Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007/Title IX/Subtitle A

by United States Congress

Subtitle A--Assistance to Promote Clean and Efficient Energy Technologies in Foreign Countries

SEC. 911. UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

(a) Assistance Authorized- The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall support policies and programs in developing countries that promote clean and efficient energy technologies--

(1) to produce the necessary market conditions for the private sector delivery of energy and environmental management services;

(2) to create an environment that is conducive to accepting clean and efficient energy technologies that support the overall purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including--

(A) improving policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks;

(B) increasing institutional abilities to provide energy and environmental management services; and

(C) increasing public awareness and participation in the decision-making of delivering energy and environmental management services; and

(3) to promote the use of American-made clean and efficient energy technologies, products, and energy and environmental management services.

(b) Report- The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report on the implementation of this section for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

(c) Authorization of Appropriations- To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development $200,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

SEC. 912. UNITED STATES EXPORTS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR INDIA, CHINA, AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

(a) Assistance Authorized- The Secretary of Commerce shall direct the United States and Foreign Commercial Service to expand or create a corps of the Foreign Commercial Service officers to promote United States exports in clean and efficient energy technologies and build the capacity of government officials in India, China, and any other country the Secretary of Commerce determines appropriate, to become more familiar with the available technologies--

(1) by assigning or training Foreign Commercial Service attaches, who have expertise in clean and efficient energy technologies from the United States, to embark on business development and outreach efforts to such countries; and

(2) by deploying the attaches described in paragraph (1) to educate provincial, state, and local government officials in such countries on the variety of United States-based technologies in clean and efficient energy technologies for the purposes of promoting United States exports and reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

(b) Report- The Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report on the implementation of this section for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

(c) Authorization of Appropriations- To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

SEC. 913. UNITED STATES TRADE MISSIONS TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE SECTOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT.

(a) Assistance Authorized- The Secretary of Commerce shall direct the International Trade Administration to expand or create trade missions to and from the United States to encourage private sector trade and investment in clean and efficient energy technologies--

(1) by organizing and facilitating trade missions to foreign countries and by matching United States private sector companies with opportunities in foreign markets so that clean and efficient energy technologies can help to combat increases in global greenhouse gas emissions; and

(2) by creating reverse trade missions in which the Department of Commerce facilitates the meeting of foreign private and public sector organizations with private sector companies in the United States for the purpose of showcasing clean and efficient energy technologies in use or in development that could be exported to other countries.

(b) Report- The Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report on the implementation of this section for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

(c) Authorization of Appropriations- To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

SEC. 914. ACTIONS BY OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION.

(a) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the Overseas Private Investment Corporation should promote greater investment in clean and efficient energy technologies by--

(1) proactively reaching out to United States companies that are interested in investing in clean and efficient energy technologies in countries that are significant contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions;

(2) giving preferential treatment to the evaluation and awarding of projects that involve the investment or utilization of clean and efficient energy technologies; and

(3) providing greater flexibility in supporting projects that involve the investment or utilization of clean and efficient energy technologies, including financing, insurance, and other assistance.

(b) Report- The Overseas Private Investment Corporation shall include in its annual report required under section 240A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2200a)--

(1) a description of the activities carried out to implement this section; or

(2) if the Corporation did not carry out any activities to implement this section, an explanation of the reasons therefor.

SEC. 915. ACTIONS BY UNITED STATES TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

(a) Assistance Authorized- The Director of the Trade and Development Agency shall establish or support policies that--

(1) proactively seek opportunities to fund projects that involve the utilization of clean and efficient energy technologies, including in trade capacity building and capital investment projects;

(2) where appropriate, advance the utilization of clean and efficient energy technologies, particularly to countries that have the potential for significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; and

(3) recruit and retain individuals with appropriate expertise or experience in clean, renewable, and efficient energy technologies to identify and evaluate opportunities for projects that involve clean and efficient energy technologies and services.

(b) Report- The President shall include in the annual report on the activities of the Trade and Development Agency required under section 661(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2421(d)) a description of the activities carried out to implement this section.

SEC. 916. DEPLOYMENT OF INTERNATIONAL CLEAN AND EFFICIENT ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND INVESTMENT IN GLOBAL ENERGY MARKETS.

(a) Task Force-

(1) ESTABLISHMENT- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall establish a Task Force on International Cooperation for Clean and Efficient Energy Technologies (in this section referred to as the `Task Force').

(2) COMPOSITION- The Task Force shall be composed of representatives, appointed by the head of the respective Federal department or agency, of--

(A) the Council on Environmental Quality;

(B) the Department of Energy;

(C) the Department of Commerce;

(D) the Department of the Treasury;

(E) the Department of State;

(F) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(G) the United States Agency for International Development;

(H) the Export-Import Bank of the United States;

(I) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation:

(J) the Trade and Development Agency;

(K) the Small Business Administration;

(L) the Office of the United States Trade Representative; and

(M) other Federal departments and agencies, as determined by the President.

(3) CHAIRPERSON- The President shall designate a Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons of the Task Force.

(4) DUTIES- The Task Force--

(A) shall develop and assist in the implementation of the strategy required under subsection (c); and

(B)(i) shall analyze technology, policy, and market opportunities for the development, demonstration, and deployment of clean and efficient energy technologies on an international basis; and

(ii) shall examine relevant trade, tax, finance, international, and other policy issues to assess which policies, in the United States and in developing countries, would help open markets and improve the export of clean and efficient energy technologies from the United States.

(5) TERMINATION- The Task Force, including any working group established by the Task Force pursuant to subsection (b), shall terminate 12 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b) Working Groups-

(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Task Force--

(A) shall establish an Interagency Working Group on the Export of Clean and Efficient Energy Technologies (in this section referred to as the `Interagency Working Group'); and

(B) may establish other working groups as may be necessary to carry out this section.

