulatory framework for commer-
cial-scale sequestration operations that ensure the 
protection of human health and the environment. 
‘‘(b) GEOLOGIC SETTINGS.—In carrying out research 
activities under this section, the Secretary shall consider 
a variety of candidate geologic settings, both onshore and 
offshore, 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.—
397 
‘‘(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 
geologic containment of carbon dioxide. The Sec-
retary may fund new demonstrations or expand the 
work completed at one or more of the existing re-
gional carbon sequestration partnerships. 
‘‘(2) 
DEMONSTRATION
COMPONENTS.—Each 
demonstration described in paragraph (1) shall in-
clude longitudinal tests involving carbon dioxide in-
jection and monitoring, mitigation, and verification 
operations. 
‘‘(3) CLEARINGHOUSE.—The National Energy 
Technology Laboratory shall act as a clearinghouse 
of shared information and resources for the regional 
carbon sequestration partnerships and any new dem-
onstrations funded under this section. 
‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this section, 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—
398 
‘‘(A) assesses the progress of all regional 
carbon sequestration partnerships; 
‘‘(B) identifies the remaining challenges in 
achieving carbon sequestration that is reliable 
and safe for the environment and public health; 
and 
‘‘(C) creates a roadmap for Department of 
Energy carbon storage research and develop-
ment activities through 2030 with the goal of 
reducing economic and policy barriers to com-
mercial carbon sequestration. 
‘‘(5) LARGE-SCALE CARBON SEQUESTRATION.— 
For purposes of this subsection, ‘large-scale carbon 
sequestration’ means a scale that demonstrates the 
ability 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;
399 
‘‘(2) understanding the technical and commer-
cial viability of storage sites; 
‘‘(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.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for ac-
tivities under this section— 
‘‘(1) $620,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(2) $626,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(3) $632,300,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(4) $638,915,000 for fiscal year 2024; and 
‘‘(5) $645,860,750 for fiscal year 2025.’’. 
SEC. 3106. CARBON UTILIZATION. 
(a) PROGRAM.—Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.), as amended 
by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following:
400 
‘‘SEC. 970. 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 
emissions, and other environmental safety indicators 
of new technologies, practices, processes, or meth-
ods, used in enhanced hydrocarbon recovery as part 
of the activities authorized in section 963 of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16293); 
‘‘(2) identify and evaluate novel uses for car-
bon, including the conversion of carbon oxides, in a 
manner that, on a full life-cycle basis, achieves a 
permanent reduction in, or avoidance of a net in-
crease in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, for use 
in commercial 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
401 
‘‘(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 
carbon engineering, carbon fiber, and coal conversion 
methods. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for ac-
tivities under this section— 
‘‘(1) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(2) $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(3) $33,075,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(4) $34,729,000 for fiscal year 2024; and 
‘‘(5) $36,465,000 for fiscal year 2025.’’. 
(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— 
(1) analyze the technical feasibility, related 
challenges, and impacts to commercializing carbon 
dioxide, including—
402 
(A) creating a national system of carbon 
dioxide pipelines and geologic sequestration 
sites; 
(B) mitigating environmental and land-
owner impacts; and 
(C) regional economic challenges and op-
portunities; 
(2) identify potential markets, industries, or 
sectors that may benefit from greater access to com-
mercial carbon dioxide; 
(3) assess the current state of infrastructure 
and any necessary updates to allow for the integra-
tion of safe and reliable carbon dioxide transpor-
tation, utilization, 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, meth-
ane, and biogas) from power generation, biofuels 
production, and other industrial processes that may
403 
be important to minimizing net greenhouse gas 
emissions; 
(6) identify emerging technologies and ap-
proaches for carbon utilization that show promise 
for scale-up, demonstration, deployment, and com-
mercialization relevant to minimizing net greenhouse 
gas emissions; 
(7) analyze the factors associated with making 
carbon utilization technologies that may be impor-
tant to minimizing net greenhouse gas emissions via-
ble at a commercial scale, including carbon waste 
stream availability, economics, market capacity, en-
ergy and lifecycle requirements; 
(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 
engineering 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 for technologies that may be
404 
important to minimizing net greenhouse gas emis-
sions. 
SEC. 3107. ADVANCED ENERGY SYSTEMS. 
Subtitle F of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16291 et seq.), as amended by this Act, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 970A. ADVANCED ENERGY SYSTEMS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a 
program, with the purpose of reducing emissions from fos-
sil fuel power generation by not less than 50 percent, of 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial ap-
plication with respect to the following: 
‘‘(1) High-efficiency turbines in accordance with 
the program under section 970A–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-ef-
ficiency, fuel-flexible, modular power systems, includ-
ing solid oxide fuel cell technology for commercial, 
residential, and distributed generation systems, 
using improved manufacturing production and proc-
esses.
405 
‘‘(5) Gasification systems to enable carbon cap-
ture, improve efficiency, and reduce capital and op-
erating costs. 
‘‘(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 existence on the date of enactment of this section. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for ac-
tivities under this section and section 970A–1— 
‘‘(1) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(2) $157,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(3) $165,375,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(4) $173,643,750 for fiscal year 2024; and 
‘‘(5) $182,325,938 for fiscal year 2025.
406 
‘‘SEC. 970A–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 technology demonstration to improve the efficiency of 
gas turbines used in power generation systems and to 
identify the technologies that ultimately will lead to gas 
turbine combined 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 
utility-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;
407 
‘‘(F) advanced high performance com-
pressor technology; and 
‘‘(G) validation facilities for the testing of 
components and subsystems; 
‘‘(2) include technology demonstration through 
component testing, subscale testing, and full-scale 
testing in existing fleets; 
‘‘(3) include field demonstrations of the devel-
oped technology elements so as to demonstrate tech-
nical and economic feasibility; and 
‘‘(4) assess overall combined cycle and simple 
cycle system performance. 
‘‘(c) PROGRAM GOALS.—The goals of the multiphase 
program established under subsection (a) shall be— 
‘‘(1) in phase I— 
‘‘(A) to develop the conceptual design of 
advanced high efficiency gas turbines that can 
achieve at least 65-percent combined cycle effi-
ciency or 47-percent simple cycle efficiency on 
a lower heating value basis; and 
‘‘(B) to develop and demonstrate the tech-
nology required for advanced high efficiency gas 
turbines that can achieve at least 65-percent 
combined cycle efficiency or 47-percent simple
408 
cycle efficiency on a lower heating value basis; 
and 
‘‘(2) in phase II, to develop the conceptual de-
sign for advanced high efficiency gas turbines that 
can achieve at least 67-percent combined cycle effi-
ciency or 50-percent simple cycle efficiency on a 
lower heating value basis. 
‘‘(d) PROPOSALS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall so-
licit grant and contract proposals from industry, small 
businesses, universities, and other appropriate parties for 
conducting activities under this Act. In selecting pro-
posals, the Secretary shall emphasize— 
‘‘(1) the extent to which the proposal will stim-
ulate 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.
409 
‘‘(g) LIMITS ON PARTICIPATION.—The limits on par-
ticipation applicable under section 999E of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16375) shall apply to finan-
cial assistance awarded under this section.’’. 
SEC. 3108. 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. 970B. RARE EARTH ELEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In coordination with the relevant 
Federal agencies, the Secretary shall conduct research to 
develop and assess methods to separate and recover rare 
earth elements and other strategic minerals and coprod-
ucts from coal and coal byproduct streams. The program 
shall— 
‘‘(1) develop advanced rare earth element sepa-
ration and extraction processes using coal-based re-
sources as feedstock materials; 
‘‘(2) assess the technical and economic feasi-
bility of recovering rare earth elements from coal- 
based resources and validate such feasibility with 
prototype systems producing salable, high-purity 
rare earth elements from coal-based resources; and
410 
‘‘(3) assess and mitigate any environmental and 
public health impacts of recovering rare earth ele-
ments from coal-based resources. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for ac-
tivities under this section— 
‘‘(1) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(2) $24,150,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(3) $25,357,500 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(4) $26,625,375 for fiscal year 2024; and 
‘‘(5) $27,956,644 for fiscal year 2025.’’. 
SEC. 3109. METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AMENDMENTS. 
(a) REPEAL.—Section 2 of the Methane Hydrate Re-
search and Development Act of 2000 (30 U.S.C. 2001) 
is repealed. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT.—Section 4 of the Methane Hy-
drate Research and Development Act of 2000 (30 U.S.C. 
2003) is amended by striking ‘‘and development’’ in each 
place it occurs. 
