Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§18632 Energy Innovation Hubs

Title 42 › CHAPTER 161 — DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION › SUBCHAPTER II — DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESEARCH COORDINATION › § 18632

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a program to fund Energy Innovation Hubs. A Hub is a center that brings people together to do research, tests, and help turn new energy ideas into real products. Advanced energy technology means things like renewable power, nuclear power, carbon capture, better vehicle tech, smarter grids, ways to store energy, work on critical energy elements, or any other energy area the Secretary names. A qualifying entity is a college, a state or federal research group, a nonprofit with energy research experience, or another group the Secretary approves. Grants go to teams of at least two qualifying entities that form a nonprofit and sign a binding partnership agreement showing governance, cost plans, and a budget with non-Federal contributions. The Secretary picks projects competitively, gives each Hub a single technology focus, and must coordinate with other Department programs and industry to avoid duplication. Awards last up to 5 years, depending on funding, and can be renewed after a tough review. Hubs in existence on September 28, 2018 are included and can keep support for their five-year period and seek renewal. Hubs must work together across disciplines, post plans on a public website, send an annual report to the Department showing spending and projects, monitor work, and follow conflict-of-interest rules. Funds cannot pay to build new buildings or count new construction as a non-Federal share, but money may pay for a test bed or renovations to existing facilities if the Secretary approves and limits the work to what the research needs.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §18632

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definitions

In this section: (1) Advanced energy technology

(2)Hub

(A)In general

The term “Hub” means an Energy Innovation Hub established under this section.

(B)Inclusion

The term “Hub” includes any Energy Innovation Hub in existence on September 28, 2018.

(3)Qualifying entity

The term “qualifying entity” means—

(A)an institution of higher education;

(B)an appropriate State or Federal entity, including a federally funded research and development center of the Department;

(C)a nongovernmental organization with expertise in advanced energy technology research, development, demonstration, or commercial application; or

(D)any other relevant entity the Secretary determines appropriate.

(b)Authorization of program

(1)In general

The Secretary shall carry out a program to enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by making awards to consortia for establishing and operating hubs, to be known as “Energy Innovation Hubs”, to conduct and support, at, if practicable, one centralized location, multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of advanced energy technologies.

(2)Technology development focus

The Secretary shall designate for each Hub a unique advanced energy technology or basic research focus.

(3)Coordination

The Secretary shall ensure the coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the activities of each Hub with the activities of— (A)

(B)industry.

(c)Application process

(1)Eligibility

To be eligible to receive an award for the establishment and operation of a Hub under subsection (b)(1), a consortium shall—

(A)be composed of not fewer than two qualifying entities;

(B)operate subject to a binding agreement, entered into by each member of the consortium, that documents—

(i)the proposed partnership agreement, including the governance and management structure of the Hub;

(ii)measures the consortium will undertake to enable cost-effective implementation of activities under the program described in subsection (b)(1); and

(iii)a proposed budget, including financial contributions from non-Federal sources; and

(C)operate as a nonprofit organization.

(2)Application

(A)In general

A consortium seeking to establish and operate a Hub under subsection (b)(1) shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a detailed description of each element of the consortium agreement required under paragraph (1)(B).

(B)Requirement

If the consortium members will not be located at one centralized location, the application under subparagraph (A) shall include a communications plan that ensures close coordination and integration of Hub activities.

(3)Selection

(A)In general

The Secretary shall select consortia for awards for the establishment and operation of Hubs through a competitive selection process.

(B)Considerations

In selecting consortia under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider—

(i)the information disclosed by the consortium under this subsection; and

(ii)any existing facilities a consortium will provide for Hub activities.

(d)Term

(1)In general

An award made to a Hub under this section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years, subject to the availability of appropriations, after which the award may be renewed, subject to a rigorous merit review.

(2)Existing Hubs

A Hub already in existence on, or undergoing a renewal process on, September 28, 2018—

(A)may continue to receive support during the 5-year period beginning on the date of establishment of that Hub; and

(B)shall be eligible for renewal of that support at the end of that 5-year period.

(e)Hub operations

(1)In general

Each Hub shall conduct or provide for multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of advanced energy technologies within the technology development focus designated under subsection (b)(2).

(2)Activities

Each Hub shall—

(A)encourage collaboration and communication among the member qualifying entities of the consortium and awardees;

(B)develop and publish proposed plans and programs on a publicly accessible website;

(C)submit an annual report to the Department summarizing the activities of the Hub, including—

(i)detailing organizational expenditures; and

(ii)describing each project undertaken by the Hub; and

(D)monitor project implementation and coordination.

(3)Conflicts of interest

Each Hub shall maintain conflict of interest procedures, consistent with the conflict of interest procedures of the Department.

(4)Prohibition on construction

(A)In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B)—

(i)no funds provided under this section may be used for construction of new buildings or facilities for Hubs; and

(ii)construction of new buildings or facilities shall not be considered as part of the non-Federal share of a Hub cost-sharing agreement.

(B)Test bed and renovation exception

Nothing in this paragraph prohibits the use of funds provided under this section or non-Federal cost share funds for the construction of a test bed or renovations to existing buildings or facilities for the purposes of research if the Secretary determines that the test bed or renovations are limited to a scope and scale necessary for the research to be conducted.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 18632

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110