‘‘(3) study, in conjunction with other relevant 
Federal agencies as appropriate, methods to improve 
the hydropower licensing process, including by com-
piling current and accepted best practices, public 
comments, and methodologies to assess the full 
range of potential environmental and economic im-
pacts; 
‘‘(4) identify opportunities for joint research, 
development, and demonstration programs between 
hydropower systems, which may include— 
‘‘(A) pumped storage systems and other 
renewable energy systems; 
‘‘(B) small hydro facilities and other en-
ergy storage systems; 
‘‘(C) other hybrid energy systems; 
‘‘(D) small hydro facilities and critical in-
frastructure, including water infrastructure; 
and 
‘‘(E) hydro facilities and responsive load 
technologies, which may include smart buildings 
and city systems; 
‘‘(5) improve the reliability of hydropower tech-
nologies, including during extreme weather events; 
‘‘(6) develop methods and technologies to im-
prove environmental impact, including potential cu-
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mulative environmental impacts, of hydropower and 
pumped storage technologies, including potential im-
pacts on wildlife, such as— 
‘‘(A) fisheries; 
‘‘(B) aquatic life and resources; 
‘‘(C) navigation of waterways; and 
‘‘(D) upstream and downstream environ-
mental conditions, including sediment move-
ment, water quality, and flow volumes; 
‘‘(7) identify ways to increase power generation 
by— 
‘‘(A) diversifying plant configuration op-
tions; 
‘‘(B) improving pump-back efficiencies; 
‘‘(C) investigating multi-phase systems; 
‘‘(D) developing, testing, and monitoring 
advanced generators with faster cycling times, 
variable speeds, and improved efficiencies; 
‘‘(E) developing, testing, and monitoring 
advanced turbines capable of improving environ-
mental impact, including potential cumulative 
environmental impacts, including small turbine 
designs; 
‘‘(F) developing standardized powertrain 
components; 
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‘‘(G) developing components with advanced 
materials and manufacturing processes, includ-
ing additive manufacturing; and 
‘‘(H) developing analytical tools that en-
able hydropower to provide grid services that, 
amongst other services, improve grid integra-
tion of other energy sources; 
‘‘(8) advance new pumped storage technologies, 
including— 
‘‘(A) systems with adjustable speed and 
other new pumping and generating equipment 
designs; 
‘‘(B) modular systems; 
‘‘(C) alternative closed-loop systems, in-
cluding mines and quarries; and 
‘‘(D) other innovative equipment and ma-
terials as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(9) reduce civil works costs and construction 
times for hydropower and pumped storage systems, 
including comprehensive data and systems analysis 
of hydropower and pumped storage construction 
technologies and processes in order to identify areas 
for whole-system efficiency gains; 
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‘‘(10) advance efficient and reliable integration 
of hydropower and pumped storage systems with the 
electric grid by— 
‘‘(A) improving methods for operational 
forecasting of renewable energy systems to 
identify opportunities for hydropower applica-
tions in pumped storage and hybrid energy sys-
tems, including forecasting of seasonal and an-
nual energy storage; 
‘‘(B) considering aggregating small distrib-
uted hydropower assets; and 
‘‘(C) identifying barriers to grid scale im-
plementation of hydropower and pumped stor-
age technologies; 
‘‘(11) improve computational fluid dynamic 
modeling methods; 
‘‘(12) improve flow measurement methods, in-
cluding maintenance of continuous flow measure-
ment equipment; 
‘‘(13) identify best methods for compiling data 
on all hydropower resources and assets, including 
identifying potential for increased capacity; and 
‘‘(14) identify mechanisms to test and validate 
performance of hydropower and pumped storage 
technologies. 