(c) 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.—
411 
‘‘(1) ASSISTANCE AND COORDINATION.—In car-
rying out the program of methane hydrate research 
authorized by this section, the Secretary may award 
grants, or enter into contracts or cooperative agree-
ments to— 
‘‘(A) conduct research to assess and miti-
gate the environmental impact of natural meth-
ane hydrate degassing; 
‘‘(B) conduct research to identify the envi-
ronmental and health impacts of methane hy-
drate development; 
‘‘(C) assess and develop technologies to 
mitigate environmental impacts of natural 
methane hydrate degassing and to mitigate en-
vironmental impacts of the exploration and 
commercial development of methane hydrates, 
including through the avoidance of the use of 
seismic testing; or 
‘‘(D) expand education and training pro-
grams in methane hydrate research through fel-
lowships or other means for graduate education 
and training. 
‘‘(2) ENVIRONMENTAL
MONITORING
AND
RE-
SEARCH.—
412 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, Sec-
retary of Commerce, and Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall conduct a long-term environmental 
monitoring and research program to study 
methane hydrates. 
‘‘(B) NOTICE
AND
COMMENT.—In devel-
oping a plan for long-term environmental moni-
toring and research under subparagraph (A), 
the Secretaries shall publish in the Federal 
Register a notice providing for an opportunity 
for the public to comment on such plan prior to 
conducting monitoring and research under such 
subparagraph. 
‘‘(3) 
COMPETITIVE
PEER
REVIEW.—Funds 
made available to carry out paragraphs (1) and (2) 
shall be made available based on a competitive proc-
ess using external scientific peer review of proposed 
research.’’. 
(d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.—Section 
4(e) of the Methane Hydrate Research and Development 
Act of 2000 (30 U.S.C. 2003(e)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(e) RESPONSIBILITIES
OF
THE SECRETARY.—In 
carrying out subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall—
413 
‘‘(1) facilitate and develop partnerships among 
government, industrial enterprises, and institutions 
of higher education to research methane hydrates; 
‘‘(2) ensure that the data and information de-
veloped through the program are accessible and 
widely disseminated as needed and appropriate; 
‘‘(3) promote cooperation among agencies that 
are developing technologies that may hold promise 
for methane hydrate research; 
‘‘(4) report annually to Congress on the results 
of actions taken to carry out this chapter; and 
‘‘(5) ensure, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, greater participation by the Department of 
Energy in international cooperative efforts.’’. 
(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 4(e) of 
such Act (30 U.S.C. 2003(e)) is amended in the matter 
preceding paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘subsection (b)(1)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b)’’. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 7 
of such Act (30 U.S.C. 2006) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this Act $15,000,000, to remain avail-
414 
able until expended, for each of fiscal years 2021 through 
2025.’’. 
SEC. 3110. 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. 970C. CARBON REMOVAL. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the appropriate Federal agencies, shall establish 
a research, development, and demonstration program to 
remove 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; 
‘‘(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—
415 
‘‘(1) the activities described in paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of subsection (a), acting through the Assist-
ant Secretary for Fossil Energy; 
‘‘(2) the activities described in subsection 
(a)(3), acting through the Assistant Secretary for 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the 
Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy; 
‘‘(3) the activities described in subsection 
(a)(4), acting through the Assistant Secretary for 
Fossil Energy in consultation with the Secretary of 
Agriculture; and 
‘‘(4) the activities described in subsection 
(a)(5), acting through the Assistant Secretary for 
Fossil Energy in consultation with the Secretary of 
Agriculture. 
‘‘(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—The program under this 
section shall identify and develop carbon removal tech-
nologies 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.
416 
‘‘(6) Potential for carbon reductions on a 
gigaton scale. 
‘‘(7) Economic co-benefits. 
‘‘(d) ACCOUNTING.—The Department shall collabo-
rate with the Environmental Protection Agency and other 
relevant agencies to develop and improve accounting 
frameworks and tools to accurately measure carbon re-
moval 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 Ste-
venson-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
417 
‘‘(C) monitoring and verification proce-
dures 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 
required to qualify for a prize award; and 
‘‘(3) offer prize awards for any of the following: 
‘‘(A) A design for a promising capture 
technology 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 demonstra-
tion of a capture technology. 
‘‘(f) COMMERCIAL DIRECT AIR CAPTURE PRIZE.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) QUALIFIED CARBON DIOXIDE.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘quali-
fied carbon dioxide’ means any carbon di-
oxide that— 
‘‘(I) is captured directly from the 
ambient air; and
418 
‘‘(II) is measured at the source 
of capture and verified at the point of 
disposal, injection, or utilization. 
‘‘(ii) INCLUSION.—The term ‘qualified 
carbon dioxide’ includes the initial deposit 
of captured carbon dioxide used as a ter-
tiary injectant. 
‘‘(iii) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘quali-
fied carbon dioxide’ does not include car-
bon dioxide that is recaptured, recycled, 
and reinjected as part of the enhanced oil 
and natural gas recovery process. 
‘‘(B) QUALIFIED DIRECT AIR CAPTURE FA-
CILITY.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), the term ‘qualified direct air capture 
facility’ means any facility that— 
‘‘(I) uses carbon capture equip-
ment to capture carbon dioxide di-
rectly from the ambient air; and 
‘‘(II) captures more than 10,000 
metric tons of qualified carbon dioxide 
annually. 
‘‘(ii) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘quali-
fied direct air capture facility’ does not in-
419 
clude any facility that captures carbon di-
oxide— 
‘‘(I) that is deliberately released 
from naturally occurring subsurface 
springs; or 
‘‘(II) using natural photosyn-
thesis. 
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, shall establish a 
commercial direct air capture prize designed to sig-
nificantly reward commercial applications of direct 
air capture technologies. 
‘‘(3) COMMERCIAL DIRECT AIR CAPTURE PRIZE 
PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) AWARDS.—Under the prize program, 
the Secretary shall provide financial awards in 
a competitive setting equally for each ton of 
qualified carbon dioxide captured by a qualified 
direct air capture facility until appropriated 
funds are expended. The prize per metric ton 
shall not exceed—
420 
‘‘(i) $180 for qualified carbon dioxide 
captured and stored in saline storage for-
mations; 
‘‘(ii) a lesser amount as determined by 
the Secretary for qualified carbon dioxide 
captured and stored in conjunction with 
enhanced oil recovery operations; or 
‘‘(iii) a lesser amount as determined 
by the Secretary for qualified carbon diox-
ide captured and utilized in any activity 
consistent with section 45Q(f)(5) of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(i) REQUIREMENTS.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Administrator, in consultation 
with the Secretary, shall submit require-
ments for qualifying metric tons of carbon 
dioxide. In carrying out this clause, the 
Administrator shall develop specific re-
quirements for— 
‘‘(I) the process of applying for 
prizes; and 
‘‘(II) the demonstration of per-
formance of approved projects.
421 
‘‘(ii) DETERMINATION.—For purposes 
of determining the amount of metric tons 
of qualified carbon dioxide eligible for 
prizes under clause (i), the amount shall be 
equal to the net metric tons of carbon di-
oxide removal demonstrated by the recipi-
ent, subject to the requirements set forth 
by the Administrator under such clause. 
‘‘(C) SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT.—The Sec-
retary shall award prizes on an annual basis to 
qualified direct air capture facilities for metric 
tons of qualified carbon dioxide captured and 
verified at the point of disposal, injection, or 
utilization. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $200,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
years 2021 through 2025, and $400,000,000 for the 
period of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain 
available until expended. 
‘‘(g) DIRECT AIR CAPTURE TEST CENTER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall award grants to one or more eligible entities 
for the operation of one or more test centers (in this
422 
subsection, 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; 
‘‘(B) support pilot plant and full-scale 
demonstration projects and test technologies 
that represent the scale of technology develop-
ment beyond laboratory testing but not yet ad-
vanced 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-
423 
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 
Center under this subsection shall be awarded for a 
term of not more than 5 years, subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations. The Secretary may renew 
such 5-year term without limit, subject to a rigorous 
merit review. 
‘‘(5) TERMINATION.—To the extent otherwise 
authorized by law, the Secretary may eliminate the 
center during any 5-year term described in the last 
paragraph if it is underperforming. 
‘‘(h) 
LARGE-SCALE
PILOTS
AND
DEMONSTRA-
TIONS.—In supporting the technology development activi-
ties under this section, the Secretary is encouraged to sup-
port carbon removal pilot and demonstration projects, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(1) pilot projects that test direct air capture 
systems capable of capturing 10 to 100 tonnes of 
carbon oxides per year to provide data for dem-
onstration-scale projects; and
424 
‘‘(2) direct air capture demonstration projects 
capable of capturing greater than 1,000 tonnes of 
carbon oxides per year. 
‘‘(i) 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. 
‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for ac-
tivities under this section— 
‘‘(1) $275,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, of 
which $15,000,000 are authorized to carry out sub-
section (e) and of which $200,000,000 are author-
ized to carry out subsection (f); 
‘‘(2) $263,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, of 
which $200,000,000 are authorized to carry out sub-
section (f); 
‘‘(3) $266,150,000 for fiscal year 2023, of 
which $200,000,000 are authorized to carry out sub-
section (f); 
‘‘(4) $269,458,000 for fiscal year 2024, of 
which $200,000,000 are authorized to carry out sub-
section (f); and
425 
‘‘(5) $272,930,000 for fiscal year 2025, of 
which $200,000,000 are authorized to carry out sub-
section (f).’’. 
SEC. 3111. 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. 970D. 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 mitiga-
tion research, development, demonstration, and commer-
cial application for technologies and methods that signifi-
cantly reduce 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— 
‘‘(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
426 
‘‘(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, 
construction, 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 
methane leaks; and 
‘‘(5) in collaboration with private entities and 
institutions of higher education, quantify and map 
significant geologic methane seeps across the United 
States.
427 
‘‘(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the pro-
gram under this section, the Secretary shall consider the 
following: 
‘‘(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 (includ-
ing casing, cement, wellhead). 
‘‘(5) Regional geologic traits. 
‘‘(6) Induced and natural seismicity. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for ac-
tivities under this section— 
‘‘(1) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(2) $23,100,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(3) $24,255,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(4) $25,467,750 for fiscal year 2024; and 
‘‘(5) $26,741,138 for fiscal year 2025.’’. 
SEC. 3112. 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:
428 
‘‘SEC. 970E. 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, 
butane, 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 
program.’’. 
SEC. 3113. NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY 
REFORMS. 
(a) SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITY FOR SCIENTIFIC, 
ENGINEERING, 
AND
PROJECT
MANAGEMENT
PER-
SONNEL.—
429 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Energy Technology Laboratory shall have the au-
thority 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 en-
gineering 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 ex-
ceed 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 sub-
section for any 12-month period shall not ex-
ceed the least of— 
(i) $25,000; 
(ii) the amount equal to 25 percent of 
the annual rate of basic pay of that em-
ployee; and
430 
(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 Na-
tional Energy Technology Laboratory at any 
given time. 
(b) DISCRETIONARY
RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOP-
MENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
mechanisms under which the Director of the Na-
tional 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 
Laboratory for the following purposes: 
(A) To fund innovative research that is 
conducted at the Laboratory and supports the 
mission of the Department.
431 
(B) To fund technology development pro-
grams that support the transition of tech-
nologies developed by the Laboratory into the 
commercial market. 
(C) To fund workforce development activi-
ties to strengthen external engineering and 
manufacturing partnerships to ensure safe, effi-
cient, productive, and useful fossil energy tech-
nology production. 
(D) To fund the revitalization, recapitaliza-
tion, or minor construction of the Laboratory 
infrastructure. 
(2) 
PRIORITIZATION.—The 
Director 
shall 
prioritize innovative experiments and proposals pro-
posed by scientists and researchers at the National 
Energy Technology Laboratory. 
(3) ANNUAL REPORT ON USE OF AUTHORITY.— 
Not later than March 1 of each year, the Secretary 
shall submit 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 on the use of the authority 
under this subsection during the preceding fiscal 
year.
432 
(c) LABORATORY OPERATIONS.—The Secretary shall 
delegate human resources operations of the National En-
ergy Technology Laboratory to the Director of the Na-
tional Energy Technology Laboratory. 
(d) REVIEW.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 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 assessing 
the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s manage-
ment and research. The report shall include— 
(1) an assessment of the quality of science and 
research at the National Energy Technology Labora-
tory relative to similar work at other national lab-
oratories; 
(2) a review of the effectiveness of authorities 
provided in subsections (a) and (b); and 
(3) recommendations for policy changes within 
the Department and legislative changes to provide 
the National Energy Technology Laboratory the nec-
essary tools and resources to advance its research 
mission. 
SEC. 3114. CLIMATE SOLUTIONS CHALLENGES. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy
433 
shall establish a program to be known as ‘‘Fossil Energy 
Climate Solutions Challenges’’ for carrying out prize com-
petitions described under subsection (d) pursuant to sec-
tion 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) relating to the climate and 
energy. 
(b) PRIZE COMMITTEES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall assem-
ble a prize committee that shall define the scope and 
detail of, and provide the requirements for, the prize 
competitions under this section. Such committee 
may be composed of— 
(A) members from the Office of Fossil En-
ergy, Advanced Research Projects Energy, Of-
fice of Technology Transitions, or other offices 
that most appropriately corresponds with the 
topic of the prize competition; and 
(B) representatives of any other entities, 
as determined appropriate by the Secretary, in-
cluding other Federal agencies, State and local 
governments, and the private sector. 
(2) DEFINING TOPIC AREAS.—The prize com-
mittee may modify and define the scope of the prize 
areas described under subsection (c), so long as such
434 
modification is in accordance with descriptions in 
such subsection. 
(3) INCENTIVE FOR PRIZE COMPETITION.—The 
prize committee for each prize competition shall de-
termine the incentive for the prize competition. In 
determining the incentive, the committee shall con-
sider— 
(A) a cash prize; 
(B) access to Government facilities, such 
as through a lab-embedded entrepreneurship 
program of the Department of Energy, a coop-
erative research and development agreement, or 
other method; 
(C) advance market commitments for tech-
nologies of use or promise to the Federal Gov-
ernment; and 
(D) any other incentive provided for by 
law. 
(4) JUDGING CRITERIA.—The prize committee 
for each prize competition shall establish judging cri-
teria for the competition that shall include, at a min-
imum— 
(A) potential for the solution to become a 
commercial product or service or advance 
knowledge to further the public good;
435 
(B) consideration of how likely the solution 
is to lead to subsequent research, development, 
deployment, or manufacturing in the United 
States; 
(C) the degree to which the solution will 
lower the climate footprint of the United States; 
and 
(D) the degree to which the solution will 
lower the global climate footprint. 
(5) CONSIDERATION.—In carrying out this sec-
tion, the committee shall take into consideration the 
best practices provided for in the challenges and 
prizes toolkit made publicly available on December 
15, 2016, by the General Services Administration. 
(c) PRIZE COMPETITIONS.—In carrying out the pro-
gram, the Secretary shall offer prize awards for any of 
the following: 
(1) Solutions to capture carbon emissions from 
sources that would otherwise be emitted to the at-
mosphere. 
(2) Solutions to convert carbon emissions to a 
beneficial use that does not result in near-term re- 
release into the atmosphere, unless such re-release 
offsets the emission of additional carbon into the at-
mosphere, such that the net effect of the solution is
436 
to reduce the overall amount of carbon being emitted 
to the atmosphere. 
(3) Other solutions that have potential to 
achieve reduction in greenhouse gas emissions asso-
ciated with fossil-based energy production. 
(d) ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS.—In addition to such 
sums as may be appropriated or otherwise made available 
to the Secretary to award prizes under this section, the 
Secretary may accept funds from other Federal agencies, 
private sector entities, and State and local governments 
to award prizes under this section. The Secretary may not 
give any special consideration relating to the selection of 
awards under the prize competition to any private sector 
entity or individual in return for a donation to the Sec-
retary or prize committee. 
(e) ELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding section 24(g)(3) 
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719(g)(3)), a group may be eligible for 
an award under this section if one or more members of 
such group is a citizen or permanent resident of the 
United States. 
(f) COMPLETION
OF PRIZE COMPETITIONS.—The 
prize competitions carried out under this section shall be 
completed not later than the date that is 5 years after 
the program is established under subsection (a).
437 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 to carry out 
this section, to remain available until expended. 
SEC. 3115. CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL TASK FORCE AND 
REPORT. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), in consulta-
tion with the head of any other relevant Federal agency, 
shall prepare a report that— 
(1) estimates the magnitude of excess carbon 
dioxide in the atmosphere that will need to be re-
moved by 2050 to achieve net-zero emissions and 
stabilize the climate; 
(2) inventories current and emerging ap-
proaches of carbon dioxide removal and evaluates 
the advantages and disadvantages of each such ap-
proach; and 
(3) identifies recommendations for legislation, 
funding, rules, revisions to rules, financing mecha-
nisms, or other policy tools that the Federal Govern-
ment can use to sufficiently advance the deployment 
of carbon dioxide removal projects in order to meet, 
in the aggregate, the magnitude of needed removals
438 
estimated under paragraph (1), including policy 
tools such as— 
(A) grants; 
(B) loans or loan guarantees; 
(C) public-private partnerships; 
(D) direct procurement; 
(E) incentives, including subsidized Fed-
eral financing mechanisms available to project 
developers; 
(F) advance market commitments; 
(G) regulations; and 
(H) and any other policy mechanism deter-
mined by the Secretary to be beneficial for ad-
vancing carbon dioxide removal methods and 
the deployment of carbon dioxide removal 
projects. 
