I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9238 
To accelerate the commercialization of marine energy technologies, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 2, 2024 
Ms. BARRAGA´N (for herself, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. CASE, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. 
MULLIN, Ms. HOYLE
of Oregon, Mr. CARTER
of Louisiana, Mr. 
CARBAJAL, and Ms. KUSTER) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addi-
tion to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, 
and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To accelerate the commercialization of marine energy 
technologies, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Marine Energy Tech-
nologies Acceleration Act’’. 
SEC. 2. MARINE ENERGY ACCELERATION. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Ma-
rine Energy Acceleration Fund established under 
subsection (b). 
(2) MARINE ENERGY.—The term ‘‘marine en-
ergy’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
632 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 
2007 (42 U.S.C. 17211). 
(3) NATIONAL
MARINE
ENERGY
CENTERS.— 
The term ‘‘National Marine Energy Centers’’ means 
the National Marine Energy Centers referred to in, 
or established under, section 636 of the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 
17215). 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
(b) MARINE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES ACCELERA-
TION FUND.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a fund, to be known as the ‘‘Marine Energy 
Technologies Acceleration Fund’’. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund 
$1,000,000,000, to remain available until expended. 
(c) MARINE ENERGY DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 
competitive solicitations for not fewer than twenty 
marine energy technology demonstration projects 
that export power to microgrids, community grids, 
or utility-scale grids. 
(2) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Secretary may coordinate with the Na-
tional Marine Energy Centers, non-profits that pro-
mote the growth and development of the blue econ-
omy, universities with relevant facilities and access 
to marine energy resources, and other entities with 
proven technical expertise to support marine energy 
demonstration projects. 
(3) PRIORITY.—In carrying out this subsection, 
the Secretary shall prioritize— 
(A) projects that integrate marine energy 
technologies with existing onshore and offshore 
transmission infrastructure, nearshore marine 
structures, or projects with all necessary local, 
State, and Federal licenses or permits in place; 
(B) open water prototype testing for more 
mature and advanced microgrid, community 
grid, or utility-scale grid marine energy tech-
nologies nearing market adoption; 
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(C) projects that support energy resilience 
and economic sustainability for rural and re-
mote disadvantaged communities, Tribal com-
munities, and communities of color; and 
(D) projects that power ocean-based sci-
entific research and education, and support 
workforce development, national security, and 
commercial activities limited by the availability 
of existing energy resources. 
(4) FUNDS.—Of the amounts in the Fund, 
$600,000,000 shall be available to the Secretary to 
carry out this subsection. 
(d) ADVANCEMENT
OF MARINE ENERGY TECH-
NOLOGIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 
competitive solicitations for— 
(A) research and development projects to 
advance marine energy technologies; and 
(B) upgrades to research and development 
facilities that advance marine energy tech-
nologies. 
(2) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Secretary may coordinate with the Na-
tional Marine Energy Centers, non-profits that pro-
mote the growth and development of the blue econ-
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omy, universities with relevant facilities and access 
to marine energy resources, entities with all nec-
essary local, State, and Federal licenses or permits 
in place, National Laboratories, Federal agencies in-
volved in the development of marine energy tech-
nology, other existing marine energy research and 
development programs, and other entities with prov-
en technical expertise to support marine energy re-
search, development, and commercialization. 
(3) PRIORITY.—In carrying out this subsection, 
the Secretary shall prioritize research and develop-
ment projects that— 
(A) rapidly design, fabricate, and test ma-
rine energy systems, subsystems, components, 
controls, domestic manufacturing, and materials 
in order to advance efficiency, reduce costs, re-
duce environmental impacts, increase power 
production, and improve reliability at a variety 
of technology readiness levels; 
(B) can be used to educate the public, pol-
icymakers, investors, educators, and other 
stakeholders about the potential for deployment 
of marine energy technologies, and identify the 
needs and concerns of local communities where 
projects may be placed; and 
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(C) support the development of tech-
nologies to monitor and mitigate impacts to ma-
rine and coastal ecosystems and communities. 