(2) COMPOSITION- The Interagency Working Group shall be composed of--

(A) the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of State, who shall serve as Co-Chairpersons of the Interagency Working Group; and

(B) other members, as determined by the Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons of the Task Force.

(3) DUTIES- The Interagency Working Group shall coordinate the resources and relevant programs of the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, the Department of State, and other relevant Federal departments and agencies to support the export of clean and efficient energy technologies developed or demonstrated in the United States to other countries and the deployment of such clean and efficient energy technologies in such other countries.

(4) INTERAGENCY CENTER- The Interagency Working Group--

(A) shall establish an Interagency Center on the Export of Clean and Efficient Energy Technologies (in this section referred to as the `Interagency Center') to assist the Interagency Working Group in carrying out its duties required under paragraph (3); and

(B) shall locate the Interagency Center at a site agreed upon by the Co-Chairpersons of the Interagency Working Group, with the approval of the Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons of the Task Force.

(c) Strategy-

(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall develop and submit to the President and the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to--

(A) support the development and implementation of programs, policies, and initiatives in developing countries to promote the adoption and deployment of clean and efficient energy technologies, with an emphasis on those developing countries that are expected to experience the most significant growth in energy production and use over the next 20 years;

(B) open and expand clean and efficient energy technology markets and facilitate the export of clean and efficient energy technologies to developing countries, in a manner consistent with United States obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization;

(C) integrate into the foreign policy objectives of the United States the promotion of--

(i) the deployment of clean and efficient energy technologies and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries; and

(ii) the export of clean and efficient energy technologies; and

(D) develop financial mechanisms and instruments, including securities that mitigate the political and foreign exchange risks of uses that are consistent with the foreign policy objectives of the United States by combining the private sector market and government enhancements, that--

(i) are cost-effective; and

(ii) facilitate private capital investment in clean and efficient energy technology projects in developing countries.

(2) UPDATES- Not later than 3 years after the date of submission of the strategy under paragraph (1), and every 3 years thereafter, the Task Force shall update the strategy in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (1).

(d) Report-

(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 3 years after the date of submission of the strategy under subsection (c)(1), and every 3 years thereafter, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of this section for the prior 3-year period.

(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED- The report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) The update of the strategy required under subsection (c)(2) and a description of the actions taken by the Task Force to assist in the implementation of the strategy.

(B) A description of actions taken by the Task Force to carry out the duties required under subsection (a)(4)(B).

(C) A description of assistance provided under this section.

(D) The results of programs, projects, and activities carried out under this section.

(E) A description of priorities for promoting the diffusion and adoption of clean and efficient energy technologies and strategies in developing countries, taking into account economic and security interests of the United States and opportunities for the export of technology of the United States.

(F) Recommendations to the heads of appropriate Federal departments and agencies on methods to streamline Federal programs and policies to improve the role of such Federal departments and agencies in the development, demonstration, and deployment of clean and efficient energy technologies on an international basis.

(G) Strategies to integrate representatives of the private sector and other interested groups on the export and deployment of clean and efficient energy technologies.

(H) A description of programs to disseminate information to the private sector and the public on clean and efficient energy technologies and opportunities to transfer such clean and efficient energy technologies.

(e) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2020.

SEC. 917. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ENERGY COOPERATION.

(a) Findings- Congress finds that--

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

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

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

(A) the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; and

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

(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;

(5) on February 1, 1996, the Secretary of Energy (referred to in this section as the `Secretary') 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;

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

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

(b) Grant Program-

(1) 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 in accordance with the requirements of sections 988 and 989 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352, 16353) to support research, development, and commercialization of renewable energy or energy efficiency.

(2) TYPES OF ENERGY- In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary may make grants to promote--

(A) solar energy;

(B) biomass energy;

(C) energy efficiency;

(D) wind energy;

(E) geothermal energy;

(F) wave and tidal energy; and

(G) advanced battery technology.

(3) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS- An applicant shall be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if the project of the applicant--

(A) addresses a requirement in the area of improved energy efficiency or renewable energy sources, as determined by the Secretary; and

(B) is a joint venture between--

(i)(I) a for-profit business entity, academic institution, National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)), or nonprofit entity in the United States; and

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

(ii)(I) the Federal Government; and

(II) the Government of Israel.

(4) APPLICATIONS- To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an applicant shall submit to the Secretary an application for the grant in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary, in consultation with the advisory board established under paragraph (5).

(5) ADVISORY BOARD-

(A) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary shall establish an advisory board--

(i) to monitor the method by which grants are awarded under this subsection; and

(ii) to provide to the Secretary periodic performance reviews of actions taken to carry out this subsection.

(B) COMPOSITION- The advisory board established under subparagraph (A) shall be composed of 3 members, to be appointed by the Secretary, of whom--

(i) 1 shall be a representative of the Federal Government;

(ii) 1 shall be selected from a list of nominees provided by the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; and

(iii) 1 shall be selected from a list of nominees provided by the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation.

(6) CONTRIBUTED FUNDS- Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may accept, retain, and use funds contributed by any person, government entity, or organization for purposes of carrying out this subsection--

(A) without further appropriation; and

(B) without fiscal year limitation.

(7) REPORT- Not later than 180 days after the date of completion of a project for which a grant is provided under this subsection, the grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary a report that contains--

(A) a description of the method by which the recipient used the grant funds; and

(B) an evaluation of the level of success of each project funded by the grant.

(8) CLASSIFICATION- Grants shall be awarded under this subsection only for projects that are considered to be unclassified by both the United States and Israel.

(c) Termination- The grant program and the advisory committee established under this section terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(d) Authorization of Appropriations- The Secretary shall use amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 931 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16231) to carry out this section.