7 U.S.C. § 8114
Section 8114 · Sun grant program
Current version, with additions and removals from the June 18, 2008 version.
The Secretary shall establish and carry out a program to provide grants to the sun grant centers and subcenter specified in subsection (b)—
The Secretary shall establish and carry out a program to provide grants to the sun grant centers and subcenter specified in subsection (b)—
(1) to enhance national energy security through the development, distribution, and implementation of biobased energy technologies;
(1) to enhance national energy security through the development, distribution, and implementation of biobased energy technologies;
(2) to promote diversification in, and the environmental sustainability of, agricultural production in the United States through biobased energy and product technologies;
(2) to promote diversification in, and the environmental sustainability of, agricultural production in the United States through biobased energy and product technologies;
(3) to promote economic diversification in rural areas of the United States through biobased energy and product technologies; and
(3) to promote economic diversification in rural areas of the United States through biobased energy and product technologies; and
(4) to enhance the efficiency of bioenergy and biomass research and development programs through improved coordination and collaboration among—
(4) to enhance the efficiency of bioenergy and biomass research and development programs through improved coordination and collaboration among—
(A) the Department of Agriculture;
(A) the Department of Agriculture;
(B) the Department of Energy; and
(B) other appropriate Federal agencies (as determined by the Secretary); and
(C) land-grant colleges and universities.
(C) land-grant colleges and universities.
(1) In general
(1) In general
The Secretary shall use amounts made available under subsection (g) to provide grants to each of the following:
The Secretary shall use amounts made available under subsection (g) to provide grants to each of the following:
(A) North-central center
(A) North-central center
(B) Southeastern center
(B) Southeastern center
(i) the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia;
(i) the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia;
(ii) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(ii) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(iii) the United States Virgin Islands.
(iii) the United States Virgin Islands.
(C) South-central center
(C) South-central center
(D) Western center
(D) Western center
(i) the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington; and
(i) the States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington; and
(ii) insular areas (as defined in section 3103 of this title (other than the insular areas referred to in clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (B))).
(ii) insular areas (as defined in section 3103 of this title (other than the insular areas referred to in clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (B))).
(E) Northeastern center
(E) Northeastern center
(F) Western insular Pacific subcenter
(F) Western insular Pacific subcenter
(2) Manner of distribution
(2) Manner of distribution
(A) Centers
(A) Centers
In providing any funds made available under subsection (g), the Secretary shall distribute the grants in equal amounts to the sun grant centers described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1).
In providing any funds made available under subsection (g), the Secretary shall distribute the grants in equal amounts to the sun grant centers described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1).
(B) Subcenter
(B) Subcenter
The sun grant center described in paragraph (1)(D) shall allocate a portion of the funds received under paragraph (1) to the subcenter described in paragraph (1)(F) pursuant to guidance issued by the Secretary.
The sun grant center described in paragraph (1)(D) shall allocate a portion of the funds received under paragraph (1) to the subcenter described in paragraph (1)(F) pursuant to guidance issued by the Secretary.
(3) Failure to comply with requirements
(3) Failure to comply with requirements
If the Secretary finds on the basis of a review of the annual report required under subsection (f) or on the basis of an audit of a sun grant center or subcenter conducted by the Secretary that the center or subcenter has not complied with the requirements of this section, the sun grant center or subcenter shall be ineligible to receive further grants under this section for such period of time as may be prescribed by the Secretary.
If the Secretary finds on the basis of a review of the annual report required under subsection (f) or on the basis of an audit of a sun grant center or subcenter conducted by the Secretary that the center or subcenter has not complied with the requirements of this section, the sun grant center or subcenter shall be ineligible to receive further grants under this section for such period of time as may be prescribed by the Secretary.
(1) Competitive grants
(1) Competitive grants
(A) In general
(A) In general
A sun grant center or subcenter shall use 75 percent of the funds described in subsection (b) to provide competitive grants to entities that are—
A sun grant center or subcenter shall use 75 percent of the funds described in subsection (b) to provide competitive grants to entities that are—
(ii) located in the region covered by the sun grant center or subcenter.
(ii) located in the region covered by the sun grant center or subcenter.
(B) Activities
(B) Activities
(i) research, extension, and education programs on technology development; and
(ii) integrated research, extension, and education programs on technology implementation.
(C) Funding allocation
Of the amount of funds that is used to provide grants under subparagraph (A), the sun grant center or subcenter shall use—
(i) not less than 30 percent of the funds to carry out the programs described in subparagraph (B)(i); and
(ii) not less than 30 percent of the funds to carry out the programs described in subparagraph (B)(ii).
(i) Peer and merit review
(i) Peer and merit review
In making grants under this paragraph, a sun grant center or subcenter shall—
In making grants under this paragraph, a sun grant center or subcenter shall—
(I) seek and accept proposals for grants;
(I) seek and accept proposals for grants;
(II) determine the relevance and merit of proposals through a system of peer review similar to that established by the Secretary pursuant to section 7613 of this title; and
(II) determine the relevance and merit of proposals through a system of peer review similar to that established by the Secretary pursuant to section 7613 of this title; and
(III) award grants on the basis of merit, quality, and relevance to advancing the purposes of this section.
