This measure directs the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Agriculture to work together on shared research and development activities. The two agencies must set up a memorandum of understanding or other interagency agreement to run competitive, merit-reviewed research programs. Eligible applicants include Federal agencies, National Laboratories, colleges and universities, nonprofits, and other appropriate entities.
The bill lists many example focus areas, such as modeling, machine learning, and large-data analytics for agriculture and energy; crop and biological science; the energy–water nexus; advanced biomass, biobased products, and biofuels; diverse feedstocks for sustainable fuels; colocation of agricultural activities with energy technologies and with carbon storage or utilization; invasive species management; long-term high-risk technology research; grid modernization and grid security; rural technology and automation; and wildfire risks and impacts on energy infrastructure. The Secretaries may support data integration, open collaboration, research infrastructure, workforce development, and methods to improve agricultural efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The agencies may use reimbursable agreements and may collaborate with other Federal agencies. A report to specified House and Senate committees is required within two years. Activities must follow existing research security rules in subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act.
If you are a researcher, laboratory, university, nonprofit, or industry partner working on agriculture or energy topics, this creates a new joint funding and collaboration pathway you can apply to through competitive reviews. It may create more opportunities for shared data access, joint projects between energy and agriculture experts, and some workforce development work. It also means projects will need to meet federal research security and data rules.
If you live in rural or agriculture-dependent areas, the measure could support technology development for precision agriculture, rural manufacturing, biofuel feedstocks, grid improvements, and wildfire risk work. The bill does not promise specific projects or funding amounts.
No publicly available information.
The text authorizes reimbursable agreements and coordination but does not set or estimate appropriations, total costs, or specific funding levels.
Supporters would say the measure helps both Departments advance their mission priorities by pooling expertise and resources. They would describe it as a way to speed development of improved crop science, sustainable biofuels, data-driven tools, grid resilience, and wildfire mitigation while promoting competitive, merit-reviewed research and workforce training.
No publicly available information.