(b) SUBMISSION; PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall 
submit the report prepared under subsection (a) to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives, and as soon as practicable, 
make the report publicly available. 
(c) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) not later than 2 years after the publication 
of the report under subsection (a), and every 2 years
439 
thereafter, evaluate the findings and recommenda-
tions of the report, taking into consideration any 
issues and recommendations identified by the task 
force established under subsection (d); and 
(2) after each evaluation under paragraph (1), 
revise the report as necessary and submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate and the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives an updated 
report. 
(d) TASK FORCE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES.—Not later 
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall establish a task force to— 
(A) identify barriers to advancement of 
carbon dioxide removal methods and the deploy-
ment of carbon dioxide removal projects; 
(B) inventory existing or potential Federal 
legislation, rules, revisions to rules, financing 
mechanisms, or other policy tools that are capa-
ble of advancing carbon dioxide removal meth-
ods and the deployment of carbon dioxide re-
moval projects; 
(C) assist in drafting the report described 
in subsection (a) and any updates thereto; and
440 
(D) advise the Secretary on matters per-
taining to carbon dioxide removal. 
(2) MEMBERS AND SELECTION.—The Secretary 
shall— 
(A) develop criteria for the selection of 
members to the task force; and 
(B) select members for the task force in 
accordance with the criteria developed under 
subparagraph (A). 
(3) MEETINGS.—The task force shall meet not 
less than once each year. 
(4) EVALUATION.—Not later than 7 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall— 
(A) reevaluate the need for the task force; 
and 
(B) submit to Congress a recommendation 
as to whether the task force should continue. 
(e) CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL DEFINITION.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘carbon dioxide removal’’ means the 
capture of carbon dioxide directly from ambient air or, in 
dissolved form, from seawater, combined with the seques-
tration of such carbon dioxide, including through direct 
air capture and sequestration, enhanced carbon min-
eralization, bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestra-
441 
tion, forest restoration, soil carbon management, and di-
rect ocean capture. 
SEC. 3116. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES STUDY ON 
CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall 
enter into an agreement with the National Academy of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study 
evaluating the efficacy of carbon capture and storage tech-
nology by industry in reducing emissions and the cost-ef-
fectiveness of such technologies. Such study shall include 
a description of the following: 
(1) Analysis of the effectiveness of emissions re-
ductions and cost through implementation of carbon 
capture as compared to transitioning to other low- 
emissions technologies. 
(2) Differences in performance of various car-
bon capture technologies and storage methods, in-
cluding the net amount of carbon dioxide that can 
be permanently sequestered, the cost (in terms of 
dollar per ton captured/sequestered) of each tech-
nology, and the potential to increase the net amount 
of carbon dioxide captured/sequestered and lower 
operational costs. 
(3) Barriers, in terms of cost, infrastructure, 
geology, aquifers, and markets, to ensuring perma-
442 
nent carbon storage including both point of source 
capture and removal from the atmosphere of cap-
tured carbon dioxide. 
(4) Analysis of the lifecycle emissions associated 
with carbon capture technologies, including construc-
tion and operation of the carbon capture technology, 
as well as transport, processing, and injection of car-
bon dioxide, including the permanence of carbon 
storage and sequestration, and strategies to reduce 
those emissions. This should include the amount of 
carbon dioxide emitted from a facility outfitted with 
carbon capture technologies that is permanently se-
questered compared to the amount of carbon dioxide 
emitted by the carbon capture process itself. 
(5) Evaluation of the impact of carbon capture 
technologies on air pollution, including particulate 
emissions and ozone precursors, with specific anal-
ysis on the impacts on communities historically over-
burdened with pollution, including rural commu-
nities. 
(b) REPORT.—The agreement under subsection (a) 
shall specify that, not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the National Academy of Sciences 
shall submit to Congress a report containing the results 
and findings of study authorized under this section.
443 
SEC. 3117. STUDY ON BLUE HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Energy shall conduct 
a study to examine opportunities for research and develop-
ment in integrating blue hydrogen technology in the indus-
trial power sector and how that could enhance the deploy-
ment and adoption of carbon capture and storage. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 
a report that describes the results of the study under sub-
section (a). 
Subtitle B—Controlling Methane 
Leaks 
SEC. 3201. IMPROVING THE NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION 
SYSTEM. 
(a) PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Energy shall estab-
lish a grant program to provide financial assistance to 
States to offset the incremental rate increases paid by low- 
income households resulting from the implementation of 
infrastructure replacement, repair, and maintenance pro-
grams that are approved by the rate-setting entity and de-
signed to accelerate the necessary replacement, repair, or 
maintenance of natural gas distribution systems.
444 
(b) DATE OF ELIGIBILITY.—Awards may be provided 
under this section to offset rate increases described in sub-
section (a) occurring on or after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(c) PRIORITIZATION.—The Secretary shall collabo-
rate with States to prioritize the distribution of grants 
made under this section. At a minimum, the Secretary 
shall consider prioritizing the distribution of grants to 
States which have— 
(1) authorized or adopted enhanced infrastruc-
ture replacement programs or innovative rate recov-
ery mechanisms, such as infrastructure cost trackers 
and riders, infrastructure base rate surcharges, de-
ferred regulatory asset programs, and earnings sta-
bility mechanisms; and 
(2) a viable means for delivering financial as-
sistance to low-income households. 
(d) AUDITING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
The Secretary shall establish auditing and reporting re-
quirements for States with respect to the performance of 
eligible projects funded pursuant to grants awarded under 
this section. 
(e) PREVAILING WAGES.—All laborers and mechanics 
employed by contractors or subcontractors in the perform-
ance of construction, alteration, or repair work assisted,
445 
in whole or in part, by a grant under this section shall 
be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on 
similar construction in the locality as determined by the 
Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of 
chapter 31 of title 40. With respect to the labor standards 
in this subsection, the Secretary of Labor shall have the 
authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan 
Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and 
section 3145 of title 40. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) INNOVATIVE
RATE
RECOVERY
MECHA-
NISMS.—The term ‘‘innovative rate recovery mecha-
nisms’’ means rate structures that allow State public 
utility commissions to modify tariffs and recover 
costs of investments in utility replacement incurred 
between rate cases. 
(2) 
LOW-INCOME
HOUSEHOLD.—The 
term 
‘‘low-income household’’ means a household that is 
eligible to receive payments under section 2605(b)(2) 
of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 
1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)). 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $250,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2025.
446 
Subtitle C—Eminent Domain 
Reform 
SEC. 3301. MODIFICATIONS TO EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT OF 
EMINENT DOMAIN BY HOLDER OF A CERTIFI-
CATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECES-
SITY. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Section 7(h) of the Natural Gas 
Act (15 U.S.C. 717f(h)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘When any holder’’ and insert-
ing the following: ‘‘ (1) Subject to paragraph (2), 
when any holder’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) A holder of a certificate of public convenience 
and necessity may not exercise the right of eminent do-
main under paragraph (1) unless the holder— 
‘‘(A) obtains all Federal and State permits re-
quired by law for the construction and operation of 
pipeline facilities; 
‘‘(B) complies with all environmental conditions 
appended to the certificate order; and 
‘‘(C) is in compliance with subsection (i)(2). 
‘‘(3) A holder of a certificate of public convenience 
and necessity shall be suspended from the exercise of the 
right of eminent domain under paragraph (1)—
447 
‘‘(A) if the holder requests a material amend-
ment to the certificate, until such time as the condi-
tions in paragraph (4) are satisfied; or 
‘‘(B) if a Federal or State permit held by the 
holder is vacated or remanded, until such time as— 
‘‘(i) all vacated or remanded permits are 
reinstated or reissued to the holder; and 
‘‘(ii) the holder complies with all environ-
mental conditions appended to the certificate 
order. 
‘‘(4) A holder of a certificate of public convenience 
and necessity who requests a material amendment to the 
certificate and has the exercise of the right of eminent do-
main suspended under paragraph (3)(A) may not com-
mence a new action or proceeding to exercise the right 
of eminent domain under paragraph (1) until such time 
as— 
‘‘(A) the Commission issues an amended certifi-
cate of public convenience and necessity; and 
‘‘(B) the holder— 
‘‘(i) obtains all additional Federal and 
State permits required by law pursuant to the 
amended certificate; and
448 
‘‘(ii) complies with all environmental condi-
tions appended to the amended certificate 
order.’’. 
