ARPA-E Act - Advanced Research Projects Energy Act of 2006

109th CONGRESS
2d Session

S. 2196

To authorize the Secretary of Energy to establish the position of Assistant Secretary for Advanced Energy Research, Technology Development, and Deployment to implement an innovative energy research, technology development, and deployment program.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 25, 2006

Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mr. REID, and Mr. BINGAMAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Advanced Research Projects Energy Act (ARPA-E) Act'.

SEC. 2. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ADVANCED ENERGY RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, AND DEPLOYMENT.

(a) Establishment-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Energy shall establish in the Department of Energy the position of Assistant Secretary for Advanced Energy Research, Technology Development, and Deployment (referred to in this Act as the `Assistant Secretary'), to be headed by, and to report to, the Secretary.

(2) QUALIFICATIONS- The Assistant Secretary shall be an individual with--

(A) an advanced education degree in energy technology; and

(B) substantial commercial research and technology development and deployment experience.

(b) Mission- The mission of the Assistant Secretary is--

(1) to implement an innovative energy research, technology development, and deployment program to--

(A) increase national security by significantly reducing petroleum and imported fuels consumption;

(B) significantly improve the efficiency of electricity use and the reliability of the electricity system; and

(2) to sponsor a diverse portfolio of cutting-edge, high-payoff research, development, and deployment projects to carry out the program.

(c) Experimental Personnel Authority- The Assistant Secretary may staff the office of the Assistant Secretary primarily using a program of experimental use of special personnel management authority in order to facilitate recruitment of eminent experts in science or engineering for management of research and development projects and programs administered by the Assistant Secretary under similar terms and conditions as the authority is exercised under section 1101 of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261; 5 U.S.C. 3104 note), as determined by the Assistant Secretary.

(d) Transactions Other Than Contracts and Grants- To carry out projects under this Act, the Assistant Secretary may enter into transactions to carry out advanced research projects under this subsection under similar terms and conditions as the authority is exercised under section 646(g) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7256(g)).

(e) Prizes for Advanced Technology Achievements-

(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraphs (2) through (4), the Assistant Secretary may carry out a program to award cash prizes in recognition of outstanding achievements in basic, advanced, and applied research, technology development, and prototype development that have the potential to advance the mission described in subsection (b) under similar terms and conditions as the authority is exercised under section 1008 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16396).

(2) COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS- In carrying out this subsection, the Assistant Secretary shall--

(A) use a competitive process for the selection of recipients of cash prizes; and

(B) conduct widely-advertised solicitation of submissions of research results, technology developments, and prototypes.

(3) MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR ALL CASH PRIZES- The total amount of all cash prizes awarded for a fiscal year under this subsection may not exceed $50,000,000.

(4) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUAL CASH PRIZES- The amount of an individual cash prize awarded under this subsection may not exceed $10,000,000 unless the amount of the award is approved by the Secretary of Energy.

(f) Annual Reports- As soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year for which the Assistant Secretary receives funds under subsection (h), the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Science, of the House of Representatives a report on the progress, challenges, future milestones, and strategic plan of the Assistant Secretary, including--

(1) a description of, and rationale for, any changes in the strategic plan;

(2) the adequacy of human and financial resources necessary to achieve the mission described in subsection (b); and

(3) in the case of cash prizes awarded under subsection (e), a description of--

(A) the applications of the research, technology, or prototypes for which prizes were awarded;

(B) the total amount of the prizes that were awarded;

(C) the methods used for solicitation and evaluation of submissions and an assessment of the effectiveness of those methods; and

(D) recommendations to improve the prize program.

(g) Relationship to Other Authority- The program under this Act may be carried out in conjunction with, or in addition to, the exercise of any other authority of the Assistant Secretary to acquire, support, or stimulate basic, advanced, and applied research, technology development, or prototype projects.

(h) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--

(1) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and

(2) $2,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011.

END