Two Sen. Coons energy bills pass Congress as part of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) yesterday applauded the passage of bipartisan, bicameral legislation that includes key provisions from two of his bills: The Energy Title of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act and the America INNOVATES Act. The provisions passed the House yesterday as part of H.R. 589, the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act. The bill now heads to the President’s desk for his signature. 

The Energy Title of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act focuses on supporting innovation by increasing investments in federal research funded through the Department of Energy. Senator Coons first introduced this legislation with Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) in May 2015. A key provision from this bill, which will protect sensitive information about early-stage technologies funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), was included in the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act. 

The Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act also contains several key provisions from the America Implementing New National Opportunities to Vigorously Accelerate Technology, Energy, and Science (INNOVATES) Act. These provisions will give the United States’ world-renowned national lab system more tools to partner with the private sector to bring innovative technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace. Senator Coons first introduced this legislation with Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in January 2014. 

“Investments in basic research are only the first step toward building a clean energy future,” said Senator Coons. “Technology transfer and commercialization of that basic research is also critical. I am pleased this bill contains important provisions that will safeguard confidential business information for recipients of ARPA-E grants and strengthen the pipeline that brings groundbreaking research from our national laboratories to businesses across the United States. Our nation is stronger when public and private sector leaders are working together to develop the energy technologies of the future.” 

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