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BEST Act

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 255.

Official summary

Version 25 · Reported to Senate · Oct 22, 2019

Better Energy Storage Technology Act or the BEST Act

This bill addresses research, development, and demonstration programs relating to energy storage systems.

Among other requirements, the Department of Energy must

establish a research, development, and deployment program for energy storage systems, including distributed and transportation energy storage technologies and applications;

enter into agreements to carry out at least five demonstration projects and develop a 10-year strategic plan for energy storage systems;

establish a competitive grant program to assist certain states and tribal governments, institutions of higher education, utilities, and private energy storage companies carry out demonstration projects for pilot energy storage systems;

provide technical and planning assistance to help certain electric cooperatives, political subdivisions of states, nonprofit entities, and utilities procure energy storage systems; and

award competitive prizes for advancing the recycling of critical energy storage materials such as lithium and cobalt.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] · R–ME

Committees

  • Energy and Natural Resources Committee
23 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 255.

  2. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 116-135.

  3. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 116-135.

  4. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  5. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-327.

  6. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3062-3063)

  7. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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