I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5692 
To accelerate the competitiveness of the United States in marine energy 
technologies, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 6, 2025 
Ms. BARRAGA´N (for herself, Ms. BONAMICI, and Ms. PINGREE) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Com-
merce, Natural Resources, and Education and Workforce, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To accelerate the competitiveness of the United States in 
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 ACCELERATION FUND.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a fund, to be known as the ‘‘Marine Energy 
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.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 
competitive solicitations for not fewer than twenty 
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marine energy 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 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 and off-
shore marine structures, or projects with all 
necessary local, State, and Federal licenses or 
permits in place; 
(B) open water prototype testing; 
(C) projects that support energy resilience 
and economic opportunities for rural commu-
nities, remote areas, Tribal communities, and 
low-income communities; and 
(D) projects that power ocean-based sci-
entific research and education, and support 
workforce development, national security, and 
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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 industry, 
the National Marine Energy Centers, non-profits, 
entities with all necessary local, State, and Federal 
licenses or permits in place, National Laboratories, 
Federal agencies involved in the development of ma-
rine energy technology, other existing marine energy 
research and development programs, and other enti-
ties with proven technical expertise to support ma-
rine energy research, development, and demonstra-
tion. 
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(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 
to improve efficiency, reduce costs, reduce envi-
ronmental impacts, increase power production, 
and improve reliability at a variety of tech-
nology readiness levels that promote domestic 
manufacturing, a domestic supply chain, and 
energy independence; 
(B) educate the public, policymakers, in-
vestors, educators, and other stakeholders about 
the potential for deployment of marine energy 
technologies, and identify the needs and con-
cerns of local communities where marine energy 
projects may be placed; and 
(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 
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(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 economic potential of marine energy at not 
fewer than 50 sites that previous agency assess-
ments and modeling have determined to have signifi-
cant marine energy potential. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Secretary shall— 
(A) develop, with input from interested 
parties, in-depth marine energy resource 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 
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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 demonstration projects under subsection 
(c). 
(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.— 
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(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 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 
projects, consistent with the National Environ-
mental 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; 
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(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— 
(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 the prospec-
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tive marine energy workforce and hiring needs and 
the educational pathways and programs 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 
marine energy demonstration projects under sub-
section (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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