Warren, Huffman Reintroduce National Institutes of Clean Energy Act to Make Transformative Investments in Clean Energy Research and Technology

Bill Text | One-Pager Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) reintroduced the National Institutes of Clean Energy Act (NICE), legislation that would invest $400 billion over the next decade to establish and operate a new system of institutes at the Department of Energy focused on research and development of advanced clean energy technologies. The National Institutes of Clean Energy, modeled after the National Institutes of Health, would invest in clean energy science, innovation, and research and development to support projects that help reduce carbon emissions and build climate resilience. The United States has the highest GDP in the world but ranks 13th globally for capital invested in public research and development. Because these funds directly contribute to the generation of knowledge and advanced technologies, how much the United States spends on research and development provides a snapshot of how innovative the economy truly is. By making smart investments in the nation’s future, the United States can begin developing new technologies to combat the climate crisis and strengthen the nation’s resilience. “The United States must be at the forefront of the fight for a cleaner and greener planet,” said Senator Warren. “We need to continue prioritizing the climate-related innovation that will get us there.” “Investing in clean energy research and development is essential to boosting our economy and addressing the climate impacts pummeling our communities,” said Representative Huffman . “The NICE Act is a prime example of how the United States can accelerate the transition to a clean energy future by fostering innovative green technology.” The funding established in the bill would support: Developing advanced energy technologies in hard-to-decarbonize sectors, like aviation and shipping; Focusing on clean energy research areas that are underrepresented in existing federal research and development funding; Developing projects on the impacts of energy production in frontline communities, including communities of color and low-income communities, that have been disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices; Supporting research and development projects focused on the impacts of clean energy and energy production on job loss, job creation, and workforce development. Moreover, the National Institutes of Clean Energy Act prioritizes R&D of technologies that: Minimize environmental harms and negative public health impacts on frontline and disadvantaged communities and create high-quality jobs in these communities; Are conducted at public universities, consortiums of land grant colleges and universities, or minority-serving institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities; Are developed in areas that have seen the worst job losses over the past five years – including rural areas and areas impacted by deindustrialization. This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.); and Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), and Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.). The legislation is endorsed by MoveOn, GreenLatinos, Center for Progressive Reform, League of Conservation Voters, Friends of the Earth, New Consensus, Public Citizen, and Climate Hawks Vote. ###