Sec. 604. Energy Innovation Hubs

916 words·~4 min read·/bill/114/s/2012/eah/section-604

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The Secretary of Energy shall carry out a program to enhance the Nation’s economic, environmental, and energy security by making awards to consortia for establishing and operating Energy Innovation Hubs to conduct and support, whenever practicable at one centralized location, multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development, and demonstration of advanced energy technologies. The Secretary shall designate for each Hub a unique advanced energy technology focus. The Secretary shall ensure the coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the activities of Hubs with those of other Department of Energy research entities, including the National Laboratories, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Energy Frontier Research Centers, and within industry.

To be eligible to receive an award under this section for the establishment and operation of a Hub, a consortium shall— be composed of no fewer than two qualifying entities; and operate subject to an agreement entered into by its members that documents— the proposed partnership agreement, including the governance and management structure of the Hub; measures to enable cost-effective implementation of the program under this section; a proposed budget, including financial contributions from non-Federal sources; a plan for managing intellectual property rights; and an accounting structure that enables the Secretary to ensure that the consortium has complied with the requirements of this section.

A consortium seeking to establish and operate a Hub under this section, acting through a prime applicant, shall transmit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary shall require, including a detailed description of the elements of the consortium agreement required under paragraph (1)(B). If the consortium members will not be located at one centralized location, such application shall include a communications plan that ensures close coordination and integration of the Hub’s activities.

The Secretary shall select consortia for awards for the establishment and operation of Hubs through competitive selection processes. In selecting consortia, the Secretary shall consider the information a consortium must disclose according to subsection (b), as well as any existing facilities a consortium will provide for Hub activities. Awards made to a Hub shall be for a period not to exceed 5 years, subject to the availability of appropriations, after which the award may be renewed, subject to a rigorous merit review.

A Hub already in existence on the date of enactment of this Act may continue to receive support for a period of 5 years, subject to the availability of appropriations, beginning on the date of establishment of that Hub. Each Hub shall conduct or provide for multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development, and demonstration of advanced energy technologies within the technology development focus designated under subsection (a)(2). Each Hub shall— encourage collaboration and communication among the member qualifying entities of the consortium and awardees by conducting activities whenever practicable at one centralized location; develop and publish on the Department of Energy’s website proposed plans and programs; submit an annual report to the Secretary summarizing the Hub’s activities, including detailing organizational expenditures, and describing each project undertaken by the Hub; and monitor project implementation and coordination.

Hubs shall maintain conflict of interest procedures, consistent with those of the Department of Energy, to ensure that employees and consortia designees for Hub activities who are in decisionmaking capacities disclose all material conflicts of interest, and avoid such conflicts. The Secretary may disqualify an application or revoke funds distributed to a Hub if the Secretary discovers a failure to comply with conflict of interest procedures established under subparagraph (A).

No funds provided pursuant to this section may be used for construction of new buildings or facilities for Hubs. Construction of new buildings or facilities shall not be considered as part of the non-Federal share of a Hub cost-sharing agreement. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the use of funds provided pursuant to this section, or non-Federal cost share funds, for research or for the construction of a test bed or renovations to existing buildings or facilities for the purposes of research if the Secretary determines that the test bed or renovations are limited to a scope and scale necessary for the research to be conducted.

Consistent with the existing authorities of the Department, the Secretary may terminate an underperforming Hub for cause during the performance period. For purposes of this section: The term advanced energy technology means— an innovative technology— that produces energy from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal, wave, ocean, or other renewable energy resources; that produces nuclear energy; for carbon capture and sequestration; that enables advanced vehicles, vehicle components, and related technologies that result in significant energy savings; that generates, transmits, distributes, utilizes, or stores energy more efficiently than conventional technologies, including through Smart Grid technologies; or that enhances the energy independence and security of the United States by enabling improved or expanded supply and production of domestic energy resources, including coal, oil, and natural gas; research, development, and demonstration activities necessary to ensure the long-term, secure, and sustainable supply of energy critical elements; or another innovative energy technology area identified by the Secretary.

The term Hub means an Energy Innovation Hub established or operating in accordance with this section, including any Energy Innovation Hub existing as of the date of enactment of this Act. The term qualifying entity means— an institution of higher education; an appropriate State or Federal entity, including the Department of Energy Federally Funded Research and Development Centers; a nongovernmental organization with expertise in advanced energy technology research, development, demonstration, or commercial application; or any other relevant entity the Secretary considers appropriate.