Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§17116 Industrial Research and Assessment Centers
Title 42 › CHAPTER 152 — ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY › SUBCHAPTER III — ENERGY SAVINGS IN BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRY › Part D — Industrial Energy Efficiency › § 17116
Summary
Provides money for university-based and trade-school industrial research centers to help small- and medium-sized manufacturers save energy, cut waste and pollution, improve material use and productivity, and boost cybersecurity. The centers must do deep on-site assessments, promote new technologies and sustainable practices, work with federal labs, NIST, utilities, and energy companies, run outreach, and link with community colleges and training programs. Up to 5 top centers become Centers of Excellence to mentor others and get at least $500,000 each per year. The federal government will pay half the cost of related internships and apprenticeships, and the Small Business Administration must try to speed loan decisions for companies that want to carry out center recommendations. Definitions used: covered project — a change recommended by an energy assessment that improves efficiency, materials, cybersecurity, or productivity, or cuts waste, greenhouse gases, or other pollution; eligible entity — a small- or medium-sized manufacturer that had such an assessment; energy service provider — a business or utility that helps improve energy or load management; industrial research and assessment center — a center at a college or trade school funded under this law; Program — the grant program for covered projects; small- or medium-sized manufacturer — a firm with under $100,000,000 in yearly sales, fewer than 500 employees at the plant, and annual energy bills over $100,000 but under $3,500,000. The Secretary must run a grant program for covered projects. Grants may be no more than $300,000 and no more than 50% of project cost, require an application showing need, must add to other funds, and give priority to projects with bigger energy or greenhouse gas savings. Congress authorized $150,000,000 for center and training work and $400,000,000 for grants for fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §17116
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Definitions
In this section: (1) Covered project
(2)Eligible entity
The term “eligible entity” means a small- or medium-sized manufacturer that has had an energy assessment completed by—
(A)an industrial research and assessment center;
(B)a Department of Energy Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership jointly with an industrial research and assessment center; or
(C)a third-party assessor that provides an assessment equivalent to an assessment described in subparagraph (A) or (B), as determined by the Secretary.
(3)Energy service provider
The term “energy service provider” means—
(A)any business providing technology or services to improve the energy efficiency, water efficiency, power factor, or load management of a manufacturing site or other industrial process in an energy-intensive industry (as defined in section 17111(a) of this title); and
(B)any utility operating under a utility energy service project.
(4)Industrial research and assessment center
The term “industrial research and assessment center” means—
(A)an institution of higher education-based industrial research and assessment center that is funded by the Secretary under subsection (b); and
(B)an industrial research and assessment center at a trade school, community college, or union training program that is funded by the Secretary under subsection (f).
(5)Program
The term “Program” means the program for implementation grants established under subsection (i)(1).
(6)Small
or medium-sized manufacturer
The term “small- or medium-sized manufacturer” means a manufacturing firm—
(A)the gross annual sales of which are less than $100,000,000;
(B)that has fewer than 500 employees at the plant site of the manufacturing firm; and
(C)the annual energy bills of which total more than $100,000 but less than $3,500,000.
(b)Institution of higher education-based industrial research and assessment centers
(1)In general
The Secretary shall provide funding to institution of higher education-based industrial research and assessment centers.
(2)Purpose
The purpose of each institution of higher education-based industrial research and assessment center shall be—
(A)to provide in-depth assessments of small- and medium-sized manufacturer plant sites to evaluate the facilities, services, and manufacturing operations of the plant sites;
(B)to identify opportunities for optimizing energy efficiency and environmental performance, including implementation of—
(i)smart manufacturing;
(ii)energy management systems;
(iii)sustainable manufacturing;
(iv)information technology advancements for supply chain analysis, logistics, system monitoring, industrial and manufacturing processes, and other purposes; and
(v)waste management systems;
(C)to promote applications of emerging concepts and technologies in small- and medium-sized manufacturers (including water and wastewater treatment facilities and federally owned manufacturing facilities);
(D)to promote research and development for the use of alternative energy sources to supply heat, power, and new feedstocks for energy-intensive industries;
(E)to coordinate with appropriate Federal and State research offices;
(F)to provide a clearinghouse for industrial process and energy efficiency technical assistance resources; and
(G)to coordinate with State-accredited technical training centers and community colleges, while ensuring appropriate services to all regions of the United States.
(c)Coordination
To increase the value and capabilities of the industrial research and assessment centers, the centers shall—
(1)coordinate with Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers of the National Institute of Standards and Technology;
(2)coordinate with the Federal Energy Management Program and the Building Technologies Office of the Department of Energy to provide building assessment services to manufacturers;
(3)increase partnerships with the National Laboratories of the Department of Energy to leverage the expertise, technologies, and research and development capabilities of the National Laboratories for national industrial and manufacturing needs;
(4)increase partnerships with energy service providers and technology providers to leverage private sector expertise and accelerate deployment of new and existing technologies and processes for energy efficiency, power factor, and load management;
(5)identify opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air emissions; and
(6)promote sustainable manufacturing practices for small- and medium-sized manufacturers.
