SHORT-TERM COST-SHARE PILOT PROGRAM.

SEC. 108. SHORT-TERM COST-SHARE PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In General.—Section 988(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352(b)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking “Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3)” and inserting “Except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)”; and (2) by adding at the end the following: “(4) Exemption for institutions of higher education and other nonprofit institutions.— “(A) In general.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a research or development activity performed by an institution of higher education or nonprofit institution (as defined in section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703)). “(B) Termination date.—The exemption under subparagraph (A) shall apply during the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this paragraph.” . (b) Reports.— (1) Initial report.—As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the use of cost-sharing waivers by the Department under section 988(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352(b)) during the 2-year period ending on the date of enactment of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. (2) Annual reports.—Annually during the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the use of cost-sharing waivers by the Department under section 988(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352(b)) during the period covered by the report.