(III) award grants on the basis of merit, quality, and relevance to advancing the purposes of this section.
(ii) Priority
(ii) Priority
A sun grant center or subcenter shall give a higher priority to programs that are consistent with the plan approved by the Secretary under subsection (d).
A sun grant center or subcenter shall give a higher priority to programs that are consistent with the plan approved by the Secretary under subsection (d).
(iii) Term
(iii) Term
A grant awarded by a sun grant center or subcenter shall have a term that does not exceed 5 years.
A grant awarded by a sun grant center or subcenter shall have a term that does not exceed 5 years.
(iv) Matching funds required
(iv) Matching funds required
(I) In general
(I) In general
Except as provided in subclauses (II) and (III), as a condition of receiving a grant under this paragraph, the sun grant center or subcenter shall require that not less than 20 percent of the cost of an activity described in subparagraph (B) be matched with funds, including in-kind contributions, from a non-Federal source.
Except as provided in subclauses (II) and (III), as a condition of receiving a grant under this paragraph, the sun grant center or subcenter shall require that not less than 20 percent of the cost of an activity described in subparagraph (B) be matched with funds, including in-kind contributions, from a non-Federal source.
(II) Exclusion
(II) Exclusion
Subclause (I) shall not apply to fundamental research (as defined in subsection (f)(1) of section 6971 of this title (as added by section 7511(a)(4)) 1.
Subclause (I) shall not apply to fundamental research (as defined in subsection (f)(1) of section 6971 of this title (as added by section 7511(a)(4)) 1.
(III) Reduction
(III) Reduction
The sun grant center or subcenter may reduce or eliminate the requirement for non-Federal funds under subclause (I) for applied research (as defined in subsection (f)(1) of section 6971 of this title (as added by section 7511(a)(4)) 1 if the sun grant center or subcenter determines that the reduction is necessary and appropriate pursuant to guidance issued by the Secretary.
The sun grant center or subcenter may reduce or eliminate the requirement for non-Federal funds under subclause (I) for applied research (as defined in subsection (f)(1) of section 6971 of this title (as added by section 7511(a)(4)) 1 if the sun grant center or subcenter determines that the reduction is necessary and appropriate pursuant to guidance issued by the Secretary.
(v) Buildings and facilities
(v) Buildings and facilities
Funds made available for grants shall not be used for the construction of a new building or facility or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building or facility (including site grading and improvement and architect fees).
Funds made available for grants shall not be used for the construction of a new building or facility or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building or facility (including site grading and improvement and architect fees).
(vi) Limitation on indirect costs
(vi) Limitation on indirect costs
A sun grant center or subcenter may not recover the indirect costs of making grants under subparagraph (A).
A sun grant center or subcenter may not recover the indirect costs of making grants under subparagraph (A).
(2) Administrative expenses
(2) Administrative expenses
A sun grant center or subcenter may use up to 4 percent of the funds described in subsection (b) to pay administrative expenses incurred in carrying out paragraph (1).
A sun grant center or subcenter may use up to 4 percent of the funds described in subsection (b) to pay administrative expenses incurred in carrying out paragraph (1).
(3) Research, extension and educational activities
(3) Research, extension and educational activities
The sun grant centers and subcenter shall use the remainder of the funds described in subsection (b) to conduct, in a manner consistent with the purposes described in subsection (a), multi-institutional and multistate—
The sun grant centers and subcenter shall use the remainder of the funds described in subsection (b) to conduct, in a manner consistent with the purposes described in subsection (a), multi-institutional and multistate—
(A) research, extension, and educational programs on technology development; and
(A) research, extension, and educational programs on technology development; and
(B) integrated research, extension, and educational programs on technology implementation.
(B) integrated research, extension, and educational programs on technology implementation.
(1) In general
(1) In general
(2) Gasification coordination
With respect to gasification research activity, the sun grant centers and subcenter shall coordinate planning with land-grant colleges and universities in their respective regions that have ongoing research activities in that area.
Funds described in subsection (c)(2) shall be available to carry out planning coordination under paragraph (1).
Funds described in subsection (c)(2) shall be available to carry out planning coordination under paragraph (1).
The sun grant centers and subcenter shall use the plan described in paragraph (1) in making grants under subsection (c)(1).
The sun grant centers and subcenter shall use the plan described in paragraph (1) in making grants under subsection (c)(1).
The sun grant centers and subcenter shall maintain a Sun Grant Information Analysis Center at the sun grant center specified in subsection (b)(1)(A) to provide the sun grant centers and subcenter with analysis and data management support.
The sun grant centers and subcenter shall maintain a Sun Grant Information Analysis Center at the sun grant center specified in subsection (b)(1)(A) to provide the sun grant centers and subcenter with analysis and data management support.
Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, a sun grant center or subcenter receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report that describes the policies, priorities, and operations of the program carried out by the center or subcenter during the fiscal year, including—
Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, a sun grant center or subcenter receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report that describes the policies, priorities, and operations of the program carried out by the center or subcenter during the fiscal year, including—
(2) a description of progress made in facilitating the priorities described in subsection (d)(1).
(2) a description of progress made in facilitating the priorities described in subsection (d)(1).