(b) ACCESS FOR SURVEYS.—Section 7 of the Natural 
Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717f) is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(i)(1) For purposes of subsection (h), the exercise 
of the right of eminent domain does not include accessing 
property for purposes of surveying prior to acquiring the 
property, except in accordance with paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) If a holder of a certificate of public convenience 
and necessity is unable to agree with the owner of property 
on access to the property for purposes of surveying, the 
holder shall enter into the dispute resolution process of 
the Commission. If dispute resolution fails, or if the prop-
erty owner refuses to participate in such process, the Com-
mission may, upon a showing by the holder of documented 
repeated, good faith efforts to work with the property 
owner to agree on such access, issue an order declaring 
that, upon a court order, for purposes of the relevant cer-
tificate and with respect to the relevant property, the exer-
cise of the right of eminent domain under subsection (h) 
includes accessing the property, in a limited, non-land-dis-
turbing manner, for purposes of surveying prior to acquir-
ing the property.’’.
449 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this subtitle shall apply— 
(1) to any action or proceeding for eminent do-
main under section 7(h)(1) of the Natural Gas Act, 
as amended by this subtitle, commencing on or after 
the date of enactment of this Act; and 
(2) to any request for a material amendment to 
a certificate of public convenience and necessity oc-
curring on or after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
Subtitle D—Climate Smart Ports 
SEC. 3401. CLIMATE SMART PORTS GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator 
shall establish a program to award grants to eligible enti-
ties to purchase, and as applicable install, zero emissions 
port equipment and technology. 
(b) USE OF GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity may use a 
grant awarded under this section to purchase, and 
as applicable install, zero emissions port equipment 
and technology. 
(2) PROHIBITED USE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity may 
not use a grant awarded under this section to
450 
purchase or install fully automated cargo han-
dling equipment or terminal infrastructure that 
is designed for fully automated cargo handling 
equipment. 
(B) HUMAN-OPERATED
ZERO
EMISSIONS 
PORT EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY.—Nothing 
in subparagraph (A) prohibits an eligible entity 
from using a grant awarded under this section 
to purchase human-operated zero emissions 
port equipment and technology or infrastruc-
ture that supports such human-operated zero 
emissions port equipment and technology. 
(3) COST SHARE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), an eligible entity may not 
use a grant awarded under this section to cover 
more than 70 percent of the cost of purchasing, 
and as applicable installing, zero emissions port 
equipment and technology. 
(B) CERTAIN GRANTS.—With respect to a 
grant in an amount equal to or greater than 
$3,000,000, an eligible entity may use such 
grant to cover not more than 85 percent of the 
cost of purchasing and installing zero emissions
451 
port equipment and technology if such eligible 
entity certifies to the Administrator that— 
(i) such grant will be used, at least in 
part, to employ laborers or mechanics to 
install zero emissions port equipment and 
technology; and 
(ii) such eligible entity is a party to a 
project labor agreement or requires that 
each subgrantee of such eligible entity, and 
any subgrantee thereof at any tier, that 
performs such installation participate in a 
project labor agreement. 
(4) PROJECT LABOR.—An eligible entity that 
uses a grant awarded under this section to install 
zero emissions port equipment and technology shall 
ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that any 
subgrantee of such eligible entity, and any sub-
grantee thereof at any tier, that carries out such in-
stallation employs laborers or mechanics for such in-
stallation that— 
(A) are domiciled not further than 50 
miles from such installation; 
(B) are members of the Armed Forces 
serving on active duty, separated from active 
duty, or retired from active duty;
452 
(C) have been incarcerated or served time 
in a juvenile detention facility; or 
(D) have a disability. 
(c) WAGES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—All laborers and mechanics 
employed by a subgrantee of an eligible entity, and 
any subgrantee thereof at any tier, to perform con-
struction, alteration, installation, or repair work that 
is assisted, in whole or in part, by a grant awarded 
under this section shall be paid wages at rates not 
less than those prevailing on similar construction, al-
teration, installation, or repair work in the locality 
as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accord-
ance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, 
United States Code. 
(2) LABOR STANDARDS.—With respect to the 
labor standards in this subsection, the Secretary of 
Labor shall have the authority and functions set 
forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 
(64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of 
title 40, United States Code. 
(d) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to be awarded 
a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall 
submit to the Administrator an application at such
453 
time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Administrator may require. 
(2) 
PRIORITY.—The 
Administrator 
shall 
prioritize awarding grants under this section to eligi-
ble entities based on the following: 
(A) The degree to which the proposed use 
of the grant will— 
(i) reduce greenhouse gas emissions; 
(ii) reduce emissions of any criteria 
pollutant and precursor thereof; 
(iii) reduce hazardous air pollutant 
emissions; and 
(iv) reduce public health disparities in 
communities that receive a dispropor-
tionate quantity of air pollution from a 
port. 
(B) The amount of matching, non-Federal 
funds expected to be used by an applicant to 
purchase, and as applicable install, zero emis-
sions port equipment and technology. 
(C) Whether the applicant will use such 
grant to purchase, and as applicable install, 
zero emissions port equipment and technology 
that is produced in the United States.
454 
(D) As applicable, whether the applicant 
will meet the utilization requirements for reg-
istered apprentices established by the Secretary 
of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. 
(E) As applicable, whether the applicant 
will recruit and retain skilled workers through 
a State-approved joint labor management ap-
prenticeship program. 
(e) OUTREACH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
funds are made available to carry out this section, 
the Administrator shall develop and carry out an 
educational outreach program to promote and ex-
plain the grant program established under sub-
section (a) to prospective grant recipients. 
(2) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—In carrying out 
the outreach program developed under paragraph 
(1), the Administrator shall— 
(A) inform prospective grant recipients 
how to apply for a grant awarded under this 
section; 
(B) describe to prospective grant recipients 
the benefits of available zero emissions port 
equipment and technology;
455 
(C) explain to prospective grant recipients 
the benefits of participating in the grant pro-
gram established under this section; and 
(D) facilitate the sharing of best practices 
and lessons learned between grant recipients 
and prospective grant recipients with respect to 
how to apply for and use grants awarded under 
this section. 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) REPORT
TO
ADMINISTRATOR.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date on which an eligible en-
tity uses a grant awarded under this section, such 
eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator a re-
port containing such information as the Adminis-
trator shall require. 
(2) ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later 
than January 31, 2021, and annually thereafter, the 
Administrator shall submit to Congress and make 
available on the website of the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency a report that includes, with respect 
to each grant awarded under this section during the 
preceding calendar year— 
(A) the name and location of the eligible 
entity that was awarded such grant;
456 
(B) the amount of such grant that the eli-
gible entity was awarded; 
(C) the name and location of the port 
where the zero emissions port equipment and 
technology that was purchased, and as applica-
ble installed, with such grant is used; 
(D) an estimate of the impact of such zero 
emissions port equipment and technology on re-
ducing— 
(i) greenhouse gas emissions; 
(ii) emissions of criteria pollutants 
and precursors thereof; 
(iii) hazardous air pollutant emissions; 
and 
(iv) public health disparities; and 
(E) any other information the Adminis-
trator determines necessary to understand the 
impact of grants awarded under this section. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated 
to 
carry 
out 
this 
section 
$1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2030. 
(2) NONATTAINMENT
AREAS.—To the extent 
practicable, at least 25 percent of amounts made
457 
available to carry out this section in each fiscal year 
shall be used to award grants to eligible entities to 
provide zero emissions port equipment and tech-
nology to ports that are in nonattainment areas. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ACTIVE DUTY.— The term ‘‘active duty’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 101 of 
title 10, United States Code. 
(2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(3) ALTERNATIVE EMISSIONS CONTROL TECH-
NOLOGY.—The term ‘‘alternative emissions control 
technology’’ means a technology, technique, or meas-
ure that— 
(A) captures the emissions of nitrogen 
oxide, particulate matter, reactive organic com-
pounds, and greenhouse gases from the auxil-
iary engine and auxiliary boiler of an ocean- 
going vessel at berth; 
(B) is verified or approved by a State or 
Federal air quality regulatory agency; 
(C) the use of which achieves at least the 
equivalent reduction of emissions as the use of 
shore power for an ocean-going vessel at berth;
458 
(D) the use of which results in reducing 
emissions of the auxiliary engine of an ocean- 
going vessel at berth to a rate of less than— 
(i) 2.8 g/kW-hr for nitrogen oxide; 
(ii) 0.03 g/kW-hr for particulate mat-
ter 2.5; and 
(iii) 0.1 g/kW-hr for reactive organic 
compounds; and 
(E) reduces the emissions of the auxiliary 
engine and boiler of an ocean-going vessel at 
berth by at least 80 percent of the default emis-
sions rate, which is 13.8 g. 
(4) CRITERIA POLLUTANT.—The term ‘‘criteria 
pollutant’’ means each of the following: 
(A) Ground-level ozone. 
(B) Particulate matter. 
(C) Carbon monoxide. 
(D) Lead. 
(E) Sulfur dioxide. 
(F) Nitrogen dioxide. 
