HR 288 - Renewable Energy Applied Partnerships (REAP) Act

HR 288

112th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. R. 288

To establish a pilot program to provide assistance for partnerships supporting applied sciences in renewable energy.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 12, 2011

Ms. HIRONO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

A BILL

To establish a pilot program to provide assistance for partnerships supporting applied sciences in renewable energy.

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 `Renewable Energy Applied Partnerships (REAP) Act'.

SEC. 2. APPLIED SCIENCES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment- The Secretary of Energy shall establish a research pilot program for award grants to partnerships to improve education and training in support of applied sciences in the field of renewable energy as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction at the secondary school and undergraduate levels. Grants under this section may be used for--

(1) professional development and training for teachers;

(2) purchase, rental, or leasing of equipment, instrumentation, and other educational and training materials;

(3) improvement of facilities for providing education and training experiences in applied sciences in the field of renewable energy;

(4) development of instructional programs designed to integrate education and training in applied sciences in renewable energy with the practical application of that education and training;

(5) recruitment and retention of new faculty;

(6) encouraging collaboration between faculty and industry partners;

(7) supporting outreach efforts to recruit students; and

(8) assessment of the activities funded under this Act.

(b) Partnerships- Grants awarded under subsection (a) shall be to the institution described in paragraph (1), as part of a partnership that--

(1) includes a 2-year degree granting institution of higher education offering an associates degree in applied science in a renewable energy field;

(2) includes a 4-year degree granting institution of higher education;

(3) includes a business or eligible nonprofit organization and labor organization; and

(4) may include a State educational agency, other public agency, National Laboratory, or community-based organization.

(1) whose proposal incorporates a technical preparation program described in section 203(c) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2373(c)); or

(2) who can demonstrate the likely long-term stability of the program without continued Federal funding.

(d) Diversity of Subject Matter- The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that, to the extent possible, grants are provided under this Act for partnerships representing a wide diversity of renewable energy fields.

(e) Federal Share- The Federal share of the cost of activities carried out using amounts from a grant under subsection (a) shall not exceed 40 percent.

(f) Limitation- No single grant under subsection (a) may be made in an amount greater than $1,000,000 per year.

(g) Public Information- The Secretary of Energy shall make publicly available all curricula, planning documents, and other materials related to a project supported by a grant made under this Act.

(h) Project Reports- The Secretary of Energy shall require grant recipients under subsection (a) to submit a report to the Secretary, not later than 3 years after receiving the grant, on the results of the project supported by the grant. Each such report shall include an assessment of which elements of the project supported with the grant were successful and which were not, along with an identification and analysis of improvements that could have made the project more successful. The Secretary shall make all reports submitted under this subsection available to the public.

(i) Definition- For purposes of this section, the term `renewable energy' has the meaning given that term in section 609(a)(3) and (4) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 918c(a)(3) and (4)).

SEC. 3. REPORT.

The Secretary of Energy shall evaluate the effectiveness of activities carried out under this Act. A report documenting the results of that evaluation shall be submitted to the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall identify best practices and materials developed and demonstrated by partnerships awarded a grant.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--

(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;

(2) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and

(3) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015.

END