42 USC 16318 - Fission and fusion energy materials research program

Collapse to view only § 16318. Fission and fusion energy materials research program

§ 16311. Science
§ 16312. Fusion energy sciences program
§ 16313. Solar Fuels Research Initiative
§ 16314. Hydrogen
§ 16315. Electricity Storage Research Initiative
§ 16316. Advanced scientific computing research and development program
§ 16317. Systems biology program
§ 16318. Fission and fusion energy materials research program
§ 16319. Energy and water supplies
§ 16320. Spallation Neutron Source
§ 16321. Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
§ 16322. Office of Scientific and Technical Information
§ 16323. Science and engineering education pilot program
§ 16324. Energy research fellowships
§ 16325. Science and Technology Scholarship Program

§ 16311. Science

(a) In general

(b) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities of the Office of Science, including activities authorized under this part (including the amounts authorized under the amendment made by section 976(b) 1

1 See References in Text note below.

and including basic energy sciences, advanced scientific and computing research, biological and environmental research, fusion energy sciences, high energy physics, nuclear physics, research analysis, and infrastructure support)—

(1) $4,153,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;

(2) $4,586,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;

(3) $5,200,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;

(4) $5,814,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;

(5) $5,247,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;

(6) $5,614,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and

(7) $6,007,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.

(1) For activities under the Fusion Energy Sciences program (including activities under section 16312 of this title)—

(A) $355,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;

(B) $369,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;

(D) in addition to the amounts authorized under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), such sums as may be necessary for ITER construction, consistent with the limitations of section 16312(c)(5) of this title.

(2) For activities under the catalysis research program under section 16313 of this title—

(A) $36,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;

(B) $38,200,000 for fiscal year 2008; and

(3) For activities under the Systems Biology Program under section 16317 of this title such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009.

(4) For activities under the Energy and Water Supplies program under section 16319 of this title, $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009.

(5) For the energy research fellowships programs under section 16324 of this title, $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009.

(6) For the advanced scientific computing activities under section 976— 1

(A) $270,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;

(B) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and

(7) For the science and engineering education pilot program under section 16323 of this title—

(A) $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 and 2008; and

(B) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.

(d) Integrated bioenergy research and development

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 971, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 898; Pub. L. 110–69, title V, § 5007, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 617; Pub. L. 111–358, title IX, § 903, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4045.)

§ 16312. Fusion energy sciences program

(a) Declaration of policy

(b) Planning

(1) In general

Not later than 180 days after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a plan (with proposed cost estimates, budgets, and lists of potential international partners) for the implementation of the policy described in subsection (a) in a manner that ensures that—

(A) existing fusion research facilities are more fully used;

(B) fusion science, technology, theory, advanced computation, modeling, and simulation are strengthened;

(C) new magnetic and inertial fusion research and development facilities are selected based on scientific innovation and cost effectiveness, and the potential of the facilities to advance the goal of practical fusion energy at the earliest date practicable;

(D) facilities that are selected are funded at a cost-effective rate;

(E) communication of scientific results and methods between the fusion energy science community and the broader scientific and technology communities is improved;

(F) inertial confinement fusion facilities are used to the extent practicable for the purpose of inertial fusion energy research and development;

(G) attractive alternative inertial and magnetic fusion energy approaches are more fully explored; and

(H) to the extent practicable, the recommendations of the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee in the report on workforce planning, dated March 2004, are carried out, including periodic reassessment of program needs.

(2) Costs and schedules

The plan shall also address the status of and, to the extent practicable, costs and schedules for—

(A) the design and implementation of international or national facilities for the testing of fusion materials; and

(B) the design and implementation of international or national facilities for the testing and development of key fusion technologies.

(1) In general

(2) Report

(3) Authorization of appropriations

Out of funds authorized to be appropriated under section 18645(o) of this title, there shall be made available to the Secretary to carry out the construction of ITER—

(A) $374,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;

(B) $379,700,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(D) $415,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(E) $370,500,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(F) $411,078,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 972, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 899; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title II, § 2008(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2478; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10105(b), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1445.)

§ 16313. Solar Fuels Research Initiative

(a) Initiative

(1) In general

(2) LeveragingIn carrying out programs and activities under the Initiative, the Secretary shall leverage expertise and resources from—

(A) the Basic Energy Sciences Program and the Biological and Environmental Research Program of the Office of Science; and

(B) the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

(3) Teams

(A) In general

(B) Goals

(4) Additional activities

(b) Artificial photosynthesis

(1) In general

(2) ActivitiesAs part of the program described in paragraph (1)—

(A) the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences shall support basic research to pursue distinct lines of scientific inquiry, including—

(i) photoinduced production of hydrogen and oxygen from water; and

(ii) the sustainable photoinduced reduction of carbon dioxide to fuel products including hydrocarbons, alcohols, carbon monoxide, and natural gas; and

(B) the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support translational research, development, and validation of physical concepts developed under the program.

