,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #deff ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bj1 #bjbb,ms4 ,cortez ,masto 7for herself and ,mr4 ,lujn7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,energy ,independence and ,security ,act of #bjjg to establish a regional clean energy innovation program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,regional ,clean ,energy ,innovation ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,regional ,clean ,energy ,innovation ,program 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,c of title ,,ix of the ,energy ,independence and ,security ,act of #bjjg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agcga et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #icf4 ,regional ,clean ,energy ,innovation ,program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,covered entity ,the term covered entity means any of the following3 7,a7 ,an institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education4 7,b7 ,a workforce training provider1 including a vocational school and community college4 7,c7 ,a private sector entity or group of private sector entities1 including a trade or industry association4 7,d7 ,a nonprofit organization4 7,e7 ,a community group4 7,f7 ,a labor group4 7,g7 ,a ,national ,laboratory4 7,h7 ,a venture development organization4 7,i7 ,a community development financial institution4 7,j7 ,a minority depository institution4 7,k7 ,a worker cooperative membership association4 7,l7 ,a ,state or local employee ownership or cooperative development center4 7,m7 ,an organization focused on clean energy technology innovation or entrepreneurship4 7,n7 ,a business accelerator or incubator4 7,o7 ,an economic development organization4 7,p7 ,a manufacturing facility or organization4 7,q7 ,a clean energy incubator or clean energy accelerator4 7,r7 ,a multi-institutional collaboration of at least #c institutions4 7,s7 ,any other entity that the ,secretary determines to be relevant4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a partnership of not less than #b covered entities2 and 7,b7 a regional clean energy innovation partnership in existence as of the date of enactment of the ,regional ,clean ,energy ,innovation ,act of #bjbb4 7#c7 ,program ,the term program means the ,regional ,clean ,energy ,innovation ,program established under subsection 7b74 7#d7 ,regional clean energy innovation partnership ,the term regional clean energy innovation partnership means a partnership-- 7,a7 among-- 7i7 a government entity1 including a unit of ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government2 and 7ii7 not less than #b covered entities2 and 7,b7 that carries out or coordinates activities or programs that further the purposes of the program described in subsection 7c71 including the activities described in subsection 7f74 7b7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a research1 development1 demonstration1 and commercial application program1 to be known as the ,regional ,clean ,energy ,innovation ,program1 to enhance the economic1 environmental1 and energy security of the ,united ,states and accelerate the pace of innovation of diverse clean energy technologies through the formation of new1 or support of existing1 regional clean energy innovation partnerships that-- 7#a7 account for the diverse domestic energy resources available in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 are responsive to the needs of industry1 workforce1 policy landscape1 and clean energy innovation capabilities of the region served by a regional clean energy innovation partnership2 7#c7 enhance and accelerate clean energy innovation2 7#d7 are located in diverse geographic regions of the ,united ,states1 including ,united ,states territories2 and 7#e7 maximize the opportunities for cooperation between institutions of higher education1 industry1 ,state and local governments1 and nonprofit research institutions with shared areas of energy expertise4 7c7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the program are-- 7#a7 to improve the competitiveness of the ,united ,states in clean energy technology research1 development1 demonstration1 and commercial application2 and 7#b7 to support the development of clean energy tools and technologies best suited for use in diverse regions of the ,united ,states1 including in rural1 tribal1 and low-income communities4 7d7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,under the program1 the ,secretary shall competitively award grants to-- 7,a7 eligible entities described in subsection 7a77#b77;,a7 to establish new regional clean energy innovation partnerships2 and 7,b7 eligible entities described in subsection 7a77#b77;,b7 to support ongoing activities of those eligible entities1 in accordance with the requirements of the program4 7#b7 ,grant amount ,the amount of a grant awarded to an eligible entity under the program in a calendar year-- 7,a7 shall not exceed #aj1jjj1jjj2 and 7,b7 shall be1 subject to a waiver by the ,secretary1 less than the amount of a grant awarded to the eligible entity under the program the previous calendar year1 if applicable4 7#c7 ,administrative costs ,the ,secretary may allow an eligible entity awarded a grant under the program to allocate a portion of the grant