On the recordMay 20, 2015
This amendment seeks to authorize the Energy Innovation Hubs program within the Department of Energy. I would like to thank Chairman Smith and his staff for working with me to craft this amendment. Because I know that the chairman supports the amendment, I will keep my remarks brief. Energy Innovation Hubs are collaborative research centers that bring together teams of scientists and engineers from academia, industry, and national laboratories in order to accelerate scientific discoveries that address critical energy issues. They were created in 2010 and have received almost $500 million in funding already. The four hubs currently focus on everything from improving nuclear reactors through computer-based modeling to improving battery technology for transportation and the grid. The amendment before us would not only authorize this important research but would also provide critical guidelines and accountability measures for the program. A rigorous merits-based renewal process would be implemented. The Secretary would be empowered to terminate underperforming hubs at any time, and funds would be prohibited from being used for the purpose of constructing buildings so that every taxpayer dollar goes toward the research for which it is intended. Again, I thank the gentleman from Texas, Chairman Smith, for his help and guidance in developing this amendment. I urge my colleagues to support it. I reserve the balance of my time.
