261 
participation as part of their application; 
and 
(B) ensure that such assistance is provided 
in a manner that results in eligible projects 
being carried out on a geographically diverse 
basis within and among covered States. 
(2) DETERMINATION
OF
FINANCIAL
BEN-
EFIT.—In determining the amount of financial ben-
efit for low-income households of an eligible installa-
tion project, the Secretary shall ensure that all cal-
culations for estimated household energy savings are 
based solely on electricity offsets from the applicable 
covered facility and use formulas established by the 
State or local government with jurisdiction over the 
applicable covered facility for verifiable household 
energy savings estimates that accrue to low-income 
households. 
(e) ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) FORM.—The Secretary may provide assist-
ance under the program in the form of a grant 
(which may be in the form of a rebate) or a low-in-
terest loan. 
(2) MULTIPLE
PROJECTS
FOR
SAME
FACIL-
ITY.—
262 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity may 
apply for assistance under the program for an 
eligible planning project and an eligible installa-
tion project for the same covered facility. 
(B) SEPARATE SELECTIONS.—Selection by 
the Secretary for assistance under the program 
of an eligible planning project does not require 
the Secretary to select for assistance under the 
program an eligible installation project for the 
same covered facility. 
(f) USE OF ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) ELIGIBLE PLANNING PROJECTS.—An eligi-
ble entity receiving assistance for an eligible plan-
ning project under the program may use such assist-
ance to pay the costs of pre-installation activities as-
sociated with an applicable covered facility, includ-
ing— 
(A) feasibility studies; 
(B) permitting; 
(C) site assessment; 
(D) on-site job training, or other commu-
nity-based activities directly associated with the 
eligible planning project; or 
(E) such other costs determined by the 
Secretary to be appropriate.
263 
(2) ELIGIBLE
INSTALLATION
PROJECTS.—An 
eligible entity receiving assistance for an eligible in-
stallation project under the program may use such 
assistance to pay the costs of— 
(A) installation of a covered facility, in-
cluding costs associated with materials, permit-
ting, labor, or site preparation; 
(B) storage technology sited at a covered 
facility; 
(C) interconnection service expenses; 
(D) on-site job training, or other commu-
nity-based activities directly associated with the 
eligible installation project; 
(E) offsetting the cost of a subscription for 
a covered facility described in subparagraph (A) 
of subsection (a)(4) for subscribers that are 
members of a low income household; or 
(F) such other costs determined by the 
Secretary to be appropriate. 
(g) ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) AGREEMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of re-
ceiving assistance under the program, an eligi-
ble entity shall enter into an agreement with 
the Secretary.
264 
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—An agreement en-
tered into under this paragraph— 
(i) shall require the eligible entity to 
maintain such records and adopt such ad-
ministrative practices as the Secretary may 
require to ensure compliance with the re-
quirements of this section and the agree-
ment; 
(ii) with respect to an eligible installa-
tion project shall require that any solar 
generating facility installed using assist-
ance provided pursuant to the agreement 
comply with local building and safety codes 
and standards; and 
(iii) shall contain such other terms as 
the Secretary may require to ensure com-
pliance with the requirements of this sec-
tion. 
(C) TERM.—An agreement under this 
paragraph shall be for a term that begins on 
the date on which the agreement is entered into 
and ends on the date that is 2 years after the 
date on which the eligible entity receives assist-
ance pursuant to the agreement, which term 
may be extended once for a period of not more
265 
than 1 year if the eligible entity demonstrates 
to the satisfaction of the Secretary that such an 
extension is necessary to complete the activities 
required by the agreement. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Of the funds made avail-
able to provide assistance to eligible installation 
projects under this section over the period of fiscal 
years 2021 through 2025, the Secretary shall use— 
(A) not less than 50 percent to provide as-
sistance for eligible installation projects with re-
spect to which low-income households make up 
at least 50 percent of the subscribers to the 
project; and 
(B) not more than 50 percent to provide 
assistance for eligible installation projects with 
respect to which low-income households make 
up at least 25 percent of the subscribers to the 
project. 
