Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2025
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Would require the Department of Energy to report — initially within 120 days and at least quarterly thereafter — on every instance it waives or reduces the nonfederal cost-sharing requirements for federally funded energy research, development, demonstration, and commercial application projects.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend Section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to add a new reporting requirement for the Department of Energy (DOE). Specifically, DOE would have to submit a report — first within 120 days of enactment and at least every quarter after that — explaining how it used its existing authority to reduce or eliminate the cost-sharing contributions that nonfederal partners (companies, universities, states) are normally required to contribute to DOE-funded research, development, demonstration, and commercial application projects.
The reports would go to four congressional committees and would also be made publicly available. The bill does not itself restrict or expand DOE's authority to grant cost-share waivers; it only creates a transparency and oversight mechanism around the use of that authority.
Key provisions
- 1Would require DOE to submit an initial report within 120 days of enactment on its use of authority to reduce or eliminate nonfederal cost-sharing requirements for R&D projects.
- 2Would require DOE to submit at least quarterly reports thereafter on the same cost-share waiver authority, covering the period of each report.
- 3Would require each report to be submitted to four named congressional committees and made publicly available.
Who would be affected
The Department of Energy, which would prepare and submit the reports. Congressional overseers — specifically the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; House Committee on Appropriations; Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; and Senate Committee on Appropriations — would receive them. Nonfederal entities such as private companies, universities, and state governments that participate in DOE cost-shared R&D projects would be subjects of the reported information.
Why it matters
If enacted, the public and Congress would gain regular visibility into when and why DOE waives cost-sharing obligations for its R&D partners — information not currently required to be disclosed in a consolidated, recurring format. This could reveal patterns in which industries or project types receive preferential treatment on the matching-funds requirement, giving appropriators a sharper oversight tool.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Sec. 2)
Adds a new subsection (g) to Section 988 requiring quarterly public reporting on DOE's use of its cost-share reduction or elimination authority.
Amends 42 U.S.C. 16352 (Sec. 2)
Adds reporting requirements to the existing cost-sharing provision for DOE research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- First DOE report on cost-share waiver use due
How implementation would work
DOE's Secretary would be responsible for preparing each report. The first report is due within 120 days of enactment; all subsequent reports must follow at least quarterly. Each report must cover DOE's use of its waiver authority during the reporting period. Reports must be submitted simultaneously to four named congressional committees and posted publicly — implying a routine disclosure obligation with no enforcement mechanism beyond congressional oversight. No rulemaking or grant cycle is required.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Official CRS summary
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This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to report on the use of its authority to reduce or eliminate the nonfederal cost-sharing requirements for federally-funded projects regarding research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. DOE must submit a report within 120 days of the enactment of this bill and at least quarterly thereafter.
Legislative subjects
Congressional oversight; Energy; Energy research; Research administration and funding; Research and development