HR 3597 — Solar Energy Research and Development Act of 2019

3597 IntroducedReported in House (IH)](RH)] <DOC> 116thUnion CONGRESSCalendar 1stNo. Session H.

400 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H.

3597 To[Report guideNo. and authorize basic research programs in the United States for research, development, and demonstration of solar energy technologies, and for other purposes.

116-499] To guide and authorize basic research programs in the United States for research, development, and demonstration of solar energy technologies, and for other purposes.

which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology _______________________________________________________________________September A11, BILL2020 ToAdditional guidesponsors: and authorize basic research programs in the United States for research, development, and demonstration of solar energy technologies, and for other purposes.

Mr.

Crist, Ms.

Escobar, and Mrs.

Axne September 11, 2020 Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 28, 2019] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To guide and authorize basic research programs in the United States for research, development, and demonstration of solar energy technologies, and for other purposes.

In carrying out such program, the Secretary shallshall, awardin grantsaccordance underwith thissubsection section(b), award grants and sectionsenter 3,into 4,contracts and 5cooperative onagreements aunder competitive,this merit-reviewedsection, basisand tosections eligible3, entities4, and 5 for each of the following purposes:

(b) SolarGrants, EnergyContracts, Researchand SubjectCooperative Areas.--TheAgreements.-- (1) Grants.--In carrying out the program established under subsection (a)(a), the Secretary shall focusaward grants on thea research,competitive, development,merit-reviewed testing,basis andto evaluationeligible ofentities eachfor ofprojects that the followingSecretary subjectdetermines areas:would best achieve the goals of the program.

(1)(2) PhotovoltaicContracts devices and relatedcooperative electronicagreements.--In componentscarrying includingout converters,the sensors,program energyestablished monitors,under communicationsubsection (a), the Secretary may enter into contracts and controlcooperative equipment,agreements with eligible entities and protocols.Federal agencies for projects that the Secretary determines would further the purposes of the program.

(3) Application.--An entity seeking a grant or a contract or agreement under this Act shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(c) Solar Energy Research Subject Areas.--The program established under subsection (a) shall focus on the research, development, testing, and evaluation 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.

(4) SolarLow heatingcost, andthin-film coolingsolar systems,technologies, including distributedthe solar-powereduse airof conditioning.perovskite materials in solar cells.

(5) Solar technologyheating productsand thatcooling cansystems, beincluding easilydistributed integratedsolar-powered intoair newconditioning. buildings, existing buildings, agricultural and aquatic environments, and other infrastructure.

(6) Solar technology products that iscan resilientbe toeasily extremeintegrated weatherinto events.new buildings, existing buildings, agricultural and aquatic environments, and other infrastructure.

(7) Solar technology productsthat integratedis intoresilient transportationto applicationsextreme inweather coordinationevents. with vehicle technologies research and development activities supported by the Department of Energy.

(8) StorageSolar technologiestechnology toproducts addressintegrated theinto transiencetransportation andapplications intermittencyin ofcoordination solarwith energyvehicle resources,technologies includingresearch batteries,and supercapacitors,development andactivities thermalsupported storage.by the Department of Energy.

(9) Micro-gridsStorage usingtechnologies to address the transience and intermittency of solar technology.energy resources, including batteries, supercapacitors, and thermal storage.

(10) SolarMicrogrids technologiesusing enablingsolar safetechnology. grid operating conditions, such as fast-disconnect during an emergency.

(11) DistributedSolar solartechnologies energyenabling technologies,safe grid operating conditions, such as rooftopfast-disconnect solarduring panels.an emergency.

(12) TechnologiesDistributed andsolar designsenergy thattechnologies, enablesuch aas broadrooftop range of scales for solar powerpanels. production.

(13) AdvancedTechnologies solarand manufacturingdesigns technologiesthat andenable besta practices,broad including--range (A)of materialsscales andfor processes;solar power production.

(14) Advanced solar manufacturing technologies and best practices, including-- (A) materials and processes;

(14)(15) Advanced analytic and computing capabilities for better modeling and simulations of solar energy systems.

(15)(16) Electrical grid integration, including-- (A) integration of solar technologies into smart grid, transmission, and distribution;

(16)(17) Non-hardware and information-based advances in solar energy system design, installation, and operation.

(17)(18) Solar energy technology as a part of strategies commonly referred to as ``behind-the-meter strategies'', including with respect to electricity generation, load, energy efficiency, controls, storage, and electric vehicles.

(18)(19) NextMethods generationto demonstrationreduce facilities.the total volume of water used in the manufacture, construction, operation, and maintenance of solar energy technologies.

(19)(20) OtherNext subjectgeneration areasdemonstration determinedfacilities. by the Secretary.

(c)(21) TechnicalOther Assistancesubject andareas Workforcedetermined Development.--Inby carrying out the programSecretary. established under subsection (a), the Secretary may also conduct, for purposes of supporting technical, non-hardware, and information-based advances in solar energy systems development and operations-- (1) technical assistance and analysis activities with eligible entities, including activities that support expanding access to solar energy for low-income individuals and communities;

(d) Technical Assistance and (2)Workforce workforceDevelopment.--In developmentcarrying andout trainingthe activities,program includingestablished tounder supportsubsection (a), the disseminationSecretary may also conduct, for purposes of standardssupporting technical, non-hardware, and bestinformation-based practicesadvances forin enablingsolar energy systems development and operations, including activities expanding access to solar powerenergy production.for low-income individuals and communities-- (1) technical assistance and analysis activities with eligible entities;

(d)and Program(2) Targets.--Theworkforce programdevelopment establishedand undertraining subsectionactivities, (a)including shallactivities addressthat near-termsupport (upthe todissemination 2of years),standards mid-term (up to 7 years), and long-termbest (uppractices tofor 15enabling years) challenges to the advancement of solar energypower systems.production.

(e) WildlifeProgram ImpactTargets.--The Mitigation.--In carrying out the activities described in subsection (b), the program established under subsection (a) shall supportaddress wildlifenear-term impact(up mitigationto technologies2 andyears), strategies,mid-term including(up theto use7 ofyears), distributedand solarlong-term technologies,(up to reduce15 theyears) potentialchallenges negativeto impactsthe advancement of solar energy systemssystems. on wildlife, including bird species and local flora and fauna.

(f) StewardshipSustainable ofChemistry.--Each Nationalentity Laboratoryreceiving Resources.--Ina awardinggrant, grantscontract, or cooperative agreement under this Act,section theshall Secretaryendeavor, shallin stewardcarrying relevantout capabilitiesactivities under such grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, to incorporate, where appropriate, sustainable and programsgreen ofchemistry theand Nationalengineering Laboratories.principles, practices, and methodologies.

(g) ConformingWildlife Repeals.--TheImpact followingMitigation.--In provisionscarrying out the activities described in subsection (c), the program established under subsection (a) shall support wildlife impact mitigation technologies and strategies, including the use of lawdistributed aresolar herebytechnologies, repealed:to reduce the potential negative impacts of solar energy systems on wildlife, including bird species and local flora and fauna.

(h) Stewardship of National Laboratory Resources.--In awarding grants and entering into contracts and cooperative agreements under this Act, the Secretary shall steward relevant capabilities and programs of the National Laboratories.

(i) Conforming Repeals.--The following provisions of law are hereby repealed: