§19301 National Clean Energy Incubator Program

Summary

The Secretary must create a Clean Energy Incubator Program within 180 days, run by the Chief Commercialization Officer, to award competitive grants to organizations that speed up putting clean energy technologies on the market. Clean energy incubator: an organization that gives workspace, labs, prototyping, business help, mentorship, or other services to help clean energy startups or companies; it can be part of a National Laboratory, college, or a government program. Grants should, when possible, go to incubators that work with local and regional partners, help hardware or software technology startups, are located across different U.S. regions, serve or partner with economically distressed, rural, Tribal, or low-income areas, support entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds, and have a plan to continue after grant funds end. No more than $4,000,000 may be awarded in any one State per fiscal year. Grants last up to 5 years and can be renewed up to 3 years after a merit review. Grant money can pay operating costs. The Secretary must send an evaluation of the program and incubator performance to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Congress authorized $15,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2023 through 2027 for this program.