Lucas files measure to extend energy research

Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas, the ranking Republican on the House Science and Technology Committee filed a bill this week to reauthorize the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.

His bill, in the first stage of the legislative process would reauthorize ARPA for a five-year period with a gradual increase in funding every year until hitting $500 million by FY 2024.

The ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2019 would redirect the program to address the use of energy from foreign sources, the improvement of nuclear waste cleanup and the security of the grid.

It will typically be considered by committee next before it is possibly sent on to the House or Senate as a whole.