BATTERY Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-8232
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2020-09-11
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Chemistry

Congressional oversight

Energy research

Energy storage, supplies, demand

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Environmental education

Environmental health

Environmental technology

Fires

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles

Materials

Motor vehicles

Research administration and funding

Research and development

Solid waste and recycling

Technology assessment
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-09-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Bolster American Technology Through Expanding Recycling Yield Act of 2020 or the BATTERY Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a research, development, and demonstration program of recycling of energy critical materials embedded within energy storage systems (e.g., batteries). <i>Energy critical materials</i> means chemicals that have a high risk of a supply disruption and are critical to one or more energy-related technologies; a substantial supply disruption of such material would significantly inhibit large-scale deployment of technologies that produce, transmit, store, or conserve energy.</p> <p>DOE must seek to ensure that any activity receiving funding under the program (1) does not release toxic byproducts into the environment, (2) sufficiently minimizes potential fire risk in facilities where energy storage systems are stored and in the transportation of such systems, and (3) protects the health and safety of all persons involved in or in proximity to such activity.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8232 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 11, 2020 Mr. Tonko (for himself and Mr. Curtis ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To amend the United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 to establish a research, development, and demonstration program for the recycling and reuse of energy critical materials used in energy storage systems, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Bolster American Technology Through Expanding Recycling Yield Act of 2020 or the BATTERY Act of 2020 . 2. Energy critical material recycling and reuse research, development, and demonstration program (a) In general The United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17231 ) is amended by inserting after subsection (p) the following: (q) Energy critical material recycling and reuse research, development, and demonstration program (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Electric motor vehicle The term electric motor vehicle means a vehicle that derives all or part of its power for locomotion from electricity and is able to exceed a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour without any external assistance, including gravity, as determined by the Secretary. (B) Electronic scrap The term electronic scrap means personal electronic products near or at the end of their useful life, containing embedded energy storage systems, as determined by the Secretary. (C) Energy critical material The term energy critical material means any of a class of chemical 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 deployment of technologies that produce, transmit, store, or conserve energy. (D) Energy storage system The term energy storage system means a system, equipment, facility, or technology that— (i) is capable of absorbing energy, storing such energy for a period of time, and dispatching such energy after storage; and (ii) uses a mechanical, electrical, chemical, electrochemical, or thermal process to store such energy, or any other process that the Secretary determines relevant. (E) Low-speed electric vehicle The term low-speed electric vehicle means a vehicle with fewer than four wheels that derives all or part of its power for locomotion from electricity and is unable to exceed a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour without any external assistance, including gravity, as determined by the Secretary. (F) Recycling The term recycling means the separation of energy critical materials embedded within an energy storage system through physical or chemical means and reuse of those separated energy critical materials in other technologies. (2) Establishment Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a research, development, and demonstration program of recycling of energy storage systems containing energy critical materials. (3) Research, development, and demonstration In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall focus research, development, and demonstration activities on— (A) technologies, process improvements, design optimizations, and methods that improve collection, sorting, storage, and transportation of energy storage systems for the purposes of recycling, including— (i) removal of electronic scrap and low-speed electric vehicles from landfill and general recycling waste streams; (ii) extraction of energy storage systems from electronic scrap and low-speed electric vehicles; (iii) extraction, recovery, and reuse of energy critical materials from energy storage systems; (iv) extraction, recovery, and reuse of energy storage systems, and energy critical materials from energy storage systems, within electric motor vehicles; (v) improving the recyclability of energy storage systems and products containing energy storage systems; and (vi) safe disposal of energy storage systems, including waste materials and components recovered during the recycling process; and (B) research on and analysis of non-technical barriers to improve the collection and recycling of energy storage systems containing energy critical materials, including strategies to improve consumer education of, acceptance of, and participation in, the recycling of energy storage systems; and (C) research on and analysis of technologies and methods to mitigate environmental impacts that arise from recycling energy storage systems, including disposal of toxic reagents and byproducts related to recycling processes. (4) Environmental stewardship The Secretary shall seek to ensure that any activity receiving funding under this program— (A) does not release toxic byproducts into the environment; (B) sufficiently minimizes potential fire risk— (i) in facilities where energy storage systems are stored; and (ii) in the transportation of energy storage systems; and (C) protects the health and safety of all persons involved in or in proximity to such activity. (5) Report to congress Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, and every 3 years thereafter, 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 summarizing the activities, findings, and progress of the program. . (b) Authorization of appropriations The United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17231 ) is amended in subsection (p)— (1) in paragraph (5), by striking and at the end; (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (7) the research, development, and demonstration program under subsection (q) $22,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. .