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(B) research, development, and demonstra-
tion activities necessary to ensure the long- 
term, secure, and sustainable supply of energy 
critical elements; or 
(C) another innovative energy technology 
area identified by the Secretary. 
(2) HUB.—The term ‘‘Hub’’ means an Energy 
Innovation Hub established or operating in accord-
ance with this section, including any Energy Innova-
tion Hub existing as of the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(3) QUALIFYING
ENTITY.—The term ‘‘quali-
fying entity’’ means— 
(A) an institution of higher education; 
(B) an appropriate State or Federal entity, 
including the Department of Energy Federally 
Funded Research and Development Centers; 
(C) a nongovernmental organization with 
expertise in advanced energy technology re-
search, development, demonstration, or com-
mercial application; or 
(D) any other relevant entity the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
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Subtitle 
B—Electricity 
Delivery 
and Energy Reliability Research 
and Development 
SEC. 611. DISTRIBUTED ENERGY AND ELECTRIC ENERGY 
SYSTEMS. 
Section 921 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16211) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 921. DISTRIBUTED ENERGY AND ELECTRIC ENERGY 
SYSTEMS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out 
programs of research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application on distributed energy resources 
and systems reliability and efficiency, to improve the reli-
ability and efficiency of distributed energy resources and 
systems, integrating advanced energy technologies with 
grid connectivity, including activities described in this sub-
title. The programs shall address advanced energy tech-
nologies and systems and advanced grid security, resil-
iency, and reliability technologies. 
‘‘(b) OBJECTIVES.—To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, the Secretary shall seek to— 
‘‘(1) leverage existing programs; 
‘‘(2) 
consolidate 
and 
coordinate 
activities 
throughout the Department to promote collaboration 
and crosscutting approaches; 
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‘‘(3) ensure activities are undertaken in a man-
ner that does not duplicate other activities within 
the Department or other Federal Government activi-
ties; and 
‘‘(4) identify programs that may be more effec-
tively left to the States, industry, nongovernmental 
organizations, institutions of higher education, or 
other stakeholders.’’. 
SEC. 612. ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION RE-
SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 925 of the Energy Pol-
icy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16215) is amended— 
(1) by amending the section heading to read as 
follows: ‘‘ELECTRIC
TRANSMISSION
AND
DIS-
TRIBUTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT’’; 
(2) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall establish a 
comprehensive research, development, and demonstration 
program to ensure the reliability, efficiency, and environ-
mental integrity of electrical transmission and distribution 
systems, which shall include innovations for— 
‘‘(1) advanced energy delivery technologies, en-
ergy storage technologies, materials, and systems; 
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‘‘(2) advanced grid reliability and efficiency 
technology development; 
‘‘(3) technologies contributing to significant 
load reductions; 
‘‘(4) advanced metering, load management, and 
control technologies; 
‘‘(5) technologies to enhance existing grid com-
ponents; 
‘‘(6) the development and use of high-tempera-
ture superconductors to— 
‘‘(A) enhance the reliability, operational 
flexibility, or power-carrying capability of elec-
tric transmission or distribution systems; or 
‘‘(B) increase the efficiency of electric en-
ergy generation, transmission, distribution, or 
storage systems; 
‘‘(7) integration of power systems, including 
systems to deliver high-quality electric power, elec-
tric power reliability, and combined heat and power; 
‘‘(8) supply of electricity to the power grid by 
small scale, distributed, and residential-based power 
generators; 
‘‘(9) the development and use of advanced grid 
design, operation, and planning tools; 
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‘‘(10) technologies to enhance security for elec-
trical transmission and distributions systems; and 
‘‘(11) any other infrastructure technologies, as 
appropriate.’’; and 
(3) by amending subsection (c) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(c) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
‘‘(1) CONSORTIUM.—The Secretary shall con-
sider implementing the program under this section 
using a consortium of participants from industry, in-
stitutions of higher education, and National Labora-
tories. 
‘‘(2) OBJECTIVES.—To the maximum extent 
practicable the Secretary shall seek to— 
‘‘(A) leverage existing programs; 
‘‘(B) consolidate and coordinate activities, 
throughout the Department to promote collabo-
ration and crosscutting approaches; 
‘‘(C) ensure activities are undertaken in a 
manner that does not duplicate other activities 
within the Department or other Federal Gov-
ernment activities; and 
‘‘(D) identify programs that may be more 
effectively left to the States, industry, non-
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governmental 
organizations, 
institutions 
of 
higher education, or other stakeholders.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The item 
relating to section 925 in the table of contents of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 925. Electric transmission and distribution research and development.’’. 
Subtitle C—Nuclear Energy 
Research and Development 
SEC. 621. OBJECTIVES. 