(3) Standard of review

(4) Funds

(1) In general

(2) ActivitiesAs part of the program described in paragraph (1)—

(A) the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences shall support basic research to expand fundamental knowledge to replicate natural synthesis processes, including—

(i) the photoinduced reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia;

(ii) the absorption of carbon dioxide from ambient air;

(iii) molecular-based charge separation and storage;

(iv) photoinitiated electron transfer; and

(v) catalysis in biological or biomimetic systems;

(B) the Associate Director of Biological and Environmental Research shall support systems biology and genomics approaches to understand genetic and physiological pathways connected to photosynthetic mechanisms; and

(C) the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support translational research, development, and validation of physical concepts developed under the program.

(3) Standard of review

(4) Funds

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 973, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 902; Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 303(f)(1), formerly § 303(d)(1), Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3141, renumbered § 303(f)(1), Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10102(a)(1), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1409; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10102(b), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1414.)

§ 16314. Hydrogen

(a) In general

(b) Methods

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 974, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 903.)

§ 16315. Electricity Storage Research Initiative

(a) Initiative

(1) In generalThe Secretary shall carry out a research initiative, to be known as the “Electricity Storage Research Initiative” (referred to in this section as the “Initiative”)—

(A) to expand theoretical and fundamental knowledge to control, store, and convert—

(i) electrical energy to chemical energy; and

(ii) chemical energy to electrical energy;

(B) to support scientific inquiry into the practical understanding of chemical and physical processes that occur within systems involving crystalline and amorphous solids, polymers, and organic and aqueous liquids; and

(C) to ensure the competitiveness of the United States in energy storage by fostering an ecosystem linking fundamental research and development to deployment of storage solutions while minimizing the environmental impacts of energy storage technologies.

(2) LeveragingIn carrying out programs and activities under the Initiative, the Secretary shall leverage expertise and resources from—

(A) the Basic Energy Sciences Program, the Advanced Scientific Computing Research Program, and the Biological and Environmental Research Program of the Office of Science;

(B) the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and

(3) Teams

(A) In general

(B) Goals

(4) Additional activities

(b) Multivalent systems

(1) In general

(2) ActivitiesAs part of the program described in paragraph (1)—

(A) the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences shall investigate electrochemical properties and the dynamics of materials, including charge transfer phenomena and mass transport in materials; and

(B) the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support translational research, development, and validation of physical concepts developed under the program.

(3) Standard of review

(4) Funding

(1) In general

(2) ActivitiesAs part of the program described in paragraph (1)—

(A) the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, in coordination with the Associate Director of Advanced Scientific Computing Research, shall support the development of high performance computational tools through a joint development process to maximize the effectiveness of current and projected high performance computing systems; and

(B) the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support translational research, development, and validation of physical concepts developed under the program.

(3) Standard of review

(4) Funding

(d) Mesoscale electrochemistry

(1) In generalThe Secretary shall carry out under the Initiative a program to support research needed to reveal electrochemistry in confined mesoscale spaces, including scientific discoveries relevant to—

(A) bio-electrochemistry and electrochemical energy conversion and storage in confined spaces; and

(B) the dynamics of the phenomena described in subparagraph (A).

(2) ActivitiesAs part of the program described in paragraph (1)—

(A) the Director of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the Associate Director of Biological and Environmental Research shall investigate phenomena of mesoscale electrochemical confinement for the purpose of replicating and controlling new electrochemical behavior; and

(B) the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy shall support translational research, development, and validation of physical concepts developed under the program.

(3) Standard of review

(4) Funding

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 975, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 903; Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 303(g)(1), formerly § 303(e)(1), Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3143, renumbered § 303(g)(1), Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10102(a)(1), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1409; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10102(c), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1415.)

§ 16316. Advanced scientific computing research and development program

(1) In general

(2) Goal

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 976(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 903; Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 304(b)(1)(B), formerly § 304(a)(1)(B), Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3145, renumbered § 304(b)(1)(B), Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10104(a)(1), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1433.)

§ 16317. Systems biology program

(a) Program

(1) Establishment

(2) Grants

(3) Consultation

(b) GoalsThe program shall have the goal of developing technologies and methods based on the biological functions of genomes, microbes, and plants that—

(1) can facilitate the production of fuels, including hydrogen in sustainable production systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

(2) convert carbon dioxide to organic carbon;

(3) detoxify soils and water, including at facilities of the Department, contaminated with heavy metals and radiological materials;

(4) develop cellulosic and other feedstocks that are less resource and land intensive and that promote sustainable use of resources, including soil, water, energy, forests, and land, and ensure protection of air, water, and soil quality; and

(5) address other Department missions as identified by the Secretary.