funds for administrative or indirect costs4 7#d7 ,non-federal cost share ,in the case of a grant awarded under the program that has a term of #c or more years1 the ,secretary shall require1 as a condition of receipt of the grant funds1 that the non-,federal share of the cost of activities carried out using the grant funds shall be not less than #ej percent of the cost of the activities during the third1 fourth1 and fifth year of the grant1 as applicable4 7#e7 ,duration 7,a7 ,in general ,the term of a grant awarded under the program shall not exceed #e years4 7,b7 ,renewal ,a grant awarded to an eligible entity under the program may be renewed for a period of not more than #e years1 subject to a rigorous merit review based on the progress of the regional clean energy innovation partnership in achieving the purposes of the program described in subsection 7c7 and the metrics developed under subsection 7h77#b74 7#f7 ,termination ,the ,secretary may terminate grant funding under the program to an eligible entity during the performance period if the ,secretary determines that the applicable regional clean energy innovation partnership is underperforming4 7e7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application to receive a grant under the program at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7,a7 a list of members of the proposed or existing regional clean energy innovation partnership1 the roles of those members1 and any other relevant stakeholders2 7,b7 a description of-- 7i7 the geographical region served1 or to be served1 by the regional clean energy innovation partnership2 7ii7 7,i7 the activities that the proposed or existing regional clean energy innovation partnership intends to undertake2 and 7,,ii7 the manner in which those activities will achieve the purposes of the program described in subsection 7c7 and the proposed outcomes described in clause 7iii72 and 7iii7 the proposed outcomes of the regional clean energy innovation partnership2 7,c7 an assessment of-- 7i7 the relevant clean energy innovation assets needed in the geographical region identified under subparagraph 7,b77i7 to achieve the proposed outcomes described in subparagraph 7,b77iii71 such as education and training programs1 research facilities1 infrastructure or site development1 access to capital1 manufacturing capabilities1 or other assets2 and 7ii7 the clean energy resource potential of that geographical region2 7,d7 a plan for attracting additional funds1 including identification of non-,federal funding sources1 to deliver the proposed outcomes described in subparagraph 7,b77iii72 7,e7 a plan for partnering and collaborating with community development financial institutions1 minority depository institutions1 labor and community groups1 worker cooperative membership associations1 local and ,state employee ownership and cooperative development centers1 and other local institutions-- 7i7 to promote employee1 community1 and public ownership in the clean energy sector2 and 7ii7 to advance models of local economic development that build and retain wealth in the region2 7,f7 a plan for sustaining the activities of the regional clean energy innovation partnership after funds received under the program have been expended2 and 7,g7 a proposed budget1 including financial contributions from non-,federal sources4 7#b7 ,selection considerations ,in awarding grants under the program1 the ,secretary shall1 to the maximum extent practicable-- 7,a7 give special consideration to applications from eligible entities located in rural1 tribal1 and low-income communities2 and 7,b7 ensure geographic diversity among the eligible entities awarded grants4 7f7 ,permissible activities ,activities that may be carried out by a regional clean energy innovation partnership established or supported using a grant awarded under the program shall include-- 7#a7 facilitating the commercial application of clean energy products1 processes1 and services1 including through research1 development1 demonstration1 or technology transfer2 7#b7 improving strategic and cost-effective coordination among the partners of the regional clean energy innovation partnership2 7#c7 improving stakeholder involvement in developing the goals and activities of the regional clean energy innovation partnership2 7#d7 assessing different incentive mechanisms for clean energy development and commercial application in the region served by the regional clean energy innovation partnership2 7#e7 hosting events and conferences2 7#f7 establishing and updating roadmaps to measure progress on relevant goals1 including goals relevant to metrics developed under subsection 7h77#b72 and 7#g7 any other activity determined appropriate by the ,secretary to achieve the purposes of the program described in subsection 7c74 7g7 ,planning awards ,the ,secretary may competitively award grants to a covered entity or a government entity1 including a ,state1 local1 or tribal government1 or unit of such government1 in an amount not greater than #b1jjj1jjj1 for a term of not more than #b years1 to conduct planning for the purpose of establishing a regional clean energy innovation partnership4 7h7 ,administration 7#a7 ,best practices ,as part of the program1 the ,secretary shall support the gathering1 analysis1 and dissemination