§17113a Low-emissions Steel Manufacturing Research Program

Summary

Creates a research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program to make U.S. iron and steel production more competitive and to cut net nonwater greenhouse gas emissions from making iron, steel, and steel mill products. The Secretary must set up the program within 180 days after August 9, 2022, and must write a 5-year strategic plan within that time. The plan must list goals, timelines, related Department programs, and be sent to the House Science Committee and the Senate Energy Committee. The plan must be updated at least once every two years. Key terms named include commercially available steelmaking (the current way steel is made), critical material/mineral (as defined in title 30), eligible entities (universities, state or federal labs, nonprofits, private companies, other fit organizations, or partnerships), institution of higher education (defined elsewhere), and low-emissions steel manufacturing (steelmaking that reduces net nonwater greenhouse gas emissions as much as practicable). The program must work across DOE offices, use DOE research facilities, coordinate with National Laboratories and NIST for testing and validation, and consider Manufacturing USA institutes. It must focus on heat-generation methods (like hydrogen, biomass, electrification, solar, geothermal), carbon-capture approaches, smart and digital manufacturing, saving energy and materials, lower-emission materials, and high-performance computing. The Secretary must start a demonstration initiative within 180 days after August 9, 2022, pick projects that promote regional and technological diversity and leverage non-Federal matching funds, and report on the initiative’s performance to the same Congressional committees at least once every two years.