---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18632"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18632"
heading: "Energy Innovation Hubs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18632"
units:
  - "Chapter 161 — Department of Energy Research and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter II — Department of Energy Research Coordination"
---

# §18632. Energy Innovation Hubs

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Advanced energy technology—** The term “advanced energy technology” means—
    - (A) an innovative technology—
      - (i) that produces energy from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal, wave, ocean, or other renewable energy resources;
      - (ii) that produces nuclear energy;
      - (iii) for carbon capture and sequestration;
      - (iv) that enables advanced vehicles, vehicle components, and related technologies that result in significant energy savings;
      - (v) that [generates](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=8), transmits, distributes, uses, or stores energy more efficiently than conventional technologies, including through Smart Grid technologies; or
      - (vi) that enhances the energy [independence](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=1-B) and security of the United States by enabling improved or expanded supply and production of domestic energy resources, including coal, oil, and natural gas;
    - (B) a research, development, demonstration, or commercial application activity necessary to ensure the long-term, secure, and sustainable supply of an energy-critical element; or
    - (C) any other innovative energy technology area identified by the [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4).
  - (2) **Hub—**
    - (A) **In general—** The term “Hub” means an Energy Innovation Hub established under this section.
    - (B) **Inclusion—** The term “Hub” includes any Energy Innovation Hub in existence on September 28, 2018.
  - (3) **Qualifying entity—** The term “qualifying entity” means—
    - (A) an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7);
    - (B) an appropriate [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) or Federal entity, including a federally funded research and development center of the [Department](/usc/42/18601.md?p=1);
    - (C) a nongovernmental organization with expertise in advanced energy technology research, development, demonstration, or commercial application; or
    - (D) any other relevant entity the [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) determines appropriate.
- (b) **Authorization of program—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall carry out a program to enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by making awards to consortia for establishing and operating hubs, to be known as “Energy Innovation Hubs”, to conduct and support, at, if practicable, one centralized location, multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of advanced energy technologies.
  - (2) **Technology development focus—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall designate for each Hub a unique advanced energy technology or basic research focus.
  - (3) **Coordination—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall ensure the coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the activities of each Hub with the activities of—
    - (A) other research entities of the [Department](/usc/42/18601.md?p=1), including the [National Laboratories](/usc/42/18601.md?p=3), the Advanced Research [Projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)—Energy, and Energy Frontier Research Centers; and
    - (B) industry.
- (c) **Application process—**
  - (1) **Eligibility—** To be eligible to receive an award for the establishment and operation of a Hub under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1), a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) shall—
    - (A) be composed of not fewer than two qualifying entities;
    - (B) operate subject to a binding agreement, entered into by each member of the [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4), that documents—
      - (i) the proposed partnership agreement, including the governance and management structure of the Hub;
      - (ii) measures the [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) will undertake to enable cost-effective implementation of activities under the program described in [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1); and
      - (iii) a proposed budget, including financial contributions from non-Federal sources; and
    - (C) operate as a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organization.
  - (2) **Application—**
    - (A) **In general—** A [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) seeking to establish and operate a Hub under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) may require, including a detailed description of each element of the [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) agreement required under [paragraph (1)(B)](#c-1-B).
    - (B) **Requirement—** If the [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) members will not be located at one centralized location, the application under [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A) shall include a communications plan that ensures close coordination and integration of Hub activities.
  - (3) **Selection—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall select consortia for awards for the establishment and operation of Hubs through a competitive selection process.
    - (B) **Considerations—** In selecting consortia under [subparagraph (A)](#c-3-A), the [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall consider—
      - (i) the information disclosed by the [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) under this subsection; and
      - (ii) any existing facilities a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) will provide for Hub activities.
- (d) **Term—**
  - (1) **In general—** An award made to a Hub under this section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years, subject to the availability of appropriations, after which the award may be renewed, subject to a rigorous merit review.
  - (2) **Existing Hubs—** A Hub already in existence on, or undergoing a renewal process on, September 28, 2018—
    - (A) may continue to receive support during the 5-year period beginning on the date of establishment of that Hub; and
    - (B) shall be eligible for renewal of that support at the end of that 5-year period.
- (e) **Hub operations—**
  - (1) **In general—** Each Hub shall conduct or provide for multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of advanced energy technologies within the technology development focus designated under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2).
  - (2) **Activities—** Each Hub shall—
    - (A) encourage collaboration and communication among the member qualifying entities of the [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) and awardees;
    - (B) develop and publish proposed plans and programs on a publicly accessible website;
    - (C) submit an annual report to the [Department](/usc/42/18601.md?p=1) summarizing the activities of the Hub, including—
      - (i) detailing organizational expenditures; and
      - (ii) describing each [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) undertaken by the Hub; and
    - (D) monitor [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) implementation and coordination.
  - (3) **Conflicts of interest—** Each Hub shall maintain conflict of interest procedures, consistent with the conflict of interest procedures of the [Department](/usc/42/18601.md?p=1).
  - (4) **Prohibition on construction—**
    - (A) **In general—** Except as provided in [subparagraph (B)](#e-4-B)—
      - (i) no funds provided under this section may be used for [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) of new buildings or facilities for Hubs; and
      - (ii) [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) of new buildings or facilities shall not be considered as part of the non-Federal share of a Hub cost-sharing agreement.
    - (B) **Test bed and renovation exception—** Nothing in this paragraph prohibits the use of funds provided under this section or non-Federal cost share funds for the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) of a test bed or renovations to existing buildings or facilities for the purposes of research if the [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) determines that the test bed or renovations are limited to a scope and scale necessary for the research to be conducted.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–246, title II, § 206, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3137.)