(5) DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘distributed 
energy resource’’ means an energy resource 
that—
459 
(i) is located on or near a customer 
site; 
(ii) is operated on the customer side 
of the electric meter; and 
(iii) is interconnected with the electric 
grid. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘distributed 
energy resource’’ includes— 
(i) clean electric generation; 
(ii) customer electric efficiency meas-
ures; 
(iii) electric demand flexibility; and 
(iv) energy storage. 
(6) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a port authority; 
(B) a State, regional, local, or Tribal agen-
cy that has jurisdiction over a port authority or 
a port; 
(C) an air pollution control district or air 
quality management district; or 
(D) a private or nonprofit entity, applying 
for a grant awarded under this section in col-
laboration with another entity described in sub-
460 
paragraphs (A) through (C), that owns or uses 
cargo or transportation equipment at a port. 
(7) ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘en-
ergy storage system’’ means a system, equipment, 
facility, or technology that— 
(A) is capable of absorbing energy, storing 
energy for a period of time, and dispatching the 
stored energy; and 
(B) uses a mechanical, electrical, chemical, 
electrochemical, or thermal process to store en-
ergy that— 
(i) was generated at an earlier time 
for use at a later time; or 
(ii) was generated from a mechanical 
process, and would otherwise be wasted, 
for delivery at a later time. 
(8) FULLY
AUTOMATED
CARGO
HANDLING 
EQUIPMENT.—The term ‘‘fully automated cargo 
handling equipment’’ means cargo handling equip-
ment that— 
(A) is remotely operated or remotely mon-
itored; and 
(B) with respect to the use of such equip-
ment, does not require the exercise of human 
intervention or control.
461 
(9) NONATTAINMENT AREA.—The term ‘‘non-
attainment area’’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 171 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 
7501). 
(10) PORT.—The term ‘‘port’’ includes a mari-
time port and an inland port. 
(11) PORT AUTHORITY.—The term ‘‘port au-
thority’’ means a governmental or quasi-govern-
mental authority formed by a legislative body to op-
erate a port. 
(12) PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT.—The term 
‘‘project labor agreement’’ means a pre-hire collec-
tive bargaining agreement with one or more labor 
organization that establishes the terms and condi-
tions of employment for a specific construction 
project and is described in section 8(f) of the Na-
tional Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 158(f)). 
(13) REGISTERED
APPRENTICE.—The term 
‘‘registered apprentice’’ means a person who is par-
ticipating in a registered apprenticeship program. 
(14) 
REGISTERED
APPRENTICESHIP
PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘‘registered apprenticeship pro-
gram’’ means a program registered pursuant to the 
Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the
462 
‘‘National Apprenticeship Act’’; 50 Stat. 664, chap-
ter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.). 
(15) SHORE POWER.—The term ‘‘shore power’’ 
means the provision of shoreside electrical power to 
a ship at berth that has shut down main and auxil-
iary engines. 
(16) STATE
APPRENTICESHIP
AGENCY.—The 
term ‘‘State Apprenticeship Agency’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 29.2 of title 29, Code 
of Federal Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 
2020). 
(17) ZERO EMISSIONS PORT EQUIPMENT AND 
TECHNOLOGY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘zero emis-
sions port equipment and technology’’ means 
equipment and technology, including the equip-
ment and technology described in subparagraph 
(B), that— 
(i) is used at a port; and 
(ii) (I) produces zero exhaust emis-
sions of— 
(aa) any criteria pollutant 
and precursor thereof; and 
(bb) any greenhouse gas, 
other than water vapor; or
463 
(II) captures 100 percent of the 
exhaust emissions produced by an 
ocean-going vessel at berth. 
(B) EQUIPMENT
AND
TECHNOLOGY
DE-
SCRIBED.—The equipment and technology de-
scribed in this subparagraph is the following: 
(i) Any equipment that handles cargo. 
(ii) A drayage truck that transports 
cargo. 
(iii) A train that transports cargo. 
(iv) Port harbor craft. 
(v) A distributed energy resource. 
(vi) An energy storage system. 
(vii) Electrical charging infrastruc-
ture. 
(viii) Shore power or an alternative 
emissions control technology. 
(ix) An electric transport refrigeration 
unit.
464 
Subtitle 
E—Interagency 
Task 
Force on Short-Lived Climate 
Pollutant Mitigation 
SEC. 3501. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON SHORT-LIVED 
CLIMATE POLLUTANT MITIGATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall es-
tablish a task force, to be known as the Interagency Task 
Force on Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Mitigation. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The members of the Task Force 
shall include the head (or a designee thereof) of each of— 
(1) the Department of Agriculture; 
(2) the Department of Commerce; 
(3) the Department of Defense; 
(4) the Department of Energy; 
(5) the Department of Health and Human 
Services; 
(6) the Department of the Interior; 
(7) the Department of State; 
(8) the Department of Transportation; 
(9) the Environmental Protection Agency; 
(10) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration; 
(11) the Council on Environmental Quality;
465 
(12) the United States Agency for International 
Development; and 
(13) any other Federal agency the President 
determines appropriate. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall— 
(1) review the policy recommendations made 
by— 
(A) the Intergovernmental Panel on Cli-
mate Change; 
(B) the United States Climate Alliance; 
(C) the Interagency Strategy to Reduce 
Methane Emissions; 
(D) the Council on Climate Preparedness 
and Resilience; and 
(E) the Clean Cooking Alliance; 
(2) develop an action plan to reduce short-lived 
climate pollutants that incorporates any appropriate 
proposals or recommendations made by the entities 
referred to in paragraph (1) that are relevant to 
short-lived climate pollutants; 
(3) identify any Federal program that is, or 
could be, relevant to reducing short-lived climate pol-
lutants— 
(A) in the United States; or 
(B) worldwide;
466 
(4) identify overlapping and duplicative Federal 
programs addressing short-lived climate pollutants 
that would benefit from consolidation and stream-
lining; 
(5) identify gaps and serious deficiencies in 
Federal programs targeted at short-lived climate pol-
lutants, including gaps and deficiencies that can be 
addressed through a combination of assessment, sci-
entific research, monitoring, and technological devel-
opment activities, with an emphasis on— 
(A) industry standards; and 
(B) public-private partnerships; 
(6) in developing recommendations, consult 
with affected stakeholders in private industry; and 
(7) not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate a report describing the findings 
and recommendations resulting from the activities 
described in paragraphs (1) through (6). 
Subtitle F—Black Carbon 
SEC. 3601. REDUCTION OF BLACK CARBON EMISSIONS. 
(a) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.—
467 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Administrator’’), in consultation 
with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of State, 
the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of 
Commerce, and the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard, shall develop a comprehensive plan to reduce 
black carbon emissions from ships based on appro-
priate emissions data from oceangoing vessels. The 
plan shall provide for such reduction through— 
(A) a clean freight partnership; 
(B) limits on black carbon emissions; and 
(C) efforts that include protection of access 
to critical fuel shipments and emergency needs 
of coastal communities. 
(2) ROADMAP.—A principal objective of the 
plan developed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be 
the establishment, in coordination with the Secretary 
of State, of a roadmap for helping countries to re-
duce fine-particle (PM2.5) and black carbon emis-
sions in the shipping sector through— 
(A) the installation of advanced emissions 
controls; 
(B) the reduction of sulfur content in 
fuels; and
468 
(C) the adoption of black carbon control 
policies. 
(b) 
BLACK
CARBON
EMISSIONS
REDUCTION 
GOALS.—The Administrator, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of State, and other relevant Federal agencies, 
shall— 
(1) lead an effort to reduce black carbon 
through an Arctic-wide aspirational black carbon 
goal; and 
(2) encourage observers of the Arctic Council 
(including India and China) to adopt mitigation 
plans consistent with the findings and recommenda-
tions of the Arctic Council’s Framework for Action 
on Black Carbon and Methane. 
(c) CLIMATE AND CLEAN AIR COALITION.—The Ad-
ministrator, in coordination with the Secretary of State, 
is encouraged to work with the Climate and Clean Air Co-
alition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants to craft 
specific financing mechanisms for the incremental cost of 
international black carbon mitigation activities. 
(d) BLACK CARBON MITIGATION ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) PRIORITIZATION.—The Administrator of 
the United States Agency for International Develop-
ment, in cooperation with the Administrator, shall—
469 
(A) encourage black carbon mitigation ac-
tivities as part of official development assist-
ance and programmatic activities; 
(B) give special emphasis to projects that 
produce substantial environmental, gender, live-
lihood, and public health benefits, including 
support for clean-burning cookstoves and fuels; 
and 
(C) work with the Global Alliance for 
Clean Cookstoves to help developing nations es-
tablish thriving markets for clean and efficient 
cooking solutions. 
