Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed Act
This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish testbed capability for researching, developing, and demonstrating technologies for processing critical materials, including feedstock materials. (Testbeds are platforms or facilities that allow for rigorous, transparent, and replicable testing of theories, tools, and technologies.)
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9471 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9471
To establish a Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed
Capability, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 8, 2022
Mr. Foster (for himself and Ms. Johnson of Texas) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed
Capability, and for other purposes.
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 ``Critical Materials Processing
Technology Testbed Act''.
SEC. 2. CRITICAL MATERIALS PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY TESTBED.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with other
appropriate Federal agencies, shall administer a competitive,
merit reviewed process to establish a Critical Materials
Processing Technology Testbed Capability (referred to in this
section as the ``Testbed'') that allows for--
(A) research, development, and demonstration of
novel critical materials processing technologies; and
(B) scalable performance testing to be conducted on
feedstock materials.
(2) Selection.--In administering the process referred to in
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider applications from
National Laboratories, institutions of higher education,
private companies, multi-institutional collaborations, and
other entities the Secretary determines appropriate. The
Secretary may implement the Testbed as a single site or more
than one site as necessary to carry out the mission of the
Testbed as described in subsections (a) and (b).
(b) Focus Areas.--The Testbed shall include a focus on substantive
and innovative improvements to critical materials processing
technologies, including relating to the following:
(1) Reduced energy intensity.
(2) Reduced pollutants.
(3) Reduced water consumption.
(4) Lower environmental and societal impacts.
(5) Lower lifecycle costs.
(6) Improved recovery efficiencies.
(7) Process improvement beyond traditional thermal or pyro
chemical techniques.
(8) Reduced volumes and toxicity of waste.
(9) Noise reduction.
(10) Worker safety.
(11) Processing techniques and technologies which have
applicability to a wide range of material sources.
(c) Duration.--
(1) In general.--The Testbed shall receive support for a
period of not more than five years, subject to the availability
of appropriations.
(2) Renewal.--Upon the expiration of any period of support
of the Testbed, the Secretary may renew support for the
Testbed, on a merit-reviewed process, for a period of not more
than five years.
(d) Technology Transfer.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Director of the Office of Technology Transitions of the Department,
shall facilitate the translation and secure transfer to industry of
research results produced at the Testbed.
(e) Intellectual Property.--The Secretary shall ensure the
intellectual property and value proposition generated by research,
development, and demonstration activities at the Testbed are retained
within the United States.
(f) Interagency Engagement.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall--
(1) consult with the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency to ensure the goals and objectives of the
Testbed align with applicable laws and regulations and
environmental justice priorities; and
(2) ensure appropriate cooperation with, and avoid
unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the Testbed with
the activities of--
(A) other research entities of the Department;
(B) the National Laboratories;
(C) other Federal agencies;
(D) institutions of higher education;
(E) United States industry;
(F) nongovernmental organizations; and
(G) other relevant individuals or entities.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary--
(A) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 to establish
the Testbed; and
(B) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
through 2027 to carry out the activities of the
Testbed.
(2) Cost share.--The Secretary may require that funds made
available pursuant to the authorization under paragraph (1)(B)
be cost-shared by entities other than a National Laboratory
seeking to conduct research, development, or demonstration
activities at the Testbed.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Critical material.--The term ``critical material''
means any of the following:
(A) A critical material, as such term is defined in
section 7002(a)(2) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C.
1606(a)(2); enacted as division Z of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260)).
(B) A strategic mineral as determined by the
Secretary of Defense pursuant to Presidential
Determination 2022-11.
(2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Energy.
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(4) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801(3)).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
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