Title: Marine Energy Research and Development Act of 2019
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Marine Energy Research and Development Act of 2019
This bill directs the Water Power Technologies Office of the Department of Energy to carry out a program to accelerate the introduction of marine energy production into the United States energy supply while fostering accelerated research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of technology, including programs to to identify and study critical short- and long-term needs to create a sustainable marine energy supply chain based in the United States.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3203 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3203

To provide research, development, and deployment of marine energy, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 11, 2019

  Mr. Deutch (for himself and Ms. Bonamici) introduced the following 
   bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                               Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide research, development, and deployment of marine energy, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Marine Energy 
Research and Development Act of 2019''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Purpose.
Sec. 3. Amendment to short title.
Sec. 4. Definition of marine energy.
Sec. 5. Marine energy research and development.
Sec. 6. National Marine Energy Centers.
Sec. 7. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to support marine energy programs 
that--
            (1) promote the research and development of increased 
        energy generation and capacity at reduced costs;
            (2) promote research and development that improves 
        environmental outcomes of marine energy technologies;
            (3) provide grid stability and create new market 
        opportunities; and
            (4) promote job creation in the energy sector.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO SHORT TITLE.

    Section 631 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17001) is amended by striking ``and Hydrokinetic Renewable'' 
from the short title.

SEC. 4. DEFINITION OF MARINE ENERGY.

    Section 632 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17211) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 632. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this subtitle, the term `marine energy' means 
energy from--
            ``(1) waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and 
        tidal areas;
            ``(2) free flowing hydrokinetic water in rivers, lakes, and 
        streams;
            ``(3) free flowing hydrokinetic water in man-made channels; 
        and
            ``(4) differentials in ocean temperature (ocean thermal 
        energy conversion).''.

SEC. 5. MARINE 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 ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Water Power 
Technologies Office, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, shall conduct a program to accelerate the introduction of 
marine energy production into the United States energy supply, giving 
priority to technologies most likely to lead to commercial utilization, 
while fostering accelerated research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application of technology, including programs to--
            ``(1) assist technology development at a variety of scales, 
        including full scale prototypes, in order to improve the 
        components, processes, and systems used for power generation 
        from marine energy resources;
            ``(2) establish and expand critical testing infrastructure 
        and facilities necessary to--
                    ``(A) cost-effectively and efficiently test and 
                prove marine energy devices; and
                    ``(B) accelerate the technological readiness and 
                commercialization of such devices;
            ``(3) support efforts to increase the efficiency of energy 
        conversion, lower the cost, increase the use, improve the 
        reliability, and demonstrate the applicability of marine energy 
        technologies by participating in demonstration projects;
            ``(4) investigate variability issues and the efficient and 
        reliable integration of marine energy with the utility grid;
            ``(5) identify and study critical short- and long-term 
        needs to create a sustainable marine energy supply chain based 
        in the United States;
            ``(6) increase the reliability and survivability of marine 
        energy technologies;
            ``(7) verify the performance, reliability, maintainability, 
        and cost of new marine energy device designs and system 
        components in an operating environment;
            ``(8) consider the protection of critical infrastructure, 
        such as adequate separation between marine energy devices and 
        projects and submarine telecommunications cables, including 
        consideration of established industry standards;
            ``(9)(A) coordinate the programs carried out under this 
        section with, and avoid duplication of activities across, 
        programs of the Department and other applicable Federal 
        agencies, including National Laboratories; and
            ``(B) coordinate public-private collaboration in carrying 
        out the programs under this section;
            ``(10) identify opportunities for joint research and 
        development programs and the development of economies of scale 
        between--
                    ``(A) marine energy technologies; and
                    ``(B) other renewable energy and fossil energy 
                programs, offshore oil and gas production activities, 
                and activities of the Department of Defense;
            ``(11) identify, in conjunction with the Secretary of 
        Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
        Oceans and Atmosphere, and other relevant Federal agencies as 
        appropriate, the potential environmental impacts, including 
        potential impacts on fisheries and other marine resources, of 
        marine energy technologies, measures to prevent adverse 
        impacts, and technologies and other means available for 
        monitoring and determining environmental impacts;
            ``(12) identify, in conjunction with the Secretary of the 
        Department in which the United States Coast Guard is operating, 
        acting through the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, 
        the potential navigational impacts of marine energy 
        technologies and measures to prevent adverse impacts on 
        navigation; and
            ``(13) support in-water technology development with 
        international partners using existing cooperative procedures 
        (including memoranda of understanding) to--
                    ``(A) allow cooperative funding and other support 
                of value to be exchanged and leveraged; and
                    ``(B) encourage international research centers and 
                international companies to participate in the 
                development of marine energy technology in the United 
                States and to encourage United States research centers 
                and companies to participate in marine energy projects 
                abroad.
    ``(b) Cost Sharing and Merit Review.--The Secretary shall carry out 
the program under this section in compliance with sections 988 and 989 
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 16352, 16353).''.

SEC. 6. NATIONAL MARINE ENERGY CENTERS.

    Section 634 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17213) is amended by striking subsections (a) and (b) and 
inserting the following:
    ``(a) Centers.--The Secretary shall award grants to institutions of 
higher education for continuation and expansion of the research, 
development, and testing activities at the National Marine Energy 
Centers established as of January 1, 2019, and the establishment of new 
National Marine Energy Centers. In selecting locations for new Centers, 
the Secretary shall consider one of the following criteria:
            ``(1) Hosts an existing marine energy research and 
        development program in coordination with an engineering program 
        at an institution of higher education.
            ``(2) Has proven expertise to support environmental and 
        policy-related issues associated with the harnessing of energy 
        in the marine environment.
            ``(3) Has access to and utilizes marine resources.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The Centers shall coordinate among themselves, the 
Department and the National Laboratories to--
            ``(1) advance research, development, and demonstration of 
        marine energy technologies;
            ``(2) support in-water testing and demonstration of marine 
        energy technologies, including facilities 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; and
                    ``(C) arrays of technology devices; and
            ``(3) serve as information clearinghouses for the marine 
        energy industry by collecting and disseminating information on 
        best practices in all areas relating to developing and managing 
        marine energy resources and energy systems.
    ``(c) Cost Sharing.--The Secretary shall carry out the program 
under this section in compliance with section 988(b)(4) of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352).''.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 636 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17215) is amended by inserting ``and $150,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2020 and 2021'' after ``2008 through 2012''.
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