(1) Development of plan

(2) Review of plan

(d) User facilities and ancillary equipment

(e) Prohibition on biomedical and human cell and human subject research

(1) No biomedical research

(2) LimitationsNothing in this section shall authorize the Secretary to conduct any research or demonstrations—

(A) on human cells or human subjects; or

(B) designed to have direct application with respect to human cells or human subjects.

(f) Bioenergy research centers

(1) In generalIn carrying out the program under section 18644(a) of this title, the Director shall support up to 6 bioenergy research centers to conduct fundamental research in plant and microbial systems biology, biological imaging and analysis, and genomics, and to accelerate advanced research and development of advanced biofuels, bioenergy or biobased materials, chemicals, and products that are produced from a variety of regionally diverse feedstocks, and to facilitate the translation of research results to industry. The activities of the centers authorized under this subsection may include—

(A) accelerating the domestication of bioenergy-relevant plants, microbes, and associated microbial communities to enable high-impact, value-added coproduct development at multiple points in the bioenergy supply chain;

(B) developing the science and technological advances to ensure process sustainability is considered in the creation of advanced biofuels and bioproducts from lignocellulosic biomass; and

(C) using the latest tools in genomics, molecular biology, catalysis science, chemical engineering, systems biology, and computational and robotics technologies to sustainably produce and transform biomass into advanced biofuels and bioproducts.

(2) Selection and duration

(A) In general

(B) Applications

(D) New centers

(3) Renewal

(4) ActivitiesCenters shall undertake research activities to accelerate the production of advanced biofuels and bioproducts from biomass resources by identifying the most suitable species of plants for use as energy crops; and improving methods of breeding, propagation, planting, producing, harvesting, storage and processing. Activities may include the following:

(A) Research activities to increase sustainability, including—

(i) advancing knowledge of how bioenergy crop interactions with biotic and abiotic environmental factors influence crop growth, yield, and quality;

(ii) identifying the most impactful research areas that address the economics of advanced biofuels and bioproducts production; and

(iii) utilizing multiscale modeling to advance predictive understanding of advanced biofuel cropping ecosystems.

(B) Research activities to further feedstock development, including lignocellulosic, algal, gaseous wastes including carbon oxides and methane, and direct air capture of single carbon gases via plants and microbes, including—

(i) developing genetic and genomic tools, high-throughput analytical tools, and biosystems design approaches to enhance bioenergy feedstocks and their associated microbiomes;

(ii) conducting field testing of new potential bioenergy feedstock crops under environmentally benign and geographically diverse conditions to assess viability and robustness; and

(iii) developing quantitative models informed by experimentation to predict how bioenergy feedstocks perform under diverse conditions.

(i) developing feedstock-agnostic deconstruction processes capable of efficiently fractionating biomass into targeted output streams;

(ii) gaining a detailed understanding of plant cell wall biosynthesis, composition, structure, and properties during deconstruction; and

(iii) improving enzymes and approaches for biomass breakdown and cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin processing.

(D) Research activities to improve the feedstock conversion process for advanced biofuels and bioproducts, including—

(i) developing high-throughput methods to screen or select high-performance microbial strains and communities to improve product formation rates, yields, and selectivity;

(ii) establishing a broad set of platform microorganisms and microbial communities suitable for metabolic engineering to produce advanced biofuels and bioproducts and high-throughput methods for experimental validation of gene function;

(iii) developing techniques to enhance microbial robustness for tolerating toxins to improve advanced biofuel and bioproduct yields and to gain a better understanding of the cellular and molecular bases of tolerance for major chemical classes of inhibitors found in these processes;

(iv) advancing technologies for the use of batch, continuous, and consolidated bioprocessing;

(v) identifying, creating, and optimizing microbial and chemical pathways to produce promising, atom-economical intermediates and final bioproducts from biomass with considerations given to environmentally benign processes;

(vi) developing high-throughput, real-time, in situ analytical techniques to understand and characterize the pre- and post-bioproduct separation streams in detail;

(vii) creating methodologies for efficiently identifying viable target molecules, identifying high-value bioproducts in existing biomass streams, and utilizing current byproduct streams;

(viii) identifying and improving plant feedstocks with enhanced extractable levels of desired bioproducts or bioproduct precursors, including lignin streams; and

(ix) developing integrated biological and chemical catalytic approaches to valorize and produce a diverse portfolio of advanced biofuels and bioproducts.

