Energizing Technology Transfer Act

Short title— This Act may be cited as the “Energizing Technology Transfer Act”.

Table of contents— The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

In order to achieve domestic and international net-zero greenhouse gas emissions targets, a rapid and substantial investment in clean energy innovation is needed.

Clean energy technologies face unique obstacles to successful commercial application, including high up-front capital costs, long development times, and the need to displace incumbent technologies in highly regulated markets.

Multiple technology development and financing gaps exist in the clean energy innovation and commercial application landscape that are not currently met by private sector investment alone.

Federal investments in technology transfer and demonstration programs help fill existing gaps in the innovation cycle and improve the likelihood of successful and timely commercial application of clean energy technologies.

To maximize clean energy innovation’s positive impact on United States economic competitiveness and reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, the Department of Energy must show significant leadership in enabling the transfer of new technologies to the private sector, particularly through the Office of Technology Transitions.

Clean energy technology— The term clean energy technology means a technology that significantly reduces energy use, increases energy efficiency, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, reduces emissions of other pollutants, or mitigates other negative environmental consequences.

Department— The term Department means the Department of Energy.

Director— The term Director means the Director of each National Laboratory and the Director of each Department of Energy single-purpose research facility.

Economically distressed area— The term economically distressed area has the meaning described in section 301(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3161(a)).

Grant— The term “grant” means a grant award, cooperative agreement award, or any other financial assistance arrangement that the Secretary of Energy determines to be appropriate.

Institution of higher education— The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1001).

National laboratory— The term National Laboratory has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.