(3) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall publish in the Federal Register regula-
tions to carry out this section, which shall take ef-
fect on the date of publication. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
266 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this sec-
tion $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2025, to remain available until expended. 
(2) AMOUNTS FOR PLANNING PROJECTS.—Of 
the amounts appropriated pursuant to this section 
over the period of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, 
the Secretary shall use not more than 15 percent of 
funds to provide assistance to eligible planning 
projects. 
(i) RELATIONSHIP
TO OTHER ASSISTANCE.—The 
Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, encourage eligi-
ble entities that receive assistance under this section to 
leverage such funds by seeking additional funding through 
federally or locally subsidized weatherization and energy 
efficiency programs. 
SEC. 2402. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY SOLAR PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 111(d) of the Public Util-
ity Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(21) COMMUNITY
SOLAR
PROGRAMS.—Each 
electric utility shall offer a community solar program 
that provides all ratepayers, including low-income 
ratepayers, equitable and demonstrable access to
267 
such community solar program. For the purposes of 
this paragraph, the term ‘community solar program’ 
means a service provided to any electric consumer 
that the electric utility serves through which the 
value of electricity generated by a community solar 
facility may be used to offset charges billed to the 
electric consumer by the electric utility. A ‘commu-
nity solar facility’ is— 
‘‘(A) a solar photovoltaic system that allo-
cates electricity to multiple electric consumers 
of an electric utility; 
‘‘(B) connected to a local distribution of 
the electric utility; 
‘‘(C) located either on or off the property 
of the electric consumers; and 
‘‘(D) may be owned by an electric utility, 
an electric consumer, or a third party.’’. 
(b) COMPLIANCE.— 
(1) TIME LIMITATIONS.—Section 112(b) of the 
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 2622(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(8)(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory 
authority (with respect to each electric utility for
268 
which the State has ratemaking authority) and each 
nonregulated electric utility shall commence consid-
eration under section 111, or set a hearing date for 
consideration, with respect to the standard estab-
lished by paragraph (21) of section 111(d). 
‘‘(B) Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory 
authority (with respect to each electric utility for 
which the State has ratemaking authority), and each 
nonregulated electric utility shall complete the con-
sideration and make the determination under section 
111 with respect to the standard established by 
paragraph (21) of section 111(d).’’. 
(2) FAILURE TO COMPLY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 112(c) of the 
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 2622(c)) is amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘such paragraph (14)’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘paragraphs 
(16)’’ and inserting ‘‘such paragraph (14). 
In the case of the standard established by 
paragraph (15) of section 111(d), the ref-
erence contained in this subsection to the 
date of enactment of this Act shall be 
deemed to be a reference to the date of en-
269 
actment of that paragraph (15). In the 
case of the standards established by para-
graphs (16)’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘In the case of the standard estab-
lished by paragraph (21) of section 111(d), 
the reference contained in this subsection 
to the date of enactment of this Act shall 
be deemed to be a reference to the date of 
enactment of that paragraph (21).’’. 
(B) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Section 1254(b) of 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public 
Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 971) is amended— 
(I) by striking paragraph (2); 
and 
(II) by redesignating paragraph 
(3) as paragraph (2). 
(ii) TREATMENT.—The amendment 
made by paragraph (2) of section 1254(b) 
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public 
Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 971) (as in effect 
on the day before the date of enactment of 
this Act) is void, and section 112(d) of the 
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of
270 
1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622(d)) shall be in ef-
fect as if those amendments had not been 
enacted. 
(3) PRIOR STATE ACTIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Section 112 of the 
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 2622) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(h) PRIOR STATE ACTIONS.—Subsections (b) and 
(c) shall not apply to the standard established by para-
graph (21) of section 111(d) in the case of any electric 
utility in a State if, before the date of enactment of this 
subsection— 
‘‘(1) the State has implemented for the electric 
utility the standard (or a comparable standard); 
‘‘(2) the State regulatory authority for the 
State or the relevant nonregulated electric utility has 
conducted a proceeding to consider implementation 
of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the 
electric utility; or 
‘‘(3) the State legislature has voted on the im-
plementation of the standard (or a comparable 
standard) for the electric utility.’’. 