of information on best practices for developing and operating successful regional clean energy innovation partnerships4 7#b7 ,metrics ,the ,secretary shall collaborate with program evaluation experts to develop and make publicly available metrics by which to measure the progress of a regional clean energy innovation partnership in achieving the purposes of the program described in subsection 7c71 including1 as a result of activities carried out under the regional clean energy innovation partnership-- 7,a7 the number and quality of-- 7i7 new clean energy companies created in the region1 including clean energy companies created or preserved through employee ownership and cooperative development2 7ii7 new or expanded workforce development or training programs in the region2 and 7iii7 support services provided to clean energy technology developers in the region2 7,b7 changes in clean energy employment in the region2 7,c7 the amount of capital investment in clean energy companies in the region2 and 7,d7 the completion of new or updated clean energy resource assessments in the region4 7#c7 ,coordination ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall coordinate with1 and avoid unnecessary duplication of-- 7,a7 activities under other research entities of the ,department1 including the ,national ,laboratories1 the ,office of ,science1 the ,advanced ,research ,projects ,agency--,energy1 the ,office of ,technology ,transitions1 ,energy ,innovation ,hubs1 and ,energy ,frontier ,research ,centers2 and 7,b7 relevant programs at other ,federal agencies1 including-- 7i7 programs under the ,office of ,innovation and ,entrepreneurship of the ,economic ,development ,administration2 7ii7 the regional innovation program established under section #bg of the ,stevenson-,wydler ,technology ,innovation ,act of #aihj 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #cgbb72 7iii7 the ,hollings ,manufacturing ,extension ,partnership established under section #be of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bghk72 7iv7 the ,manufacturing ,,usa ,program established under section #cd of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bghs72 7v7 the ,defense ,manufacturing ,community ,support ,program established under section #hdf of the ,john ,s4 ,mc,cain ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjai 7#aj ,u4,s4,c4 #beja note2 ,public ,law #aae-bcb72 7vi7 the ,office of ,economic ,adjustment of the ,department of ,defense2 7vii7 programs under the rural development mission area of the ,department of ,agriculture2 and 7viii7 programs under the energy and mineral resources mission area of the ,department of the ,interior4 7#d7 ,conflicts of interest ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall maintain conflict of interest procedures consistent with the conflict of interest procedures of the ,department4 7i7 ,reports and plan 7#a7 ,annual ,report ,as part of the annual budget of the ,department submitted to ,congress for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall annually submit to ,congress a report that describes the activities carried out by each regional clean energy innovation partnership established or supported using grants awarded under the program during the fiscal year covered by the report4 7#b7 ,strategic ,plan ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,regional ,clean ,energy ,innovation ,act of #bjbb1 and not less frequently than once every #e years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a #e-year strategic plan describing how the ,secretary shall utilize regional clean energy innovation partnerships to deploy clean energy technologies4 7#c7 ,evaluation by ,comptroller ,general ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of the ,regional ,clean ,energy ,innovation ,act of #bjbb1 and every #c years thereafter1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate an evaluation of the operation of the program during the most recent #c-year period1 including-- 7,a7 an assessment of the progress made in achieving the purposes described in subsection 7c7 based on the metrics developed under subsection 7h77#b72 7,b7 the short-term and long-term metrics used to determine the success of the program under subsection 7h77#b71 and any recommended changes to those metrics2 7,c7 the regional clean energy innovation partnerships established or supported by grants received under the program2 and 7,d7 any recommendations for improvement to the program4 7j7 ,security ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall ensure that proper security controls are in place to protect sensitive information1 as appropriate4 7k7 ,funding 7#a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf4 7#b7 ,additional funding ,the ,secretary may accept funds from other ,federal agencies to support funding and activities under the program4 7#c7 ,no funds for construction ,none of the funds made available to carry out the program may be used for construction4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents in section #a7;b7 of the ,energy ,independence and ,security ,act of #bjjg 7,public ,law #aaj-adj2 #aba ,stat4 #adig7 is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle ,c of title ,,ix the following3 ,sec4 #icf4 ,regional ,clean ,energy ,innovation ,program4 4