Establishment of scientific research and development program to develop competitive manufacturing technologies and increase energy efficiency in steel and aluminum industries
General authority
Management plan
Within 6 months after
For newly initiated research and development proposals submitted under the revised management plan, the non-Federal financial share shall equal at least 30 percent of the total cost of any project.
Existing facilities, equipment, supplies, and other property may be included in the non-Federal share under this section only when they are directly relevant to the project.
The knowledge resulting from research and development activities conducted under this chapter shall be developed for the benefit of the domestic companies who provide financial resources to the program.
The Secretary, for a period of up to 5 years after the development of information that—
results from research and development activities conducted under this chapter; and
would be a trade secret or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential, as described in section 5104(a) of this title, if the information had been obtained from a domestic company,
may provide appropriate protections against the dissemination of such information, including exemption from subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5.
The plan shall assure basic research support, for the research carried out under the research plan, from independent laboratories, universities, and nonprofit organizations, by coordinating activities under the research plan with the basic research efforts of the Department of Energy, such as the Energy Conversion and Utilization Technologies Program and the Materials Processing and Sensor and Controls programs within the Office of Industrial Technologies.
Priorities
Within 6 months after
Steel projects
The direct production of liquid steel from domestic materials.
The production of near-net shape forms from liquid, powder, or solid steel.
The development of universal grades of steel.
The application of automatic processing technology.
The removal of residual elements from steel scrap.
The treatment and storage of waste materials and other byproducts from steel production and processing.
The development of super-plastic steel processing.
The development of advanced sheet and bar steels.
The development of technologies and equipment related to the production of steel that enhance the protection of the environment and the safety and health of workers.
Other steel technologies which, in the judgment of the Secretary, further the purposes of this chapter.
The development of technologies which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Aluminum and other projects
The production of aluminum.
The application of automatic processing technology.
The treatment and storage of waste materials and other byproducts from aluminum production and processing.
The manufacture of aluminum mill products.
Aluminum recycling technologies.
The development of technologies and equipment related to the production of aluminum that enhance the protection of the environment and the safety and health of workers.
Aluminum, copper, and other metals technologies which, in the judgment of the Secretary, further the purposes of this chapter.