,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cace ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #ai1 #bjai,mr4 ,markey introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the establishment of clean technology consortia to enhance the economic1 environmental1 and energy security of the ,united ,states by promoting domestic development1 manufacture1 and deployment of clean technologies1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,consortia-,led ,energy and ,advanced ,manufacturing ,networks ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,clean technology ,the term clean technology means a technology1 production process1 or methodology that-- 7,a7 produces energy from solar1 wind1 geothermal1 biomass1 tidal1 wave1 ocean1 or another renewable energy source 7as defined in section #fji of the ,public ,utility ,regulatory ,policies ,act of #aigh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #iah;c772 7,b7 more efficiently transmits1 distributes1 or stores energy2 7,c7 enhances energy efficiency for buildings and industry1 including combined heat and power2 7,d7 enables the development of a ,smart ,grid 7as described in section #acja of the ,energy ,independence and ,security ,act of #bjjg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agcha771 including integration of renewable energy sources and distributed generation1 demand response1 demand side management1 and systems analysis2 7,e7 produces an advanced or sustainable material with energy or energy efficiency applications2 7,f7 improves energy efficiency for transportation1 including electric vehicles2 or 7,g7 enhances water security through improved water management1 conservation1 distribution1 or end use applications4 7#b7 ,advanced manufacturing ,the term advanced manufacturing-- 7,a7 means a manufacturing process that makes extensive use of computer1 high precision1 or information technologies integrated with a high performance workforce in a production system capable of furnishing a heterogeneous mix of products in small or large volumes with either the efficiency of mass production or the flexibility of custom manufacturing in order to respond quickly to customer demands2 and 7,b7 includes both new ways to manufacture existing products and the manufacture of new products emerging from new advanced technologies4 7#c7 ,cluster ,the term cluster means a network of entities directly involved in the research1 development1 finance1 and commercial application of clean technologies and advanced manufacturing whose geographic proximity facilitates the use and sharing of skilled human resources1 infrastructure1 research facilities1 educational and training institutions1 venture capital1 and input suppliers4 7#d7 ,consortium ,the term consortium means a clean technology consortium established in accordance with this ,act4 7#e7 ,project ,the term project means an activity with respect to which a consortium provides support under this ,act4 7#f7 ,qualifying entity ,the term qualifying entity means-- 7,a7 an institution of higher education that has entered into a partnership agreement with a private-sector entity2 7,b7 a ,federal or ,state entity with a focus on developing clean technologies or clusters1 as determined by the ,secretary2 7,c7 a nongovernmental organization with expertise in translational research1 clean technology1 or cluster development2 or 7,d7 any other entity determined appropriate by the ,secretary4 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,commerce4 7#h7 ,translational research ,the term translational research means the coordination of basic or applied research with technical applications to enable promising discoveries or inventions to achieve commercial application4 #c4 ,establishment of clean technology consortia program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish and carry out a program to establish clean technology consortia to enhance the economic1 environmental1 and energy security of the ,united ,states by promoting domestic development1 manufacture1 and deployment of clean1 state-of-the-art technologies4 7b7 ,program ,the ,secretary shall carry out the program established under subsection 7a7 by leveraging the expertise and resources of private research communities1 institutions of higher education1 industry1 venture capital1 ,national ,laboratories 7as defined in section #b of the ,energy ,policy ,act of #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aehja771 and other participants in technology innovation-- 7#a7 to support collaborative1 cross-disciplinary research and development in clean technologies and advanced manufacturing2 and 7#b7 to develop and accelerate the commercial application of innovative clean technologies and advanced manufacturing practices4 7c7 ,role of the ,secretary ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 carry out and oversee all aspects of the program established under subsection 7a72 7#b7 select recipients of grants for the establishment and operation of consortia through a competitive selection process2 and 7#c7 coordinate the innovation activities of consortia with activities carried out by the ,secretary of ,energy1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 other ,federal agency heads1 industry1 and institutions of higher education1 including by annually-- 7,a7 issuing guidance regarding national clean technology and advanced manufacturing development priorities and strategic objectives2 and 7,b7 convening a conference relating to clean technology and advanced manufacturing1 which shall bring together representatives of ,federal agencies1 industry1 institutions of higher education1 and other entities to share research and commercialization results1 program plans1 and opportunities for collaboration4 7d7 ,purposes of consortia ,the purposes of the consortia shall include-- 7#a7 promoting new innovative clean technologies that have demonstrated interest and potential for commercialization2 7#b7 expanding advanced manufacturing capabilities1 networks1 supply chains1 and assets1 in the area of clean technologies1 that contribute to regional and national manufacturing competitiveness and potential for growth2 7#c7 promoting job creation and entrepreneurship through the establishment of new companies1 the expansion of existing companies1 and commercialization of clean technologies2 7#d7 providing technical or financial assistance to companies looking to invest in clean technologies1 new products or services1 or enhanced processes that will grow sales and jobs2 7#e7 determining opportunities and challenges that companies are facing and how to improve their use or production of clean technologies2 7#f7 assisting individual small- and medium-sized enterprises with adopting and utilizing new clean technologies and related business and advanced manufacturing practices2 7#g7 accelerating investment in and deployment of clean technologies through public-private partnerships2 7#h7 encouraging partnering between and among emerging and established clean technology and advanced manufacturing enterprises2 or 7#i7 demonstrating a comprehensive and successful model for commercialization of clean technologies for promotion and emulation4 #d4 ,applications 7a7 ,in general ,to receive a grant under this ,act1 a consortium shall submit to the ,secretary an application in such manner1 at such time1 and containing such information as the ,secretary determines to be necessary4 7b7 ,eligibility ,a consortium shall be eligible to receive a grant under this ,act if-- 7#a7 the consortium consists of-- 7,a7 one or more research universities that can demonstrate a significant annual clean technology research budget1 entrepreneurial support programs1 and technology licensing expertise2 and 7,b7 a total of three or more qualifying entities that can demonstrate expertise in translational research1 clean technology1 and cluster development2 7#b7 the members of the consortium have established a binding agreement that documents-- 7,a7 the structure of the partnership agreement2 7,b7 a governance and management structure that enables cost-effective implementation of the program2 7,c7 a conflicts-of-interest policy1 including procedures1 consistent with those of the ,department of ,commerce1 to ensure that employees and designees for consortium activities who are in decision-making capacities disclose all material conflicts of interest1 including financial1 organizational1 and personal conflicts of interest2 7,d7 an accounting structure that meets the requirements of the ,secretary and that may be audited under this ,act2 and 7,e7 the existence of an external advisory committee2 7#c7 the consortium receives funding from non-,federal sources1 such as a ,state and participants of the consortium1 that may be used to support projects2 7#d7 the consortium is part of an existing cluster or demonstrates high potential to develop a new cluster2 and 7#e7 the consortium operates as a nonprofit organization or as a public-private partnership under an operating agreement led by a nonprofit organization4 7c7 ,disqualification ,the ,secretary may disqualify an application from a consortium under this ,act if the ,secretary determines that the conflicts-of-interest policy of the consortium is inadequate4 7d7 ,external advisory committees 7#a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this ,act1 a consortium shall establish an external advisory committee1 the members of which shall have extensive and relevant scientific1 technical1 industry1 financial1 or research management expertise4 7#b7 ,duties ,an external advisory committee shall-- 7,a7 review the proposed plans1 programs1 project selection criteria1 and projects of the consortium2 and 7,b7 ensure that projects selected by the consortium meet the applicable conflicts-of-interest policy of the consortium4 7#c7 ,members ,an external advisory committee shall consist of-- 7,a7 representatives of the members of the consortium2 and 7,b7 such representatives of industry1 including entrepreneurs and venture capitalists1 as the members of the consortium determine to be necessary4 7#d7 ,secretary as member ,the ,secretary shall join the external advisory committee of a consortium that receives a grant under this ,act4 #e4 ,grants 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis-- 7#a7 not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 to at least #a consortium2 and 7#b7 not later than #aj years after such date of enactment1 to not fewer than #f consortia4 7b7 ,terms 7#a7 ,in general ,the initial term of a grant awarded under this ,act shall not exceed #e years4 7#b7 ,extension ,the ,secretary may extend the term of a grant awarded under this ,act for a period of not more than #e additional years4 7c7 ,amounts 7#a7 ,in general ,a grant awarded to a consortium under this ,act shall not exceed the lesser of-- 7,a7 #cj1jjj1jjj per fiscal year2 or 7,b7 the collective contributions of non-,federal entities to the consortium1 as described under section #d7;b77#c74 7#b7 ,flexibility ,in determining the amount of a grant under this section1 the ,secretary shall consider-- 7,a7 the translational research capacity of the consortium2 7,b7 the financial1 human1 and facility resources of the qualifying entities2 and 7,c7 the cluster of which the consortium is a part4 7#c7 ,increases in amounts ,subject to paragraph 7#a71 a consortium may request an increase in the amount of a grant awarded under this ,act at the time the consortium requests an extension of an initial grant4 7d7 ,use of amounts 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#c71 a consortium awarded a grant under this ,act shall use the amounts to support translational research1 technology development1 manufacturing innovation1 and commercialization activities relating to clean technology4 7#b7 ,project selection ,as a condition of receiving a grant under this ,act1 a consortium shall-- 7,a7 develop and make available to the public on the website of the ,department of ,commerce proposed plans1 programs1 project selection criteria1 and terms for individual project awards2 7,b7 establish policies-- 7i7 to prevent resources provided to the consortium from being used to displace private sector investment otherwise likely to occur1 including investment from private sector entities that are members of the consortium2 7ii7 to facilitate the participation of private entities that invest in clean technologies to perform due diligence on award proposals1 to participate in the award review process1 and to provide guidance to projects supported by the consortium2 and 7iii7 to facilitate the participation of parties with a demonstrated history of commercial application of clean technologies in the development of consortium projects2 7,c7 oversee project solicitations1 review proposed projects1 and select projects for awards2 and 7,d7 monitor project implementation4 7#c7 ,limitations 7,a7 ,administrative expenses ,a consortium may use not more than #aj percent of the amounts awarded to the consortium for administrative expenses4 7,b7 ,prohibition on use ,a consortium may not use any amounts awarded to the consortium under this ,act to construct a new building or facility4 7e7 ,audits 7#a7 ,in general ,a consortium that receives a grant under this ,act shall carry out1 in accordance with such requirements as the ,secretary may prescribe1 an annual audit to determine whether the grant has been used in accordance with this ,act4 7#b7 ,report ,the consortium shall submit a copy of each audit under paragraph 7#a7 to the ,secretary and the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,,gao review ,as a condition of receiving a grant under this ,act1 a consortium shall allow the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states1 on the request of the ,comptroller ,general1 full access to the books1 records1 and personnel of consortium4 7#d7 ,reports to ,congress ,the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress annually a report that includes-- 7,a7 a copy of each audit carried out under paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 any recommendations of the ,secretary relating to the clean technology consortia program4 7f7 ,revocation of awards ,the ,secretary shall have the authority-- 7#a7 to review grants awarded under this ,act2 and 7#b7 to revoke a grant awarded under this ,act if the ,secretary determines that a consortium has used the grant in a manner that is not consistent with this ,act4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section #ajj1jjj1jjj4