§ 17111. Energy-intensive industries program
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(2)
Energy-intensive industry
The term “energy-intensive industry” means an industry that uses significant quantities of energy as part of its primary economic activities, including—
(A)
information technology, including data centers containing electrical equipment used in processing, storing, and transmitting digital information;
(3)
Feedstock
The term “feedstock” means the raw material supplied for use in manufacturing, chemical, and biological processes.
(b)
Establishment of program
The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary, in cooperation with energy-intensive industries and national industry trade associations representing the energy-intensive industries, shall support, research, develop, and promote the use of new materials processes, technologies, and techniques to optimize energy efficiency and the economic competitiveness of the United States’ industrial and commercial sectors.
(c)
Partnerships
(1)
In general
As part of the program, the Secretary shall establish energy efficiency partnerships between the Secretary and eligible entities to conduct research on, develop, and demonstrate new processes, technologies, and operating practices and techniques to significantly improve the energy efficiency of equipment and processes used by energy-intensive industries, including the conduct of activities to—
(2)
Eligible activities
Partnership activities eligible for funding under this subsection include—
(A)
feedstock and recycling research, development, and demonstration activities to identify and promote—
(i)
opportunities for meeting industry feedstock requirements with more energy efficient and flexible sources of feedstock or energy supply;
(B)
research to develop and demonstrate technologies and processes that utilize alternative energy sources to supply heat, power, and new feedstocks for energy-intensive industries;
(C)
research to achieve energy efficiency in steam, power, control system, and process heat technologies, and in other manufacturing processes; and
(D)
industrial and commercial energy efficiency and sustainability assessments to—
(3)
Proposals
(A)
In general
To be eligible for funding under this subsection, a partnership shall submit to the Secretary a proposal that describes the proposed research, development, or demonstration activity to be conducted by the partnership.
(B)
Review
After reviewing the scientific, technical, and commercial merit of a proposals [1] submitted under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the proposal.
(4)
Cost-sharing requirement
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall require cost sharing in accordance with section
16352 of this title.
(d)
Grants
The Secretary may award competitive grants for innovative technology research, development and demonstrations to universities, individual inventors, and small companies, based on energy savings potential, commercial viability, and technical merit.
(e)
Institution of higher education-based industrial research and assessment centers
The Secretary shall provide funding to institution of higher education-based industrial research and assessment centers, whose purpose shall be—
(2)
to promote applications of emerging concepts and technologies in small- and medium-sized manufacturers;
(3)
to promote research and development for the use of alternative energy sources to supply heat, power, and new feedstocks for energy-intensive industries;
(f)
Authorization of appropriations
[1] So in original.