(B) CROSS-REFERENCE.—Section 124 of 
the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of
271 
1978 (16 U.S.C. 2634) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: ‘‘In the case of the 
standard established by paragraph (21) of sec-
tion 111(d), the reference contained in this sub-
section to the date of enactment of this Act 
shall be deemed to be a reference to the date 
of enactment of that paragraph (21).’’. 
Subtitle E—Research and 
Development 
PART 1—SOLAR ENERGY RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 2501. DEFINITIONS. 
In this part: 
(1) The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ 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-institu-
tional consortium thereof. 
(2) The term ‘‘institution of higher edu-
cation’’—
272 
(A) has the meaning given such term in 
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); and 
(B) includes a minority-serving institution. 
(3) The term ‘‘minority-serving institution’’ has 
the meaning given the term ‘‘eligible institution’’ in 
section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). 
(4) The term ‘‘National Laboratory’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 2(3) of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801(3)). 
(5) The term ‘‘photovoltaic device’’ includes 
photovoltaic cells and the electronic and electrical 
components of such devices. 
(6) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Energy. 
SEC. 2502. SOLAR ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
solar energy program to conduct research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application of solar energy 
technologies. In carrying out such program, the Secretary 
shall, in accordance with subsection (b), award grants and 
enter into contracts and cooperative agreements under 
this section, and sections 2503, 2504, and 2505 for each 
of the following purposes:
273 
(1) To improve the energy efficiency, siting, re-
liability, resilience, security, capacity, and environ-
mental performance of solar energy generation. 
(2) To optimize the design and adaptability of 
solar energy systems to the broadest practical range 
of geographic and atmospheric conditions. 
(3) To reduce the cost of manufacturing, instal-
lation, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning 
of solar energy systems. 
(4) To create and improve conversion of solar 
energy to useful forms. 
(b) 
GRANTS, 
CONTRACTS, 
AND
COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) GRANTS.—In carrying out the program es-
tablished under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis 
to eligible entities for projects that the Secretary de-
termines would best achieve the goals of the pro-
gram. 
(2) CONTRACTS
AND
COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS.—In carrying out the program established 
under subsection (a), the Secretary may enter into 
contracts and cooperative agreements with eligible 
entities and Federal agencies for projects that the
274 
Secretary determines would further the purposes of 
the program. 
(3) APPLICATION.—An entity seeking a grant 
or a contract or agreement under this part shall sub-
mit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may require. 
(4) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.—With respect to 
applications under paragraph (3), the Secretary 
shall give special consideration to applications from 
minority-serving institutions or a multi-institutional 
consortium which includes a minority-serving institu-
tion. 
(c) SOLAR ENERGY RESEARCH SUBJECT AREAS.— 
The program established under subsection (a) shall focus 
on the research, development, demonstration, and com-
mercial application of each of the following subject areas: 
(1) Photovoltaic devices and related electronic 
components, including converters, sensors, energy 
monitors, communication and control equipment, 
and protocols. 
(2) Concentrated solar power, including solar 
thermal and concentrating solar photovoltaic tech-
nologies. 
(3) Low cost, high-quality solar energy systems.
275 
(4) Low cost, thin-film solar technologies, in-
cluding the use of perovskite and cadmium telluride 
materials in solar cells. 
(5) Solar heating and cooling systems, including 
distributed solar-powered air conditioning. 
(6) Solar technology products that can be easily 
integrated into new buildings, existing buildings, ag-
ricultural and aquatic environments, and other infra-
structure. 
(7) Solar technology that is resilient to extreme 
weather events. 
(8) Solar technology products integrated into 
transportation applications in coordination with vehi-
cle technologies research and development activities 
supported by the Department of Energy. 
(9) Storage technologies to address the tran-
sience and intermittency of solar energy resources, 
including batteries, supercapacitors, and thermal 
storage. 
(10) Microgrids using solar technology. 
(11) Solar technologies enabling safe grid oper-
ating conditions, such as fast-disconnect during an 
emergency. 
(12) Distributed solar energy technologies, such 
as rooftop solar panels.
276 
(13) Technologies and designs that enable a 
broad range of scales for solar power production. 
(14) Advanced solar manufacturing technologies 
and best practices, including— 
(A) materials and processes; 
(B) development of industry standards; 
(C) design and integration practices; and 
(D) optimized packaging methods and new 
device designs. 
(15) Advanced analytic and computing capabili-
ties for better modeling and simulations of solar en-
ergy systems. 
(16) Electrical grid integration, including— 
(A) integration of solar technologies into 
smart grid, transmission, and distribution; 
(B) coordination of solar with other dis-
tributed and large-scale energy resources; 
(C) electrical power smoothing; 
(D) microgrid integration; 
(E) community solar; 
(F) solar resource forecasting; 
(G) regional and national electric system 
balancing and long distance transmission op-
tions, including direct current and super-
277 
conducting transmission and long-term storage 
options; 
(H) ways to address system operations 
over minutes, hours, days, weeks, and seasons 
with respect to the full range of project scales; 
and 
(I) electric grid security, including cyber 
and physical security. 
(17) Non-hardware and information-based ad-
vances in solar energy system siting, design, installa-
tion, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning. 
(18) Solar energy technology as a part of strat-
egies commonly referred to as ‘‘behind-the-meter 
strategies’’, including with respect to electricity gen-
eration, load, energy efficiency, controls, storage, 
and electric vehicles. 
(19) Methods to reduce the total volume of 
water used in the manufacture, construction, oper-
ation, and maintenance of solar energy technologies. 
(20) Siting of solar energy on previously dis-
turbed lands, including landfills, former mines, and 
other areas requiring environmental management. 
(21) Durable, low-cost solar-powered sensors, 
equipment, and machinery for off-grid use, with spe-
cial consideration for agricultural applications, such
278 
as solar powered smart agricultural monitoring and 
irrigation systems. 
(22) Other subject areas determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND WORKFORCE DE-
VELOPMENT.—In carrying out the program established 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall also conduct, for 
purposes of supporting technical, non-hardware, and infor-
mation-based advances in solar energy systems develop-
ment and operations, including activities expanding access 
to solar energy for low-income and disadvantaged individ-
uals 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 solar 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 solar energy. 
(e) PROGRAM TARGETS.—The program established 
under subsection (a) shall address near-term (up to 2
279 
years), mid-term (up to 7 years), and long-term (up to 
15 years) challenges to the advancement of solar energy 
systems. 
(f) SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY.—Each entity receiv-
ing a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this 
section shall endeavor, in carrying out activities under 
such grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, to incor-
porate, where appropriate, sustainable and green chem-
istry and engineering principles, practices, and methodolo-
gies. 
(g) WILDLIFE IMPACT MITIGATION.—In carrying out 
the program established under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall support wildlife impact mitigation technologies 
and strategies, including the use of distributed solar tech-
nologies, to avoid, minimize, and offset the potential nega-
tive impacts of solar energy systems on wildlife, including 
bird species, habitat, and local flora and fauna. 
(h) STEWARDSHIP OF NATIONAL LABORATORY RE-
SOURCES.—In awarding grants and entering into con-
tracts and cooperative agreements under this part, the 
Secretary shall steward relevant capabilities and programs 
of the National Laboratories. 
(i) CONFORMING REPEALS.—The following provi-
sions of law are hereby repealed:
280 
(1) The Solar Energy Research, Development, 
and Demonstration Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5551 et 
seq.), except for section 10. 
(2) The Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, 
Development, and Demonstration Act of 1978 (42 
U.S.C. 5581 et seq.). 
(3) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 4(a) of 
the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Tech-
nology Competitiveness Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 
12003(a)). 
(4) Subparagraph (A) of section 931(a)(2) of 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16231(a)(2)). 
(5) Sections 606 and 607 of the Energy Inde-
pendence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 
17174 and 17175). 