(4) FUNDS.—Of the amounts in the Fund— 
(A) $230,000,000 shall be available to the 
Secretary for technology research and develop-
ment activities under this subsection; and 
(B) $20,000,000 shall be available to the 
Secretary for providing marine energy and edu-
cation activities under this subsection through 
the National Marine Energy Centers. 
(e) ASSESSMENT OF TECHNICAL RESOURCE POTEN-
TIAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Manage-
ment, and other agencies, as appropriate, shall as-
sess the technical resource potential of marine en-
ergy at not fewer than 50 sites that previous agency 
assessments and modeling have determined to have 
significant marine energy potential. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Secretary shall— 
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(A) develop in-depth marine energy re-
source and conditions characterizations for each 
site; 
(B) deploy environmental monitoring tech-
nologies, tools, and data collection to under-
stand and mitigate potential environmental 
risks, characterize potential conflicts with other 
users of the local marine resources, optimize 
marine energy devices and arrays, and reduce 
costs; 
(C) ensure, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, that the sites are geographically distrib-
uted to assess marine energy resources and 
technologies in different regions of the United 
States; 
(D) where applicable, carry out technical 
resource assessments in coordination with Re-
gional Ocean Partnerships of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration Office for 
Coastal Management; and 
(E) use such technical resource assess-
ments to inform the location of the marine en-
ergy technology demonstration projects under 
subsection (c). 
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(3) DATA SHARING.—Data collected under this 
subsection shall be shared with public data reposi-
tories for use among regional ocean data portals and 
partnerships. 
(4) FUNDS.—Of the amounts in the Fund, 
$50,000,000 shall be available to the Secretary to 
carry out this subsection. 
(f) IMPROVEMENT OF PERMITTING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commis-
sion, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the Corps of Engineers, and other agencies as need-
ed, shall convene a task force with the appropriate 
Federal and State agencies to prepare a report 
that— 
(A) describes any barriers under the juris-
diction of such agencies to the development of 
marine energy technology projects; and 
(B) provides recommendations on reducing 
such barriers, including identification and de-
termination of opportunities to improve the reg-
ulatory process associated with the authorities 
required to deploy and license marine energy 
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technology projects, consistent with the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The task force convened 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) develop recommendations for efficient 
permitting processes that reduce the time, cost, 
and uncertainty for marine energy projects, 
consistent with the National Environmental 
Policy Act; 
(B) determine whether additional staff are 
required to be hired and trained at the appro-
priate Federal agencies to process permits and 
conduct environmental reviews in a timely and 
efficient manner; 
(C) conduct outreach to stakeholders; 
(D) facilitate Federal coordination with 
State permitting processes for marine energy 
projects, including by providing staff training 
for State and territory permitting agencies; and 
(E) not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, submit to Congress the 
report prepared under paragraph (1). 
(3) FUNDS.—Of the amounts in the Fund, to 
carry out this subsection— 
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(A) $5,000,000 shall be available to the 
Department of Energy; 
(B) $5,000,000 shall be available to the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and 
(C) $5,000,000 shall be available to the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. 
(g) WORKFORCE.— 
(1) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall conduct a national assessment of— 
(A) the prospective marine energy work-
force and hiring needs; and 
(B) the educational pathways and pro-
grams that would address those needs. 
(2) DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.—The Secretary 
shall launch workforce development programs based 
on the assessment conducted under paragraph (1), 
in partnership with the National Marine Energy 
Centers, the marine energy industry, institutions of 
higher education, labor unions, non-profits, and ca-
reer and technical education programs. 
(3) PRIORITY.—In carrying out this subsection, 
the Secretary shall prioritize workforce development 
programs in communities near the location of the 
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marine energy technology demonstration projects 
under subsection (c). 
(4) FUNDS.—Of the amounts in the Fund, 
$85,000,000 shall be available to the Secretary to 
carry out this subsection. 
Æ 
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