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‘‘SEC. 635. MARINE ENERGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, 
AND DEMONSTRATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Department of Defense, Secretary of Commerce 
(acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Oceans and Atmosphere) and other relevant Federal agen-
cies, shall conduct a program of research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application of marine en-
ergy technology, including activities to— 
‘‘(1) assist technology development to improve 
the components, processes, and systems used for 
power generation from marine energy resources at a 
variety of scales; 
‘‘(2) establish and expand critical testing infra-
structure and facilities necessary to— 
‘‘(A) demonstrate and prove marine energy 
devices at a range of scales in a manner that 
is cost-effective and efficient; and 
‘‘(B) accelerate the technological readiness 
and commercial application of such devices; 
‘‘(3) address marine energy resource variability 
issues, including through the application of energy 
storage technologies; 
‘‘(4) advance efficient and reliable integration 
of marine energy with the electric grid, which may 
include smart building systems; 
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‘‘(5) identify and study critical short-term and 
long-term needs to maintaining a sustainable marine 
energy supply chain based in the United States; 
‘‘(6) increase the reliability, security, and resil-
ience of marine energy technologies; 
‘‘(7) validate the performance, reliability, main-
tainability, and cost of marine energy device designs 
and system components in an operating environ-
ment; 
‘‘(8) consider the protection of critical infra-
structure, such as adequate separation between ma-
rine energy devices and submarine telecommuni-
cations cables, including through the development of 
voluntary, consensus-based standards for such pur-
poses; 
‘‘(9) identify opportunities for crosscutting re-
search, development, and demonstration programs 
between existing energy research programs; 
‘‘(10) identify and improve, in conjunction with 
the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and At-
mosphere, and other relevant Federal agencies as 
appropriate, the environmental impact, including po-
tential cumulative environmental impacts, of marine 
energy technologies, including— 
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‘‘(A) potential impacts on fisheries and 
other marine resources; and 
‘‘(B) developing technologies, including 
mechanisms for self-evaluation, and other 
means available for improving environmental 
impact, including potential cumulative environ-
mental impacts; 
‘‘(11) identify, in consultation with relevant 
Federal agencies, potential navigational impacts of 
marine energy technologies and strategies to prevent 
possible adverse impacts, in addition to opportunities 
for marine energy systems to aid the United States 
Coast Guard, such as remote sensing for coastal bor-
der security; 
‘‘(12) develop numerical and physical tools, in-
cluding models and monitoring technologies, to as-
sist industry in device and system design, installa-
tion, operation, and maintenance, including methods 
to validate such tools; 
‘‘(13) support materials science as it relates to 
marine energy technology, such as the development 
of corrosive-resistant materials; 
‘‘(14) improve marine energy resource fore-
casting and general understanding of aquatic system 
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behavior, including turbulence and extreme condi-
tions; 
‘‘(15) develop metrics and voluntary, consensus- 
based standards, in coordination with the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology and appro-
priate standard development organizations, for ma-
rine energy components, systems, and their testing, 
including— 
‘‘(A) sensors and instrumentation used in 
measuring impacts and performance of marine 
energy technologies; and 
‘‘(B) sensors and instrumentation used to 
measure environmental conditions; 
‘‘(16) enhance integration with hybrid energy 
systems, including desalination; 
‘‘(17) identify opportunities to integrate marine 
energy technologies into new and existing infrastruc-
ture; and 
‘‘(18) to develop technology necessary to sup-
port the use of marine energy— 
‘‘(A) for the generation and storage of 
power at sea; and 
‘‘(B) for the generation and storage of 
power to promote the resilience of coastal com-
munities, including in applications relating to— 
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‘‘(i) desalination; 
‘‘(ii) disaster recovery and resilience; 
and 
‘‘(iii) community microgrids in iso-
lated power systems. 
‘‘(b) STUDY OF NON-POWER SECTOR APPLICATIONS 
FOR ADVANCED MARINE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Transportation and the 
Secretary of Commerce, shall conduct a study to ex-
amine opportunities for research and development in 
advanced marine energy technologies for non-power 
sector applications, including applications with re-
spect to— 
‘‘(A) the maritime transportation sector; 
‘‘(B) associated maritime energy infra-
structure, including infrastructure that serves 
ports, to improve system resilience and disaster 
recovery; and 
‘‘(C) enabling scientific missions at sea 
and in extreme environments, including the 
Arctic. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
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Resources of the Senate and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives a report that describes the results of 
the study conducted under paragraph (1). 
‘‘SEC. 636. NATIONAL MARINE ENERGY CENTERS. 
‘‘(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants, each such grant up to $10,000,000 per year, to 
institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) 
for— 
‘‘(1) the continuation and expansion of the re-
search, development, demonstration, testing, and 
commercial application activities at the National Ma-
rine Energy Centers (referred to in this section as 
‘Centers’) established as of January 1, 2020; and 
‘‘(2) the establishment of new National Marine 
Energy Centers. 