(d)Outreach
The Secretary shall provide funding for— (1)
(2)coordination activities by each industrial research and assessment center to leverage efforts with—
(A)Federal, State, and Tribal efforts;
(B)the efforts of utilities and energy service providers;
(C)the efforts of regional energy efficiency organizations; and
(D)the efforts of other industrial research and assessment centers.
(e)Centers of Excellence
(1)Establishment
The Secretary shall establish a Center of Excellence at not more than 5 of the highest-performing industrial research and assessment centers, as determined by the Secretary.
(2)Duties
A Center of Excellence shall coordinate with and advise the industrial research and assessment centers located in the region of the Center of Excellence, including—
(A)by mentoring new directors and staff of the industrial research and assessment centers with respect to—
(i)the availability of resources; and
(ii)best practices for carrying out assessments, including through the participation of the staff of the Center of Excellence in assessments carried out by new industrial research and assessment centers;
(B)by providing training to staff and students at the industrial research and assessment centers on new technologies, practices, and tools to expand the scope and impact of the assessments carried out by the centers;
(C)by assisting the industrial research and assessment centers with specialized technical opportunities, including by providing a clearinghouse of available expertise and tools to assist the centers and clients of the centers in assessing and implementing those opportunities;
(D)by identifying and coordinating with regional, State, local, Tribal, and utility energy efficiency programs for the purpose of facilitating efforts by industrial research and assessment centers to connect industrial facilities receiving assessments from those centers with regional, State, local, and utility energy efficiency programs that could aid the industrial facilities in implementing any recommendations resulting from the assessments;
(E)by facilitating coordination between the industrial research and assessment centers and other Federal programs described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (c); and
(F)by coordinating the outreach activities of the industrial research and assessment centers under subsection (d)(1).
(3)Funding
For each fiscal year, out of any amounts made available to carry out this section under subsection (j), the Secretary shall use not less than $500,000 to support each Center of Excellence.
(f)Expansion of industrial research and assessment centers
(1)In general
The Secretary shall provide funding to establish additional industrial research and assessment centers at trade schools, community colleges, and union training programs.
(2)Purpose
(A)In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), to the maximum extent practicable, an industrial research and assessment center established under paragraph (1) shall have the same purpose as an institution of higher education-based industrial research center that is funded by the Secretary under subsection (b)(1).
(B)Consideration of capabilities
In evaluating or establishing the purpose of an industrial research and assessment center established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into consideration the varying capabilities of trade schools, community colleges, and union training programs.
(g)Workforce training
(1)Internships
The Secretary shall pay the Federal share of associated internship programs under which students work with or for industries, manufacturers, and energy service providers to implement the recommendations of industrial research and assessment centers.
(2)Apprenticeships
The Secretary shall pay the Federal share of associated apprenticeship programs under which—
(A)students work with or for industries, manufacturers, and energy service providers to implement the recommendations of industrial research and assessment centers; and
(B)employees of facilities that have received an assessment from an industrial research and assessment center work with or for an industrial research and assessment center to gain knowledge on engineering practices and processes to improve productivity and energy savings.
(3)Federal share
The Federal share of the cost of carrying out internship programs described in paragraph (1) and apprenticeship programs described in paragraph (2) shall be 50 percent.
(h)Small business loans
The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall, to the maximum extent practicable, expedite consideration of applications from eligible small business concerns for loans under the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) to implement recommendations developed by the industrial research and assessment centers.
(i)Implementation grants
(1)In general
The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities to implement covered projects.
(2)Application
An eligible entity seeking a grant under the Program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a demonstration of need for financial assistance to implement the proposed covered project.
(3)Priority
In awarding grants under the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that—
(A)have had an energy assessment completed by an industrial research and assessment center; and
(B)propose to carry out a covered project with a greater potential for—
(i)energy efficiency gains; or
(ii)greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
(4)Grant amount
(A)Maximum amount
The amount of a grant provided to an eligible entity under the Program shall not exceed $300,000.
(B)Federal share
A grant awarded under the Program for a covered project shall be in an amount that is not more than 50 percent of the cost of the covered project.
(C)Supplement
A grant received by an eligible entity under the Program shall supplement, not supplant, any private or State funds available to the eligible entity to carry out the covered project.
(j)Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026—
(1)$150,000,000 to carry out subsections (a) through (h); and
(2)$400,000,000 to carry out subsection (i).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Small Business Act, referred to in subsec. (h), is Pub. L. 85–536, § 2(1 et seq.), July 18, 1958, 72 Stat. 384, which is classified generally to chapter 14A (§ 631 et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 631 of Title 15 and Tables.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Wage Rate RequirementsFor provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for
Construction
, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 17116
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110