(j) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 1 of the Energy Independence and Secu-
rity Act of 2007 is amended by striking the items relating 
to sections 606 and 607. 
SEC. 2503. SOLAR ENERGY DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program es-
tablished under section 2502(a), the Secretary shall award 
grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to eligible
281 
entities for demonstration projects to advance the develop-
ment of solar energy technologies and systems production. 
(b) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall give priority to projects that— 
(1) are located in geographically diverse regions 
of the United States; 
(2) can be replicated in a variety of regions and 
climates; 
(3) demonstrate technologies that address 
intermittency, variability, storage challenges, behind- 
the-meter operations, and independent operational 
capability; 
(4) coordinate solar technologies with other dis-
tributed and large-scale energy resources; 
(5) facilitate identification of optimum ap-
proaches among competing solar energy tech-
nologies; 
(6) include business commercialization plans 
that have the potential for production of solar en-
ergy equipment at high volumes; 
(7) support the development of advanced manu-
facturing technologies that have the potential to im-
prove United States competitiveness in the inter-
national solar energy manufacturing sector;
282 
(8) provide the greatest potential to reduce en-
ergy costs, as well as promote accessibility and com-
munity 
implementation 
of 
demonstrated 
tech-
nologies, for consumers; 
(9) increase disclosure and transparency of in-
formation to all market participants to help in mak-
ing optimal decisions; 
(10) promote overall electric infrastructure reli-
ability, security, and resilience should grid functions 
be disrupted or damaged; 
(11) promote solar energy in low-income com-
munities and those disproportionately burdened by 
environmental pollution; and 
(12) satisfy any other criteria that the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants under this section may 
be used, to the extent that funding is not otherwise avail-
able through other Federal programs or power purchase 
agreements, for— 
(1) any necessary site engineering study; 
(2) an economic assessment of site-specific con-
ditions; 
(3) appropriate feasibility studies to determine 
whether the demonstration can be replicated;
283 
(4) installation of equipment, service, and sup-
port; 
(5) operation for at least the minimum amount 
of time required to fully assess the project’s results 
and objectives, as determined by a peer-reviewed 
process; and 
(6) validation of technical, economic, and envi-
ronmental assumptions and documentation of les-
sons learned. 
(d) SOLICITATION.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter, 
the Secretary shall conduct a national solicitation for ap-
plications for grants under this section. 
SEC. 2504. NEXT GENERATION SOLAR ENERGY MANUFAC-
TURING INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program es-
tablished under section 2502(a), the Secretary shall con-
duct research, development, demonstration, and commer-
cial application projects, in accordance with section 
2502(b), to advance new solar energy manufacturing tech-
nologies and techniques, including those that manufacture 
solar cells, hardware, and enabling devices. 
(b) STRATEGIC VISION REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 1, 
2021, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee
284 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources of the Senate, and any other commit-
tees of Congress deemed appropriate by the Sec-
retary a report on the results of a study that exam-
ines the viable market opportunities available for 
solar energy technology manufacturing in the United 
States, including solar cells, hardware, and enabling 
technologies. 
(2) 
REPORT
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
report 
under paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) a description of— 
(i) the ability to competitively manu-
facture solar technology in the United 
States, including the manufacture of— 
(I) new and advanced materials, 
such as cells made with new, cost-ef-
fective, high efficiency materials; 
(II) solar module equipment and 
enabling technologies, including smart 
inverters, sensors, and tracking equip-
ment; 
(III) innovative solar module de-
signs and applications, including those 
that can directly integrate with new
285 
and existing buildings and other infra-
structure; and 
(IV) other research areas as de-
termined by the Secretary; and 
(ii) opportunities and barriers within 
the United States and international solar 
energy technology supply chains; 
(B) policy recommendations for enhancing 
solar energy technology manufacturing in the 
United States; and 
(C) an aggressive 10-year target and plan, 
beginning in 2022, to enhance the competitive-
ness of solar energy technology manufacturing 
in the United States. 