‘‘(b) LOCATION SELECTION.—In selecting institu-
tions of higher education for new Centers, the Secretary 
shall consider the following criteria: 
‘‘(1) Whether the institution hosts an existing 
marine energy research and development program. 
‘‘(2) Whether the institution has proven tech-
nical expertise to support marine energy research. 
‘‘(3) Whether the institution has access to ma-
rine resources. 
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‘‘(c) PURPOSES.—The Centers shall coordinate 
among themselves, the Department, and National Labora-
tories to— 
‘‘(1) advance research, development, demonstra-
tion, and commercial application of marine energy 
technologies in response to industry and commercial 
needs; 
‘‘(2) support in-water testing and demonstra-
tion of marine energy technologies, including facili-
ties capable of testing— 
‘‘(A) marine energy systems of various 
technology readiness levels and scales; 
‘‘(B) a variety of technologies in multiple 
test berths at a single location; 
‘‘(C) arrays of technology devices; and 
‘‘(D) interconnectivity to an electrical grid, 
including microgrids; and 
‘‘(3) collect and disseminate information on 
best practices in all areas relating to developing and 
managing marine energy resources and energy sys-
tems. 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION.—To the extent practicable, the 
Centers shall coordinate their activities with the Secretary 
of Commerce, acting through the Undersecretary of Com-
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merce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and other relevant 
Federal agencies. 
‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—To the extent otherwise author-
ized by law, the Secretary may terminate funding for a 
Center described in paragraph (a) if such Center is under- 
performing. 
‘‘SEC. 637. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF PRO-
GRAMS. 
‘‘(a) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this subtitle, 
the Secretary shall coordinate activities, and effectively 
manage cross-cutting research priorities across programs 
of the Department and other relevant Federal agencies, 
including the National Laboratories and the National Ma-
rine Energy Centers. 
‘‘(b) COLLABORATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this sub-
title, the Secretary shall collaborate with industry, 
National Laboratories, other relevant Federal agen-
cies, institutions of higher education, including Mi-
nority Serving Institutions, National Marine Energy 
Centers, Tribal entities, including Alaska Native 
Corporations, and international bodies with relevant 
scientific and technical expertise. 
‘‘(2) PARTICIPATION.—To the extent prac-
ticable, the Secretary shall encourage research 
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projects that promote collaboration between entities 
specified in paragraph (1) and include entities not 
historically associated with National Marine Energy 
Centers, such as Minority Serving Institutions. 
‘‘(3) INTERNATIONAL
COLLABORATION.—The 
Secretary of Energy, in coordination with other ap-
propriate Federal and multilateral agencies (includ-
ing the United States Agency for International De-
velopment) shall support collaborative efforts with 
international partners to promote the research, de-
velopment, and demonstration of water power tech-
nologies used to develop hydropower, pump storage, 
and marine energy resources. 
‘‘(c) DISSEMINATION
OF RESULTS
AND PUBLIC 
AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) publish the results of projects supported 
under this subtitle through Department websites, re-
ports, databases, training materials, and industry 
conferences, including information discovered after 
the completion of such projects, withholding any in-
dustrial proprietary information; and 
‘‘(2) share results of such projects with the 
public except to the extent that the information is 
protected from disclosure under section 552(b) of 
title 5, United States Code. 
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‘‘(d) AWARD FREQUENCY.—The Secretary shall so-
licit applications for awards under this subtitle no less fre-
quently than once per fiscal year. 
‘‘(e) EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.—In carrying out 
the activities described in this subtitle, the Secretary shall 
support education and outreach activities to disseminate 
information and promote public understanding of water 
power technologies and the water power workforce, includ-
ing activities at the National Marine Energy Centers. 
‘‘(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND WORKFORCE DE-
VELOPMENT.—In carrying out this subtitle, the Secretary 
may also conduct, for purposes of supporting technical, 
non-hardware, and information-based advances in water 
power systems development and operations— 
‘‘(1) technical assistance and analysis activities 
with eligible entities, including activities that sup-
port expanding access to advanced water power tech-
nologies for rural, Tribal, and low-income commu-
nities; and 
‘‘(2) workforce development and training activi-
ties, including to support the dissemination of stand-
ards and best practices for enabling water power 
production. 
