§18652 Helium Conservation Program

Summary

The Secretary must create a program to cut helium use by Department grant recipients and facilities and to encourage recycling and reuse. The program must give competitive grants to buy, install, maintain, and repair equipment that captures and recycles helium and to fund research on alternatives to helium. Within 2 years after August 9, 2022, and every 3 years after that, the Director must send a report to two congressional committees showing how much helium was bought, the costs, whether it was imported and from where if known, how shortages or price changes affected projects, and recommendations to reduce exposure to volatile prices and supplies. The Director must work with the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies. The program can be funded in periods of up to 5 years, depending on available money, and funding may be renewed for additional periods of up to 5 years.