Energy & Science Bills
On October 22nd, the House passed three bills that promote industrial energy efficiency and energy storage technologies, and support the goals and ideals of National Science Week.
- H.R. 3776, the Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act of 2007 enhances the federal government’s role in research and development of advanced energy storage systems for stationary and vehicular applications – both of which could provide significant economic and environmental benefits if fully realized. This bill is intended to provide guidance and funding for research that accelerates the development of these technologies and leads to a robust domestic energy storage industry.
- H.R. 3775, the Industrial Energy Efficiency Research and Development Act of 2007. This legislation would enhance the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) in its research to reduce energy use, improve the quality and quantity, and alternative resources of industrial feedstocks; and develop alternative energy sources to supply heat and power for energy-intensive industries. The ITP also serves as a training ground for the next generation of industrial energy engineers and auditors, supporting roughly 250 students a year in this field. ITP is considered by many to be one of Department of Energy’s most effective programs at transferring technologies to the marketplace, with over 170 technologies reaching the commercial market. An estimated 13,000 U.S. manufacturing plants have been improved through ITP and nearly 5 quadrillion units of energy, equal to approximately $23 billion, have been saved since the program’s inception.
- H.Res. 751 supports the goals and ideals of National Science Week.