‘‘(g) STRATEGIC PLAN.—In carrying out the activi-
ties described in this subtitle, the Secretary shall— 
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‘‘(1) not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of the Water Power Research and 
Development Act, draft a plan, considering input 
from relevant stakeholders such as industry and aca-
demia, to implement the programs described in this 
subtitle and update the plan on an annual basis; and 
‘‘(2) the plan shall address near-term (up to 2 
years), mid-term (up to 7 years), and long-term (up 
to 15 years) challenges to the advancement of water 
power systems. 
‘‘(h) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of the Water Power Re-
search and Development Act, and at least once every 2 
years thereafter, the Secretary shall provide, and make 
available to the public and the relevant authorizing and 
appropriations committees of Congress, a report on the 
findings of research conducted and activities carried out 
pursuant to this subtitle, including the most current stra-
tegic plan under subsection (g) and the progress made in 
implementing such plan. 
‘‘SEC. 638. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS. 
‘‘Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed as 
waiving, modifying, or superseding the applicability of any 
requirement under any environmental or other Federal or 
State law. 
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‘‘SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this subtitle— 
‘‘(1) $152,750,000 for fiscal year 2021, includ-
ing 
$112,580,000 
for 
marine 
energy 
and 
$40,170,000 for hydropower research, development, 
and demonstration activities; 
‘‘(2) $157,678,300 for fiscal year 2022, includ-
ing 
$116,303,200 
for 
marine 
energy 
and 
$41,375,100 for hydropower research, development, 
and demonstration activities; 
‘‘(3) $162,791,915 for fiscal year 2023, includ-
ing 
$120,175,562 
for 
marine 
energy 
and 
$42,616,353 for hydropower research, development, 
and demonstration activities; 
‘‘(4) $168,098,139 for fiscal year 2024, includ-
ing 
$124,203,295 
for 
marine 
energy 
and 
$43,894,844 for hydropower research, development, 
and demonstration activities; and 
‘‘(5) $173,604,558 for fiscal year 2025, includ-
ing 
$128,392,869 
for 
marine 
energy 
and 
$45,211,689 for hydropower research, development, 
and demonstration activities.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING TABLE
OF CONTENTS AMEND-
MENT.—The table of contents for the Energy Independ-
ence and Security Act of 2007 is amended by striking the 
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items relating to subtitle C of title VI and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘Subtitle C—Water Power Research and Development 
‘‘Sec. 631. Short title. 
‘‘Sec. 632. Definitions. 
‘‘Sec. 633. Water power technology research, development, and demonstration. 
‘‘Sec. 634. Hydropower research, development, and demonstration. 
‘‘Sec. 635. Marine energy research, development, and demonstration. 
‘‘Sec. 636. National Marine Energy Centers. 
‘‘Sec. 637. Organization and administration of programs. 
‘‘Sec. 638. Applicability of other laws. 
‘‘Sec. 639. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 
SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005.—The Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801 et seq.) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in section 201(a), by striking ‘‘ocean (in-
cluding tidal, wave, current, and thermal)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘marine’’; 
(2) in section 203(b)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘ocean (including tidal, 
wave, current, and thermal)’’ and inserting 
‘‘marine’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘For purposes of this Act, the term ‘marine’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘marine energy’ 
in section 632 of the Water Power Research 
and Development Act.’’; 
(3) in section 931(a)(2)(E)(i), by striking 
‘‘ocean energy, including wave energy’’ and inserting 
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‘‘marine energy (as defined in section 632 of the 
Water Power Research and Development Act)’’; and 
(4) in section 1833(a), by striking ‘‘ocean en-
ergy resources (including tidal, wave, and thermal 
energy)’’ and inserting ‘‘marine energy resources’’. 
(b) ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 1992.—Section 1212 of 
the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13317) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(4)(A)(i), by striking 
‘‘ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and ther-
mal)’’ and inserting ‘‘marine (as defined in section 
632 of the Water Power Research and Development 
Act)’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘ocean (including tidal, 
wave, current, and thermal)’’ and inserting ‘‘marine 
(as defined in section 632 of the Water Power Re-
search and Development Act)’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e)(1), in the first sentence, by 
striking ‘‘ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and 
thermal)’’ and inserting ‘‘marine (as defined in sec-
tion 632 of the Water Power Research and Develop-
ment Act)’’. 
(c) RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY 
TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS ACT OF 1989.—The Re-
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