(2) EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS.—The Secretary of 
State, in collaboration with the Administrator, the 
Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, shall provide aid to international efforts to 
reduce black carbon emissions from diesel trucks 
and ships, 2-stroke engines, diesel generators, and 
industrial processes by providing technical assist-
ance— 
(A) to help developing nations lower the 
sulfur content of diesel fuels; 
(B) to expand access to diesel particulate 
filters;
470 
(C) to provide vehicle manufacturers with 
low- and zero-emission engine designs; 
(D) to deploy on-road, off-road, and shore- 
side infrastructure to support zero-emission en-
gine technologies; 
(E) to develop other mitigation activities, 
including energy efficiency alternatives for gen-
erators and industrial processes; and 
(F) to reduce ammonia emissions from ag-
riculture. 
TITLE IV—NUCLEAR ENERGY 
Subtitle A—Advanced Nuclear Fuel 
Availability 
SEC. 4101. PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
and carry out, through the Office of Nuclear Energy, a 
program to support the availability of HA–LEU for civil-
ian domestic demonstration and commercial use. 
(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—In carrying out the pro-
gram under subsection (a), the Secretary— 
(1) shall develop, in consultation with the Com-
mission, criticality benchmark data to assist the 
Commission in— 
(A) the licensing and regulation of cat-
egory II spent nuclear material fuel fabrication
471 
and enrichment facilities under part 70 of title 
10, Code of Federal Regulations; and 
(B) certification of transportation pack-
ages under part 71 of title 10, Code of Federal 
Regulations; 
(2) may conduct research and development, and 
provide financial assistance to assist commercial en-
tities, to design and license transportation packages 
for HA–LEU, including canisters for metal, gas, 
and other HA–LEU compositions; 
(3) shall, to the extent practicable— 
(A) by January 1, 2024, have commercial 
entities submit such transportation package de-
signs to the Commission for certification by the 
Commission under part 71 of title 10, Code of 
Federal Regulations; and 
(B) encourage the Commission to have 
such transportation package designs so certified 
by the Commission by January 1, 2026; 
(4) shall consider options for acquiring or pro-
viding HA–LEU from a stockpile of uranium owned 
by the Department, or using enrichment technology, 
to make available to members of the consortium es-
tablished pursuant to paragraph (6) for commercial 
use or demonstration projects, taking into account
472 
cost and amount of time required, and prioritizing 
methods that would produce usable HA–LEU the 
quickest, including options for acquiring or providing 
HA–LEU— 
(A) that— 
(i) directly meets the needs of an end 
user; and 
(ii) has been previously used or fab-
ricated for another purpose; 
(B) that meets the needs of an end user 
after having radioactive or other contaminants 
that resulted from a previous use or fabrication 
of the fuel for research, development, dem-
onstration, or deployment activities of the De-
partment removed; 
(C) that is produced from high-enriched 
uranium that is blended with lower assay ura-
nium to become HA–LEU to meet the needs of 
an end user; 
(D) that is produced by United States or 
foreign-owned commercial entities; or 
(E) that does not require extraction of ura-
nium or development of uranium from lands 
managed by the Federal Government, cause 
harm to the natural or cultural resources of
473 
Tribal communities or sovereign Native Na-
tions, or result in degraded ground or surface 
water quality on publicly managed or privately 
owned lands; 
(5) not later than 1 year after the date of en-
actment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, shall 
conduct a survey of stakeholders to estimate the 
quantity of HA–LEU necessary for domestic com-
mercial use for each of the 5 subsequent years; 
(6) shall establish a consortium, which may in-
clude entities involved in any stage of the nuclear 
fuel cycle, to partner with the Department to sup-
port the availability of HA–LEU for civilian domes-
tic demonstration and commercial use, including 
by— 
(A) providing information to the Secretary 
for purposes of surveys conducted under para-
graph (5); 
(B) purchasing HA–LEU made available 
to members of the consortium by the Secretary 
under the program; and 
(C) carrying out demonstration projects 
using HA–LEU awarded by the Secretary 
under the program;
474 
(7) shall, prior to acquiring or providing HA– 
LEU under paragraph (8), in coordination with the 
consortium established pursuant to paragraph (6), 
develop a schedule for cost recovery of HA–LEU 
made available to members of the consortium using 
HA–LEU for commercial use pursuant to paragraph 
(8); 
(8) shall, beginning not later than 3 years after 
the establishment of a consortium under paragraph 
(6), have the capability to acquire or provide HA– 
LEU, in order to make such HA–LEU available to 
members of the consortium beginning not later than 
January 1, 2026, in amounts that are consistent, to 
the extent practicable, with— 
(A) the quantities estimated under the sur-
veys conducted under paragraph (5); plus 
(B) the quantities necessary for dem-
onstration projects carried out under the pro-
gram, as determined by the Secretary; and 
(9) shall, for advanced reactor demonstration 
projects, determine awardees of HA–LEU under this 
subtitle through a merit-based, competitive selection 
process. 
(c) APPLICABILITY OF USEC PRIVATIZATION ACT.—
475 
(1) SALE OR TRANSFER TO CONSORTIUM.—The 
requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (C) of sec-
tion 3112(d)(2) of the USEC Privatization Act (42 
U.S.C. 2297h–10(d)(2)) shall apply to a sale or 
transfer of HA–LEU for commercial use by the Sec-
retary to a member of the consortium under this 
section. 
(2) DEMONSTRATION.—HA–LEU made avail-
able to members of the consortium established pur-
suant to subsection (b)(6) for demonstration projects 
shall remain the property of the Department, which 
shall be responsible for the storage, use, and disposi-
tion of all radioactive waste created by the irradia-
tion, processing, or purification of such uranium, 
and shall not be treated as a sale or transfer of ura-
nium subject to sections 3112 and 3113 of the 
USEC Privatization Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h–10; 42 
U.S.C. 2297h–11). 
(d) DOE ACQUISITION
OF HA–LEU.—The Sec-
retary may not make commitments under this section (in-
cluding cooperative agreements (used in accordance with 
section 6305 of title 31, United States Code), purchase 
agreements, guarantees, leases, service contracts, or any 
other type of commitment) for the purchase or other ac-
quisition of HA–LEU unless funds are specifically pro-
476 
vided for such purposes in advance in subsequent appro-
priations Acts, and only to the extent that the full extent 
of anticipated costs stemming from such commitments is 
recorded as an obligation up front and in full at the time 
it is made. 
(e) SUNSET.—The authority of the Secretary to carry 
out the program under this section shall expire on the ear-
lier of— 
(1) September 30, 2034; or 
(2) 90 days after the date on which HA–LEU 
is available to provide a reliable and adequate supply 
for civilian domestic advanced nuclear reactors in 
the commercial market. 
(f) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall not barter or 
otherwise sell or transfer uranium in any form in exchange 
for services relating to the final disposition of radioactive 
waste from uranium that is made available under this sec-
tion. 
SEC. 4102. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
(a) COMMISSION REPORT
ON NECESSARY REGU-
LATORY UPDATES.—Not later than 12 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall sub-
mit to Congress a report that includes— 
(1) identification of updates to regulations, cer-
tifications, and other regulatory policies that the
477 
Commission determines are necessary in order for 
HA–LEU to be commercially available, including— 
(A) guidance for material control and ac-
countability of category II special nuclear mate-
rial; 
(B) certifications relating to transportation 
packaging for HA–LEU; and 
(C) licensing of enrichment, conversion, 
and fuel fabrication facilities for HA–LEU, and 
associated physical security plans for such fa-
cilities; 
(2) a description of such updates; and 
(3) a timeline to complete such updates. 
(b) DOE REPORT ON PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE 
AVAILABILITY
OF HA–LEU FOR CIVILIAN DOMESTIC 
DEMONSTRATION AND COMMERCIAL USE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress a report that de-
scribes actions proposed to be carried out by the 
Secretary under the program described in section 
4101(a). 
(2) 
COORDINATION
AND
STAKEHOLDER 
INPUT.—In developing the report under this sub-
section, the Secretary shall consult with—
478 
(A) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; 
(B) the National Nuclear Security Admin-
istration; 
(C) the National Laboratories; 
(D) institutions of higher education; 
(E) a diverse group of entities from the 
nuclear energy industry; 
(F) a diverse group of technology devel-
opers; 
(G) experts in nuclear nonproliferation, en-
vironmental safety, public health and safety, 
and economics; and 
(H) members of the consortium created 
under section 4101(b)(6). 
(3) COST AND SCHEDULE ESTIMATES.—The re-
port under this subsection shall include estimated 
costs, budgets, and timeframes for all activities car-
ried out under this subtitle. 
