S.Amdt. 1411

SA 1411. Mr. THUNE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 1407 submitted by Ms. Murkowski and intended to be
proposed to the bill S. 2657, to support innovation in advanced
geothermal research and development, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 232, line 18, strike ``$10,000,000'' and insert
``$9,500,000''.
On page 414, after line 23, insert the following:

SEC. 1810. WIND BLADE RECYCLING PRIZE COMPETITION.

Section 1008 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16396) (as amended by section 1301(f)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(h) Wind Blade Recycling Prize Competition.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an award
program, to be known as the `Wind Blade Recycling Prize
Competition' (referred to in this subsection as the
`program'), under which the Secretary shall carry out prize
competitions and make awards to advance the recycling of wind
blade materials.
``(2) Frequency.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Secretary shall carry out a competition under the program not
less frequently than once every calendar year.
``(3) Eligibility.--
``(A) In general.--To be eligible to win a prize under the
program, an individual or entity--
``(i) shall have complied with the requirements of the
competition as described in the announcement for that
competition published in the Federal Register by the
Secretary under paragraph (6);
``(ii) in the case of a private entity, shall be
incorporated in the United States and maintain a primary
place of business in the United States; and
``(iii) in the case of an individual, whether participating
singly or in a group, shall be a citizen of, or an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence in, the United
States.
``(B) Exclusions.--The following entities and individuals
shall not be eligible to win a prize under the program:
``(i) A Federal entity.
``(ii) A Federal employee (including an employee of a
National Laboratory) acting within the scope of employment.
``(4) Awards.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary
shall award cash prizes, in amounts to be determined by the
Secretary, to each individual or entity selected through a
competitive process to develop methods or technologies to
recycle or reuse wind blade materials from domestic wind
energy facilities.
``(5) Criteria.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish objective,
merit-based criteria for awarding the prizes in each
competition carried out under the program.
``(B) Requirements.--The criteria established under
subparagraph (A) shall prioritize advancements in methods or
technologies that present the greatest potential for large-
scale commercial deployment.
``(C) Consultation.--In establishing criteria under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consult with
appropriate members of private industry involved in the
commercial deployment of wind energy facilities.
``(6) Advertising and solicitation of competitors.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall announce each prize
competition under the program by publishing a notice in the
Federal Register.
``(B) Requirements.--Each notice published under
subparagraph (A) shall describe the essential elements of the
competition, such as--
``(i) the subject of the competition;
``(ii) the duration of the competition;
``(iii) the eligibility requirements for participation in
the competition;
``(iv) the process for participants to register for the
competition;
``(v) the amount of the prize; and
``(vi) the criteria for awarding the prize.
``(7) Judges.--
``(A) In general.--For each prize competition under the
program, the Secretary shall assemble a panel of qualified
judges to select the winner or winners of the competition on
the basis of the criteria established under paragraph (5).
``(B) Selection.--The judges for each competition shall
include appropriate members of private industry involved in
the commercial production and deployment of wind blades.
``(C) Conflicts.--An individual may not serve as a judge in
a prize competition under the program if the individual, the
spouse of the individual, any child of the individual, or any
other member of the household of the individual--
``(i) has a personal or financial interest in, or is an
employee, officer, director, or agent of, any entity that is
a registered participant in the prize competition for which
the individual will serve as a judge; or
``(ii) has a familial or financial relationship with a
registered participant in the prize competition for which the
individual will serve as a judge.
``(8) Report to congress.--Not later than 60 days after the
date on which the first prize is awarded under the program,
and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report that--
``(A) identifies each award recipient;
``(B) describes the advanced methods or technologies
developed by each award recipient; and
``(C) specifies actions being taken by the Department
toward commercial application of all methods or technologies
with respect to which a prize has been awarded under the
program.
``(9) Anti-deficiency act.--The Secretary shall carry out
the program in accordance with section 1341 of title 31,
United States Code (commonly referred to as the `Anti-
Deficiency Act').
``(10) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection
$2,000,000, to remain available until expended.''.
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