Marine Energy Act

Summary: Marine Energy Act This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to revise and reauthorize through FY2022 the program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application to accelerate the introduction of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy production. The program must give priority to fostering accelerated research, development, and commercialization of technology. The meaning of "marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy&quot; is expanded to include all forms of energy, not just electricity, from: (1) waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and tidal areas; (2) free flowing water in rivers, lakes, and streams; (3) free flowing water in man-made channels; and (4) differentials in ocean temperature (ocean thermal energy conversion). National Marine Renewable Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Centers must support in-water testing and demonstration of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies, including facilities capable of testing: (1) marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy systems of various technology readiness levels and scales, (2) a variety of technologies in multiple test berths at a single location, and (3) arrays of technology devices. 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Marine Energy Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF MARINE AND HYDROKINETIC RENEWABLE ENERGY.

    Section 632 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17211) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by 
striking ``electrical''.

SEC. 3. MARINE AND HYDROKINETIC RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 633 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17212) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 633. MARINE AND HYDROKINETIC RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    ``The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, shall carry out a program of research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application to accelerate the 
introduction of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy production 
into the United States energy supply, giving priority to fostering 
accelerated research, development, and commercialization of technology, 
including programs--
            ``(1) to assist technology development to improve the 
        components, processes, and systems used for power generation 
        from marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy resources;
            ``(2) to establish critical testing infrastructure 
        necessary--
                    ``(A) to cost effectively and efficiently test and 
                prove marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy devices; 
                and
                    ``(B) to accelerate the technological readiness and 
                commercialization of those devices;
            ``(3) to support efforts to increase the efficiency of 
        energy conversion, lower the cost, increase the use, improve 
        the reliability, and demonstrate the applicability of marine 
        and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies by participating 
        in demonstration projects;
            ``(4) to investigate variability issues and the efficient 
        and reliable integration of marine and hydrokinetic renewable 
        energy with the utility grid;
            ``(5) to identify and study critical short- and long-term 
        needs to create a sustainable marine and hydrokinetic renewable 
        energy supply chain based in the United States;
            ``(6) to increase the reliability and survivability of 
        marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies;
            ``(7) to verify the performance, reliability, 
        maintainability, and cost of new marine and hydrokinetic 
        renewable energy device designs and system components in an 
        operating environment, and consider the protection of critical 
        infrastructure, such as adequate separation between marine and 
        hydrokinetic devices and projects and submarine 
        telecommunications cables, including consideration of 
        established industry standards;
            ``(8) to coordinate and avoid duplication of activities 
        across programs of the Department and other applicable Federal 
        agencies, including National Laboratories and to coordinate 
        public-private collaboration in all programs under this 
        section;
            ``(9) to identify opportunities for joint research and 
        development programs and development of economies of scale 
        between--
                    ``(A) marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy 
                technologies; and
                    ``(B) other renewable energy and fossil energy 
                programs, offshore oil and gas production activities, 
                and activities of the Department of Defense;
            ``(10) to support in-water technology development with 
        international partners using existing cooperative procedures 
        (including memoranda of understanding)--
                    ``(A) to allow cooperative funding and other 
                support of value to be exchanged and leveraged; and
                    ``(B) to encourage the participation of 
                international research centers and companies within the 
                United States and the participation of United States 
                research centers and companies in international 
                projects;
            ``(11) to identify, in conjunction with the Secretary of 
        Commerce and other relevant Federal agencies, the potential 
        environmental impacts, including potential impacts on fisheries 
        and other marine resources, of marine and hydrokinetic 
        renewable energy technologies, measures to prevent adverse 
        impacts, and technologies and other means available for 
        monitoring and determining environmental impacts; and
            ``(12) to identify, in conjunction with the Commandant of 
        the United States Coast Guard and other relevant Federal 
        agencies, the potential navigational impacts of marine and 
        hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies and measures to 
        prevent adverse impacts on navigation.''.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND 
              DEMONSTRATION CENTERS.

    Section 634 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17213) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(b) Purposes.--The Centers (including each Center that has been 
established as of the date of enactment of the Marine Energy Act), in 
coordination with the Department and the National Laboratories, shall--
            ``(1) advance research, development, demonstration, and 
        commercial application of marine and hydrokinetic renewable 
        energy technologies;
            ``(2) support in-water testing and demonstration of marine 
        and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies, including 
        facilities capable of testing--
                    ``(A) marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy 
                systems of various technology readiness levels and 
                scales;
                    ``(B) a variety of technologies in multiple test 
                berths at a single location; and
                    ``(C) arrays of technology devices; and
            ``(3) serve as information clearinghouses for the marine 
        and hydrokinetic renewable energy industry by collecting and 
        disseminating information on best practices in all areas 
        relating to developing and managing marine and hydrokinetic 
        renewable energy resources and energy systems.''.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 636 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17215) is amended by striking ``$50,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2008 through 2012'' and inserting ``$60,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2018 through 2022''.