(4) 
REQUIRED
EVALUATIONS.—The 
report 
under this subsection shall evaluate— 
(A) the actions required to establish and 
carry out the program under section 4101(a) 
and the cost of such actions, including with re-
spect to—
479 
(i) proposed preliminary terms for 
contracting between the Department and 
recipients of HA-LEU under the program 
(including guidelines defining the roles and 
responsibilities between the Department 
and the recipient); and 
(ii) the potential to coordinate with 
recipients of HA-LEU under the program 
regarding— 
(I) fuel fabrication; and 
(II) fuel transport; 
(B) the potential sources and fuel forms 
available to provide uranium for the program 
under section 4101(a); 
(C) options to coordinate the program 
under section 4101(a) with the operation of the 
versatile, reactor-based fast neutron source 
under section 959A of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (as added by this title); 
(D) the ability of uranium producers to 
provide materials for advanced nuclear reactor 
fuel; 
(E) any associated legal, regulatory, and 
policy issues that should be addressed to en-
able—
480 
(i) implementation of the program 
under section 4101(a); and 
(ii) the establishment of an industry 
capable of providing HA–LEU; and 
(F) any research and development plans to 
develop criticality benchmark data under sec-
tion 4101(b)(1), if needed. 
(c) ALTERNATE FUELS REPORT.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall, after consulting with relevant entities, includ-
ing National Laboratories, institutions of higher edu-
cation, and technology developers, submit to Congress a 
report identifying any and all options for providing nuclear 
material, containing isotopes other than the uranium-235 
isotope, such as uranium-233 and thorium-232 to be used 
as fuel for advanced nuclear reactor research, develop-
ment, demonstration, or commercial application purposes. 
SEC. 4103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subtitle— 
(1) $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
(2) $33,075,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
(3) $34,728,750 for fiscal year 2023; 
(4) $36,465,188 for fiscal year 2024; and 
(5) $38,288,447 for fiscal year 2025.
481 
SEC. 4104. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
(2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means Department of Energy. 
(3) HA–LEU.—The term ‘‘HA–LEU’’ means 
high-assay low-enriched uranium. 
(4) HIGH-ASSAY
LOW-ENRICHED
URANIUM.— 
The term ‘‘high-assay low-enriched uranium’’ means 
uranium having an assay greater than 5.0 weight 
percent and less than 20.0 weight percent enrich-
ment of the uranium-235 isotope. 
(5) 
HIGH-ENRICHED
URANIUM.—The 
term 
‘‘high-enriched uranium’’ means uranium with an 
assay of 20.0 weight percent enrichment or more of 
the uranium-235 isotope. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
Subtitle B—Nuclear Energy 
Leadership Act 
SEC. 4201. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 951(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16271(b)) is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows:
482 
‘‘(1) 
ADVANCED
NUCLEAR
REACTOR.—The 
term ‘advanced nuclear reactor’ means— 
‘‘(A) a nuclear fission reactor, including a 
prototype plant (as defined in sections 50.2 and 
52.1 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations 
(or successor regulations)), with significant im-
provements compared to reactors operating on 
the date of enactment of the Clean Economy 
Jobs and Innovation Act, including improve-
ments such as— 
‘‘(i) additional inherent safety fea-
tures; 
‘‘(ii) lower waste yields; 
‘‘(iii) improved fuel and material per-
formance; 
‘‘(iv) increased tolerance to loss of 
fuel cooling; 
‘‘(v) enhanced reliability; 
‘‘(vi) increased proliferation resist-
ance; 
‘‘(vii) increased thermal efficiency; 
‘‘(viii) reduced consumption of cooling 
water and other environmental impacts;
483 
‘‘(ix) the ability to integrate into elec-
tric applications and nonelectric applica-
tions; 
‘‘(x) modular sizes to allow for deploy-
ment that corresponds with the demand 
for electricity or process heat; 
‘‘(xi) operational flexibility to respond 
to changes in demand for electricity or 
process heat and to complement integra-
tion with intermittent renewable energy or 
energy storage; or 
‘‘(xii) improved resilience; and 
‘‘(B) a fusion reactor.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher 
Education 
Act 
of 
1965 
(20 
U.S.C. 
1001(a)).’’. 
SEC. 4202. NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, 
DEMONSTRATION, AND COMMERCIAL APPLI-
CATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) REACTOR CONCEPTS RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, 
AND DEMONSTRATION.—Section 952 of the Energy Policy
484 
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16272) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 952. REACTOR CONCEPTS RESEARCH, DEVELOP-
MENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND COMMERCIAL 
APPLICATION. 
‘‘(a) SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM FOR LIGHT WATER 
REACTORS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a program of research, development, demonstra-
tion, and commercial application to support existing 
operating nuclear power plants which shall address 
technologies to modernize and improve, with respect 
to such plants— 
‘‘(A) reliability; 
‘‘(B) capacity; 
‘‘(C) component aging; 
‘‘(D) safety; 
‘‘(E) physical security and security costs; 
‘‘(F) plant lifetime; 
‘‘(G) operations and maintenance costs, in-
cluding by utilizing risk-informed systems anal-
ysis; 
‘‘(H) the ability for plants to operate flexi-
bly;
485 
‘‘(I) nuclear hybrid energy system applica-
tions described in subsection (c); 
‘‘(J) efficiency; 
‘‘(K) environmental impacts; and 
‘‘(L) resilience. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out the program under this sub-
section— 
‘‘(A) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(B) $57,750,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(C) $60,637,500 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(D) $63,669,375 for fiscal year 2024; 
and 
‘‘(E) $66,852,844 for fiscal year 2025. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit an-
nually a public report to the Congressional Commit-
tees of Jurisdiction documenting funds spent under 
the program, including those that could benefit the 
entirety of the existing reactor fleet, such as with re-
spect to aging management and related sustain-
ability concerns, and identifying funds awarded to 
private entities. 
‘‘(b) ADVANCED REACTOR TECHNOLOGIES.—
486 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a program of research, development, demonstra-
tion, and commercial application to support ad-
vanced reactor technologies. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the pro-
gram under this subsection, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) prioritize designs for advanced nu-
clear reactors that are proliferation resistant 
and passively safe, including designs that, com-
pared to reactors operating on the date of en-
actment of the Clean Economy Jobs and Inno-
vation Act— 
‘‘(i) are economically competitive with 
other electric power generation plants; 
‘‘(ii) have higher efficiency, lower cost, 
less environmental impacts, increased resil-
ience, and improved safety; 
‘‘(iii) use fuels that are proliferation- 
resistant and have reduced production of 
high-level waste per unit of output; and 
‘‘(iv) use advanced instrumentation 
and monitoring systems; 
‘‘(B) consult with the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission on appropriate metrics to consider 
for the criteria specified in subparagraph (A);
487 
‘‘(C) support research and development to 
resolve materials challenges relating to extreme 
environments, including environments that con-
tain high levels of— 
‘‘(i) radiation fluence; 
‘‘(ii) temperature; 
‘‘(iii) pressure; and 
‘‘(iv) corrosion; 
‘‘(D) support research and development to 
aid in the qualification of advanced fuels, in-
cluding fabrication techniques; 
‘‘(E) support activities that address near- 
term challenges in modeling and simulation to 
enable accelerated design of and licensing of ad-
vanced nuclear reactors, including the identi-
fication of tools and methodologies for vali-
dating such modeling and simulation efforts; 
‘‘(F) develop technologies, including tech-
nologies to manage, reduce, or reuse nuclear 
waste; 
‘‘(G) ensure that nuclear research infra-
structure is maintained or constructed, includ-
ing—
488 
‘‘(i) currently operational research re-
actors at the National Laboratories and in-
stitutions of higher education; 
‘‘(ii) hot cell research facilities; 
‘‘(iii) a versatile fast neutron source; 
and 
‘‘(iv) advanced coolant testing facili-
ties, including coolants such as lead, so-
dium, gas, and molten salt; 
‘‘(H) improve scientific understanding of 
nonlight water coolant physics and chemistry; 
‘‘(I) develop advanced sensors and control 
systems, including the identification of tools 
and methodologies for validating such sensors 
and systems; 
‘‘(J) investigate advanced manufacturing 
and advanced construction techniques and ma-
terials to reduce the cost of advanced nuclear 
reactors, including the use of digital twins and 
of strategies to implement project and construc-
tion management best practices, and study the 
effects of radiation and corrosion on materials 
created with these techniques; 
‘‘(K) consult with the Administrator of the 
National Nuclear Security Administration to in-
489 
tegrate reactor safeguards and security into de-
sign; 
‘‘(L) support efforts to reduce any tech-
nical barriers that would prevent commercial 
application of advanced nuclear energy systems; 
and 
‘‘(M) develop various safety analyses and 
emergency preparedness and response meth-
odologies. 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall co-
ordinate with individuals engaged in the private sec-
tor and individuals who are experts in nuclear non- 
proliferation, environmental and public health and 
safety, and economics to advance the development of 
various designs of advanced nuclear reactors. In car-
rying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall con-
vene an advisory committee of such individuals and 
such committee shall submit annually a report to the 
relevant committees of Congress with respect to the 
progress of the program. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out the program under this sub-
section $55,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2025.