(5) Industry partnerships

(6) Coordination

(7) Funding

(8) DefinitionsIn this subsection:

(A) Advanced biofuel

(B) Bioenergy

(D) Bioproduct

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 977, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 903; Pub. L. 110–140, title II, §§ 232(a), 233, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1537; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10103(e), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1430.)

§ 16318. Fission and fusion energy materials research program

(a) In general

(b) Administration

In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall develop—

(1) a catalog of material properties required for applications described in subsection (a);

(2) theoretical models for materials possessing the required properties;

(3) benchmark models against existing data; and

(4) a roadmap to guide further research and development in the area covered by the program.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 978, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 904.)

§ 16319. Energy and water supplies

(a) In general

The Secretary shall carry out a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application to—

(1) address energy-related issues associated with provision of adequate water supplies, optimal management, and efficient use of water;

(2) address water-related issues associated with the provision of adequate supplies, optimal management, and efficient use of energy; and

(3) assess the effectiveness of existing programs within the Department and other Federal agencies to address these energy and water related issues.

(b) Program elements

The program under this section shall include—

(1) arsenic treatment;

(2) desalination; and

(3) planning, analysis, and modeling of energy and water supply and demand.

(d) Facilities

(e) Advisory committee

(f) Reports

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 979, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 905.)

§ 16320. Spallation Neutron Source

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) SING

(2) SNS power upgrade

(3) SNS second target station

(4) Spallation Neutron Source Facility

(5) Spallation Neutron Source Project

(b) Spallation Neutron Source Project

(1) In general

(2) ContentsThe report shall include for the Project—

(A) a description of the achievement of milestones;

(B) a comparison of actual costs to estimated costs; and

(1) In general

(2) PlanThe operational plan shall—

(A) include a plan for the operation of an effective scientific user program that—

(i) is based on peer review of proposals submitted for use of the Facility;

(ii) includes scientific and technical support to ensure that external users, including researchers based at institutions of higher education, are able to make full use of a variety of high quality scientific instruments; and

(iii) phases in systems upgrades to ensure that the Facility remains at the forefront of international scientific endeavors in the field of the Facility throughout the operating life of the Facility;

(B) include an ongoing program to develop new instruments that builds on the high performance neutron source and that allows neutron scattering techniques to be applied to a growing range of scientific problems and disciplines; and

(i) full user mode operations of the Facility;

(ii) instrumentation built at the Facility during the operating phase through full use of the experimental hall, including the SING;

(iii) the SNS power upgrade; and

(iv) the SNS second target station.

(d) Authorization of appropriations

(1) Spallation Neutron Source ProjectThere is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Spallation Neutron Source Project for the lifetime of the Project $1,411,700,000 for total project costs, of which—

(A) $1,192,700,000 shall be used for the costs of construction; and

(B) $219,000,000 shall be used for other Project costs.

(2) Spallation Neutron Source Facility

(A) In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), there is authorized to be appropriated for the Spallation Neutron Source Facility for—

(i) the SING, $75,000,000 for each of fiscal year 2007 through 2009; and

(ii) the SNS power upgrade, $160,000,000, to remain available until expended.

(B) Insufficient stockpiles of heavy water

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 980, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 905.)

§ 16321. Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

(a) Establishment

(b) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 981, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 308(b), Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3150.)

§ 16322. Office of Scientific and Technical Information

The Secretary, through the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, shall maintain within the Department publicly available collections of scientific and technical information resulting from research, development, demonstration, and commercial applications activities supported by the Department.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 982, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 907.)

§ 16323. Science and engineering education pilot program

(a) Establishment of pilot program

(b) Program elements

The regional pilot program shall include—

(1) expanding strategic, formal partnerships among universities with strength in research, universities that train substantial numbers of elementary and secondary school teachers, and the private sector;

(2) combining Department expertise with one or more National Aeronautics and Space Administration Educator Resource Centers;

(3) developing programs to permit current and future teachers to participate in ongoing research projects at National Laboratories and research universities and to adapt lessons learned to the classroom;

(4) designing and implementing course work;

(5) designing and implementing a strategy for measuring and assessing progress under the program; and

(6) developing models for transferring knowledge gained under the pilot program to other institutions and areas of the United States.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 983, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 113–188, title VI, § 601(a), Nov. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 2019.)

§ 16324. Energy research fellowships

(a) Postdoctoral fellowship program

(b) Senior research fellowships

(1) In general

(2) Consideration

In providing a fellowship under the program described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider—

(A) the past scientific or technical accomplishment of a senior researcher; and

(B) the potential for continued accomplishment by the researcher during the period of the fellowship.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 984, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 908.)

§ 16325. Science and Technology Scholarship Program

(a) In general

(b) Service requirement

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 984A, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 908.)