(c) PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.—In carrying out 
the research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application activities under this section, to the extent prac-
ticable, the Secretary shall follow the recommendations in-
cluded in the report under subsection (b) and award 
grants and enter into contracts and cooperative agree-
ments for solar energy manufacturing projects that— 
(1) reduce capital expenditures or provide 
lower-cost manufacturing options; 
(2) eliminate manufacturing process steps; 
(3) reduce energy, water, and material inputs;
286 
(4) establish alternative supply chains for mate-
rials and components; and 
(5) take advantage of rapid prototyping, small 
batch manufacturing, and roll-to-roll processing. 
(d) PROGRAM EVALUATION.—Beginning not later 
than 3 years after the completion of the report under sub-
section (b), and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary 
shall provide, and make available to the public and the 
relevant authorizing and appropriations committees of 
Congress, an independent review of the program author-
ized under this section to evaluate its progress toward 
meeting the policy recommendations and targets deter-
mined in the report. 
SEC. 2505. PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE RECYCLING RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program es-
tablished under section 2502(a), the Secretary shall con-
duct research, development, demonstration, and commer-
cial application projects, in accordance with section 
2502(b), to advance innovative and practical approaches 
to increase reuse and recycling of photovoltaic devices. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The Secretary shall award grants 
and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements under 
subsection (a) for projects that address—
287 
(1) technology to increase the efficiency of pho-
tovoltaic device recycling and maximize the recovery 
of valuable raw materials for use in new products 
while minimizing the life-cycle environmental im-
pacts such as greenhouse gas emissions and water 
usage; 
(2) expanded uses for materials from recycled 
photovoltaic devices; 
(3) development and demonstration of environ-
mentally responsible alternatives to the use of haz-
ardous materials in photovoltaic devices and the pro-
duction of such devices; 
(4) development of methods to separate and re-
move hazardous materials from photovoltaic devices 
and to recycle or dispose of those materials in a safe 
and low-cost manner; 
(5) product design and construction to facilitate 
disassembly and recycling of photovoltaic devices; 
(6) tools and methods to aid in assessing the 
environmental impacts of the production of photo-
voltaic devices and photovoltaic device recycling and 
disposal; 
(7) product design and construction and other 
tools and techniques to extend the life cycle of pho-
288 
tovoltaic devices, including methods to promote their 
safe reuse; and 
(8) strategies to increase consumer acceptance 
and practice of recycling of photovoltaic devices. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—An eligible entity seeking a 
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this sec-
tion shall submit to the Secretary an application that in-
cludes a description of— 
(1) the project that will be undertaken and the 
contributions of each participating entity; and 
(2) the applicability of the project to increasing 
reuse and recycling of photovoltaic devices with the 
least environmental impacts as measured by life- 
cycle analyses, and the potential for incorporating 
the research results into industry practice. 
(d) DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS.—The Secretary 
shall publish the results of projects supported under this 
section through— 
(1) development of best practices or training 
materials for use in the photovoltaics manufacturing, 
design, installation, refurbishing, disposal, or recy-
cling industries; 
(2) dissemination at industry conferences;
289 
(3) coordination with information dissemination 
programs relating to recycling of electronic devices 
in general; 
(4) demonstration projects; and 
(5) educational materials for the public pro-
duced in conjunction with State, Tribal, and local 
governments or nonprofit organizations on the prob-
lems and solutions related to reuse and recycling of 
photovoltaic devices. 
(e) PHOTOVOLTAIC MATERIALS PHYSICAL PROP-
ERTY DATABASE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 1, 
2022, the Secretary shall establish a comprehensive 
physical property database of materials for use in 
photovoltaic devices. Such database shall include— 
(A) identification of materials used in pho-
tovoltaic devices; 
(B) a list of commercially available 
amounts of these materials and their country of 
origin; 
(C) amounts of these materials projected 
to be available through mining or recycling of 
photovoltaic and other electronic devices; and 
(D) a list of other significant uses for each 
of these materials.
290 
(2) PRIORITIES.—Not later than September 1, 
2021, the Secretary, working with private industry, 
shall develop a plan to establish priorities and re-
quirements for the database under this subsection, 
including the protection of proprietary information, 
trade secrets, and other confidential business infor-
mation. 
(3) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall co-
ordinate with the Director of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ad-
ministrator of the Department of Interior to facili-
tate the incorporation of the database under this 
subsection with any existing database for materials 
involved in electronic manufacturing and recycling. 
SEC. 2506. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this part— 
(1) $441,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
(2) $463,050,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
(3) $486,202,500 for fiscal year 2023; 
(4) $510,512,625 for fiscal year 2024; and 
(5) $536,038,257 for fiscal year 2025.
291 
PART 2—WIND ENERGY RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 2521. DEFINITIONS. 
In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ 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-institu-
tional consortium thereof. 
(2) The term ‘‘energy critical material’’ means 
any of a class of non-fuel materials that have a high 
risk of a supply disruption and are critical to one or 
more existing or new, energy-related technologies 
such that a substantial supply disruption of such 
material would significantly inhibit large-scale de-
ployment of technologies that produce, transmit, 
store, or conserve energy. 
(3) The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 101 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001).
292 
(4) The term ‘‘National Laboratory’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 2(3) of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801(3)). 
(5) The term ‘‘supersized turbine’’ means a 12 
megawatt or greater wind turbine, typically with a 
tower height greater than 140 meters and blades 
greater than 75 meters. 
SEC. 2522. WIND ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy (in this 
part, referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall carry out a pro-
gram to conduct research, development, demonstration, 
and commercial application of wind energy technologies. 
In carrying out such program and in accordance with sub-
section (b), the Secretary shall award grants and enter 
into contracts and cooperative agreements under this sec-
tion and sections 2523, 2524, and 2525 for each of the 
following purposes: 
(1) To improve the energy efficiency, reliability, 
resilience, security, and capacity of wind energy gen-
eration. 
(2) To optimize the design and control of wind 
energy systems for the broadest practical range of 
geographic and atmospheric conditions. 
(3) To reduce the cost and risk of siting, per-
mitting, construction, operation, maintenance, and
293 
decommissioning of wind energy systems, including 
strategies and technologies to reduce environmental 
and community impacts, including research and de-
velopment that reduces impacts on existing ocean 
uses and increases coordination between offshore 
wind and existing users, including the commercial 
fishing industry, improve grid integration, and re-
duce regulatory barriers. 
(4) To improve materials, engineering, and 
manufacturing processes for turbines, including 
supersized turbines. 
(5) To optimize wind plant performance and in-
tegration within hybrid energy systems to enhance 
cost efficiency and electric grid stability and resil-
ience. 
(b) 
GRANTS, 
CONTRACTS, 
AND
COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) GRANTS.—In carrying out the program, the 
Secretary shall award grants on a competitive, 
merit-reviewed basis to eligible entities for projects 
that the Secretary determines would best achieve the 
goals of the program. 
(2) CONTRACTS
AND
COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS.—In carrying out the program, the Secretary 
may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements
294 
with eligible entities and Federal agencies for 
projects that the Secretary determines would further 
the purposes of the program. 
(3) APPLICATION.—An entity seeking funding 
or a contract or agreement under this subsection 
shall submit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Secretary may require. 
(c) WIND ENERGY RESEARCH SUBJECT AREAS.— 
The program established under subsection (a) shall focus 
on the research, development, demonstration, and com-
mercial application of each of the following subject areas: 
(1) Wind power plant siting, performance, and 
operations including— 
(A) wind flows and turbine-to-turbine 
interactions; 
(B) energy conversion potential; 
(C) turbine and wind plant control para-
digms; 
(D) turbine and wind plant security; 
(E) turbine components; 
(F) integrated hybrid plant systems; 
(G) wind energy siting and its effects on 
wildlife and habitat; and
295 
(H) siting of wind energy on previously 
disturbed lands, including landfills, former 
mines, and other areas requiring environmental 
management. 