Section 951 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16271) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct pro-
grams of civilian nuclear energy research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application, including ac-
tivities described in this subtitle. Such programs shall take 
into consideration the following objectives: 
‘‘(1) Enhancing nuclear power’s viability as 
part of the United States energy portfolio. 
‘‘(2) Reducing used nuclear fuel and nuclear 
waste products generated by civilian nuclear energy. 
‘‘(3) Supporting technological advances in areas 
that industry by itself is not likely to undertake be-
cause of technical and financial uncertainty. 
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‘‘(4) Providing the technical means to reduce 
the likelihood of nuclear proliferation. 
‘‘(5) Maintaining a cadre of nuclear scientists 
and engineers. 
‘‘(6) Maintaining National Laboratory and uni-
versity nuclear programs, including their infrastruc-
ture. 
‘‘(7) Supporting both individual researchers and 
multidisciplinary teams of researchers to pioneer 
new approaches in nuclear energy, science, and tech-
nology. 
‘‘(8) Developing, planning, constructing, acquir-
ing, and operating special equipment and facilities 
for the use of researchers. 
‘‘(9) Supporting technology transfer and other 
appropriate activities to assist the nuclear energy in-
dustry, and other users of nuclear science and engi-
neering, including activities addressing reliability, 
availability, productivity, component aging, safety, 
and security of nuclear power plants. 
‘‘(10) Reducing the environmental impact of 
nuclear energy-related activities. 
‘‘(11) Researching and developing technologies 
and processes to meet Federal and State require-
ments and standards for nuclear power systems.’’; 
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(2) by striking subsections (b) through (d); and 
(3) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (b). 
SEC. 622. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES STUDY. 
Section 951 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16271) is further amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) PROGRAM OBJECTIVES STUDY.—In furtherance 
of the program objectives listed in subsection (a) of this 
section, the Government Accountability Office shall, within 
1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, 
transmit to the Congress a report on the results of a study 
on the scientific and technical merit of major Federal and 
State requirements and standards, including moratoria, 
that delay or impede the further development and com-
mercialization of nuclear power, and how the Department 
can assist in overcoming such delays or impediments.’’. 
SEC. 623. NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAMS. 
Section 952 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16272) is amended by striking subsections (c) 
through (e) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) REACTOR CONCEPTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a program of research, development, demonstra-
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tion, and commercial application to advance nuclear 
power systems as well as technologies to sustain cur-
rently deployed systems. 
‘‘(2) DESIGNS
AND
TECHNOLOGIES.—In con-
ducting the program under this subsection, the Sec-
retary shall examine advanced reactor designs and 
nuclear technologies, including those that— 
‘‘(A) have higher efficiency, lower cost, and 
improved safety compared to reactors in oper-
ation as of the date of enactment of the Amer-
ica COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015; 
‘‘(B) utilize passive safety features; 
‘‘(C) minimize proliferation risks; 
‘‘(D) substantially reduce production of 
high-level waste per unit of output; 
‘‘(E) increase the life and sustainability of 
reactor systems currently deployed; 
‘‘(F) use improved instrumentation; 
‘‘(G) are capable of producing large-scale 
quantities of hydrogen or process heat; 
‘‘(H) minimize water usage or use alter-
natives to water as a cooling mechanism; or 
‘‘(I) use nuclear energy as part of an inte-
grated energy system. 
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‘‘(3) INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION.—In car-
rying out the program under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall seek opportunities to enhance the 
progress of the program through international co-
operation through such organizations as the Genera-
tion IV International Forum or any other inter-
national collaboration the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
‘‘(4) EXCEPTIONS.—No funds authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the activities described in 
this subsection shall be used to fund the activities 
authorized under sections 641 through 645.’’. 
SEC. 624. SMALL MODULAR REACTOR PROGRAM. 
Section 952 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16272) is further amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) SMALL MODULAR REACTOR PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a small modular reactor program to promote re-
search, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application of small modular reactors, including 
through cost-shared projects for commercial applica-
tion of reactor systems designs. 
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall con-
sult with and utilize the expertise of the Secretary 
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of the Navy in establishing and carrying out such 
program. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.—Activities may 
also include development of advanced computer mod-
eling and simulation tools, by Federal and non-Fed-
eral entities, which demonstrate and validate new de-
sign capabilities of innovative small modular reactor 
designs. 
‘‘(4) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this 
subsection, the term ‘small modular reactor’ means 
a nuclear reactor meeting generally accepted indus-
try standards— 
‘‘(A) with a rated capacity of less than 300 
electrical megawatts; 
‘‘(B) with respect to which most parts can 
be factory assembled and shipped as modules to 
a reactor plant site for assembly; and 
‘‘(C) that can be constructed and operated 
in combination with similar reactors at a single 
site.’’. 
SEC. 625. FUEL CYCLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 953 of the Energy Pol-
icy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16273) is amended— 
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