S.Amdt. 3257

SA 3257. Ms. CANTWELL (for herself and Mr. Graham) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2953 proposed by Ms.
Murkowski to the bill S. 2012, to provide for the modernization of the
energy policy of the United States, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle C of title IV, add the following:

SEC. 42__. SENSE OF THE SENATE ON ACCELERATING ENERGY
INNOVATION.

(a) Findings.--The Senate finds that--
(1) although important progress has been made in cost
reduction and deployment of clean energy technologies,
accelerating clean energy innovation will meet critical
competitiveness, energy security, and environmental goals;
(2) many of the greatest advancements in the science of
energy production have taken place in the United States,
where key Federal investment, public private partnerships,

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and a robust, diverse energy industry have helped to power
and fuel the United States economy;
(3) the United States is home to the most advanced energy
research institutions in the world, and those institutions
attract the brightest and most talented individuals to study
and develop energy solutions to meet the energy needs of the
United States and the world;
(4) early-stage involvement of the private sector is
critical to ensuring commercialization and cost-effectiveness
of energy breakthroughs;
(5) the Secretary is working with international and
domestic partners and institutions, including units of
government, private investors, and technology innovators--
(A) to make data available;
(B) to aggregate technology expertise, if possible;
(C) to share facilities and analysis;
(D) to promote development, commercialization, and
dissemination of clean energy technologies; and
(E) to dramatically increase the range of technology
options for private sector investment and commercialization;
(6) the Secretary is working closely with other committed
nations and the private sector to increase access to
investment for earlier-stage clean energy companies that
emerge from government research and development programs;
(7) the Secretary is building and improving technology
innovation roadmaps and other tools--
(A) to help innovation efforts;
(B) to understand where research and development is already
happening; and
(C) to identify gaps and opportunities for new kinds of
innovation;
(8) accelerating the pace of clean energy innovation in the
United States calls for--
(A) supporting existing research and development programs
at the Department and the world-class National Laboratories
(as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 15801)); and
(B) exploring and developing new pathways for innovators,
investors, and decision-makers to leverage the resources of
the Department for addressing the challenges and comparative
strengths of geographic regions;
(9) the energy supply, demand, policies, markets, and
resource options of the United States vary by geographic
region; and
(10) a regional approach to innovation can bridge the gaps
between local talent, institutions, and industries to
identify opportunities and convert United States investment
into domestic companies.
(b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate
that Congress and the Secretary should advance efforts that
promote international, domestic, and regional cooperation on
the research and development of energy innovations that--
(1) provide clean, affordable, and reliable energy for
everyone;
(2) promote economic growth; and
(3) are critical for energy security.
______