(2) New materials and designs related to 
blades, rotors, towers and drivetrains including— 
(A) higher tip speed rotor designs; 
(B) low noise rotor designs; 
(C) advanced drivetrain and generator con-
cepts; 
(D) modular construction and onsite or 
near-site manufacturing and assembly tech-
niques; 
(E) sustainable and recyclable materials 
and manufacturing systems; 
(F) supersized turbine design and installa-
tion approaches; 
(G) lightweight materials; and 
(H) materials and designs that reduce the 
need for and use of energy critical materials. 
(3) Offshore wind-specific projects including— 
(A) fixed and floating substructure con-
cepts, including technologies and strategies to 
minimize potential acoustic disturbances to ma-
rine species;
296 
(B) projects to assess and mitigate the im-
pacts of hurricane wind flow, freshwater ice, 
and other United States-specific conditions; 
(C) innovative operations and maintenance 
strategies; 
(D) analysis of offshore meteorological, ge-
ological, biological, and oceanographic data col-
lection; 
(E) offshore infrastructure monitoring; 
and 
(F) analysis of corrosion and fatigue for 
the purpose of extending the design life of off-
shore wind turbine substructures. 
(4) Recycling and reuse of wind energy compo-
nents, with special consideration for the recovery 
and reuse of energy critical materials, in coordina-
tion with the program under title X of the Clean 
Economy Jobs and Innovation Act. 
(5) Wind power forecasting and atmospheric 
measurement systems, including for turbines and 
plant systems of varying height. 
(6) Distributed wind-specific projects, includ-
ing— 
(A) cost-effective turbine designs, compo-
nents, and manufacturing; and
297 
(B) microgrid applications. 
(7) Advanced transportation mechanisms for 
wind turbine components. 
(8) Transformational technologies for har-
nessing wind energy, including airborne wind energy 
concepts. 
(9) Methods to extend the operational lifetime 
of onshore and offshore wind turbines and systems. 
(10) Storage technologies to address the tran-
sience and intermittency of wind energy resources. 
(11) Modeling and simulation tools to more effi-
ciently design, site, permit, manufacture, construct, 
operate, maintain, and decommission wind energy 
systems. 
(12) Other research areas as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate a report on the potential for, 
and technical viability of, airborne wind energy sys-
332 
‘‘(H) developing analytical tools that en-
able hydropower to provide grid services that, 
amongst other services, improve grid integra-
tion of other energy sources; 
‘‘(8) advance new pumped storage technologies, 
including— 
‘‘(A) systems with adjustable speed and 
other new pumping and generating equipment 
designs; 
‘‘(B) modular systems; 
‘‘(C) alternative closed-loop systems, in-
cluding mines and quarries; and 
‘‘(D) other innovative equipment and ma-
terials as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(9) reduce civil works costs and construction 
times for hydropower and pumped storage systems, 
including comprehensive data and systems analysis 
of hydropower and pumped storage construction 
technologies and processes in order to identify areas 
for whole-system efficiency gains; 
‘‘(10) advance efficient and reliable integration 
of hydropower and pumped storage systems with the 
electric grid by— 
‘‘(A) improving methods for operational 
forecasting of renewable energy systems to
357 
SEC. 2603. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ON COVERED LAND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary determines that 
a proposed renewable energy project has been sufficiently 
analyzed by a programmatic environmental impact state-
ment conducted under section 2602(d), the Secretary shall 
not require any additional review under the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
The Secretary shall publish any such project determina-
tions on a publicly available website. 
(b) ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.—If the 
Secretary determines that additional environmental review 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) is necessary for a proposed renewable 
energy project, the Secretary shall rely on the analysis in 
the programmatic environmental impact statement con-
ducted under section 2602(d), to the maximum extent 
practicable when analyzing the potential impacts of the 
project. 
(c) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAW.—Nothing in this 
section modifies or supersedes any requirement under ap-
plicable law. 
SEC. 2604. PROGRAM TO IMPROVE RENEWABLE ENERGY 
PROJECT PERMIT COORDINATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a national Renewable Energy Coordination Office and 
State, district, or field offices with responsibility to estab-