HR 2229 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish a joint energy cooperation program within the Department of Energy to fund eligible ventures between United States and Israeli businesses and academic persons in the national interest, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 9, 2007

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and TechnologyCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish a joint energy cooperation program within the Department of Energy to fund eligible ventures between United States and Israeli businesses and academic persons in the national interest, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) it is in the highest national security interests of the United States to develop alternative renewable energy sources;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the State of Israel is a steadfast ally of the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the special relationship between the United States and Israel is manifested in a variety of cooperative scientific research and development programs, such as--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) those programs have made possible many scientific, technological, and commercial breakthroughs in the fields of life sciences, medicine, bioengineering, agriculture, biotechnology, communications, and others;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) on February 1, 1996, the Secretary of Energy and the Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure signed an agreement to establish a framework for collaboration between the United States and Israel in energy research and development activities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Israeli scientists and engineers are at the forefront of research and development in the field of alternative renewable energy sources; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) enhanced cooperation between the United States and Israel for the purpose of research and development of alternative renewable energy sources would be in the national interests of both countries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) BIRD- The term `BIRD' means the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) BSF- The term `BSF' means the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment- In implementing the Agreement entitled the `Agreement between the Department of Energy of the United States of America and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of Israel Concerning Energy Cooperation', dated February 1, 1996, the Secretary shall establish a grant program to support research, development, and commercialization of alternative renewable energy sources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Types of Energy- In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary may make grants to promote--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) solar energy;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) biomass energy;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) energy efficiency;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) wind energy;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) fossil energy; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) other types of energy, as determined by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Eligible Applicants- An applicant shall be eligible to receive a grant under this section if the project of the applicant--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1)(A) addresses a requirement in the areas of alternative energy, improved energy efficiency, or renewable energy sources determined by the Secretary and applies for the grant in accordance with procedures established under this section; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) is a joint venture between--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i)(I) a for-profit business entity, academic institution, National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005), or nonprofit entity in the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(II) a for-profit business entity, academic institution, or nonprofit entity in Israel; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii)(I) the Government of the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(II) the Government of Israel; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) meets any other qualifications that the Secretary may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Applications-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an applicant shall submit an application for the grant to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the Secretary, in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the BIRD or BSF, in accordance with procedures established by the respective entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) USE OF BIRD AND BSF-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) ALLOCATION FOR BIRD AND BSF- The Secretary shall use not less than 50 percent of the funds that are provided to make grants under this section for a fiscal year to make grants through the BIRD and BSF.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) ALLOCATION BETWEEN BIRD AND BSF- The Secretary shall determine the manner in which funds made available for a fiscal year under this paragraph are allocated between the BIRD and BSF.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Advisory Board-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary shall establish an advisory board to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) monitor how grants are awarded under this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) provide to the Secretary periodic performance reviews of actions taken to carry out this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COMPOSITION- The advisory board shall be composed of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) a representative of the Government of the United States, appointed by the Secretary; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) a representative of the Government of Israel, appointed by the Government of Israel.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Repayment-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may require a recipient of a grant under this section to repay to the Secretary, the BIRD, or the BSF, as determined by the Secretary, an amount equal to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the amount of the grant, including interest at a rate determined by the Secretary; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) such charges for the administration of the grant as the Secretary determines appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LIMITATION- In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary may not require a grant recipient to repay more than 150 percent of the amount of the grant, adjusted in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for all-urban consumers, United States city average, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2014.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink