COLLABORATE Act

Bill: 118-s-5441
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2024-12-05
Policy area: Energy
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5441 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 5, 2024 Mr. Whitehouse introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To provide for offshore wind energy development, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Create Offshore Leadership and Livelihood Alignment By Operating Responsibly And Together for the Environment Act or the COLLABORATE Act . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. TITLE I—Offshore wind Sec. 101. Definitions. Subtitle A—Offshore wind leadership and coordination Sec. 111. Offshore Wind Transmission Task Force. Subtitle B—Offshore wind generation and leasing Sec. 121. Offshore wind generation and leasing. Sec. 122. Offshore wind lease auctions. Sec. 123. Offshore wind permitting and authorizations. Subtitle C—Offshore wind transmission Sec. 131. Offshore wind transmission research and development. Sec. 132. Offshore wind transmission planning. Sec. 133. Offshore wind transmission siting, permitting, and authorizations. Sec. 134. Reliability standards for offshore transmission. Sec. 135. Inclusion of offshore wind energy in interregional transmission planning. Sec. 136. Coastal State integration of offshore wind energy. Subtitle D—Miscellaneous Sec. 141. Judicial review. TITLE II—Fisheries Sec. 201. Offshore Wind Energy Fisheries Compensation Fund. Sec. 202. Fishermen's Contingency Fund. Sec. 203. Grant program for research on the impacts of offshore wind development on fisheries resources. Sec. 204. Offshore Wind and Fisheries Coexistence Fund. I Offshore wind 101. Definitions In this title: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) Applicant The term applicant means an offshore wind lessee or the representative of an offshore wind lessee that submits or is planning to submit to the Secretary a construction and operations plan for an offshore wind project. (3) Backbone line The term backbone line means a transmission line that connects multiple offshore transmission substations. (4) Bulk-power system The term bulk-power system has the meaning given the term in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824o(a) ). (5) Call area The term call area means an area on the outer Continental Shelf that— (A) is identified by the Secretary as potentially suitable for offshore wind energy development; and (B) is designated as a call area by the Secretary. (6) Draft offshore wind energy area The term draft offshore wind energy area means an area that— (A) is within a call area; and (B) may be designated as a Wind Energy Area by the Secretary. (7) Electric Reliability Organization The term Electric Reliability Organization has the meaning given the term in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824o(a) ). (8) Federal authorization (A) In general The term Federal authorization means any authorization required under Federal law in order to site an offshore wind transmission facility. (B) Inclusions The term Federal authorization includes such permits, special use authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other approvals as may be required under Federal law in order to site an offshore wind transmission facility. (9) Independent System Operator The term Independent System Operator has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 796 ). (10) Indian Tribe The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 ). (11) Meshed network (A) In general The term meshed network means a networked configuration of power conditioning equipment that allows more than 1 path to transmit offshore wind energy to the onshore electric grid, including— (i) between 1 or more offshore transmission substations; and (ii) from 1 or more offshore transmission substations to 2 or more onshore substations. (B) Inclusions A meshed network may include a combination of radial lines and backbone lines. (12) Offshore wind energy area The term offshore wind energy area means an area that— (A) is within a call area; and (B) is designated as a Wind Energy Area by the Secretary. (13) Offshore wind generation facility The term offshore wind generation facility means a facility that— (A) is located on the outer Continental Shelf; and (B) produces electric energy by the use, as a primary energy source, of wind energy. (14) Offshore wind transmission facility (A) In general The term offshore wind transmission facility means a facility such as a line or cable, and any related infrastructure or equipment, such as a substation or converter station, that is used for the transmission of electric energy— (i) between 2 or more offshore wind generation facilities, including— (I) offshore wind generation facilities within a single offshore wind project; and (II) offshore wind generation facilities in different offshore wind projects; or (ii) between 1 or more offshore wind generation facilities and an interconnection with an onshore electric grid. (B) Inclusions The term offshore wind transmission facility includes a radial line, a backbone line, and any transmission line. (15) Optimal point of interconnection The term optimal point of interconnection means a point of interconnection that minimizes— (A) delays; (B) local impacts; and (C) the need for grid upgrades. (16) Outer Continental Shelf The term outer Continental Shelf has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1331 ). (17) Planning area The term planning area means a planning area described in the document entitled 2019–2024 National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program and dated January 2018 (or a subsequent oil and gas leasing program developed under section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1344 )). (18) Radial line The term radial line means a transmission line that is used to link 1 or more offshore wind projects to the bulk-power system. (19) Regional Transmission Organization The term Regional Transmission Organization has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 796 ). (20) Registered apprenticeship program The term registered apprenticeship program means an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act ; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq. ). (21) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (22) State The term State has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1331 ). (23) Tribal organization The term Tribal organization means— (A) a Tribal organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 )); and (B) a Native Hawaiian organization (as defined in section 2 of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act ( 25 U.S.C. 3001 )). A Offshore wind leadership and coordination 111. Offshore Wind Transmission Task Force (a) Definition of Offshore Wind Transmission Task Force In this section, the term Offshore Wind Transmission Task Force means, as applicable— (1) the National Offshore Wind Transmission Task Force established under subsection (b)(1); or (2) a regional offshore wind transmission task force established under subsection (b)(2). (b) Establishment (1) National task force Subject to paragraph (2), not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and chair a national task force, to be known as the National Offshore Wind Transmission Task Force , to coordinate— (A) the siting and development of offshore wind transmission facilities; and (B) the alignment of the review and authorization processes for offshore wind transmission development, including with respect to projects and activities at the Federal and State levels. (2) Regional task forces (A) In general The Secretary may establish, if the Secretary determines appropriate, in lieu of a national task force under paragraph (1), 1 or more regional offshore wind transmission task forces to coordinate the matters described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of that paragraph in particular regions, which may include leveraging relevant Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. (B) Chair The Secretary shall select a chair for each regional task force established under subparagraph (A), which may be the head of a regional office of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management or any other staff member from such regional office, if the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Members An Offshore Wind Transmission Task Force shall include— (1) members representing relevant Federal agencies, including— (A) the Department of Energy; (B) the Department of the Interior, including— (i) the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; (ii) the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; (iii) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and (iv) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; (C) the Department of Defense; (D) the Department of Commerce, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (E) the Environmental Protection Agency; (F) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; (G) the Corps of Engineers; (H) the National Science Foundation; (I) the Coast Guard; (J) the Maritime Administration; (K) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and (L) any other Federal agency that the Secretary determines to be appropriate; (2) members representing relevant State governments, which may include representatives of relevant State agencies, such as public utility commissions or public service commissions, as determined by the Secretary; and (3) members representing relevant Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations. (d) Focus In carrying out the duties described in subsection (b), an Offshore Wind Transmission Task Force shall— (1) advise the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy with respect to the identification of preferred routes for transmission cables and optimal points of interconnection under section 132(a), including through the use of models that evaluate spatial suitability; (2) advise the Secretary on existing and future transmission availability in developing draft offshore wind energy areas; (3) advise the Secretary on matters relating to the rulemaking under section 133(b), any other rulemaking relating to offshore transmission, and regulatory efficiencies relating to offshore transmission; (4) consider how grant funding, such as grants provided under section 50152 of Public Law 117–169 (commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 ) ( 42 U.S.C. 18715a ), can help support development and siting of offshore transmission proposals and relevant onshore grid upgrades; and (5) consider how to support the domestic manufacturing of offshore wind transmission equipment, including through support for memoranda of understanding between the Federal Government and States relating to the offshore wind supply chain, such as the memorandum of understanding entitled Memorandum of Understanding by and among the United States Department of Energy, the United States Department of the Interior, the United States Department of Commerce, and the United States Department of Transportation and the States of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and dated September 20, 2023. B Offshore wind generation and leasing 121. Offshore wind generation and leasing Section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1337(p) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (11) Offshore wind leasing (A) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (ii) Draft offshore wind energy area The term draft offshore wind energy area has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the COLLABORATE Act . (iii) Indian Tribe The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the COLLABORATE Act . (iv) Offshore wind energy area The term offshore wind energy area has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the COLLABORATE Act . (v) Tribal organization The term Tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the COLLABORATE Act . (B) In general (i) Leasing schedule for offshore wind energy generation (I) In general The Secretary, in accordance with clause (ii), shall publish, periodically update, and issue public notice with respect to, a 5-year schedule of areas in which an offshore wind energy area may be available for leasing in the future for purposes of offshore wind energy generation. (II) Requirements A leasing schedule published under subclause (I) shall— (aa) be reviewed, and, as determined by the Secretary to be necessary, updated not less frequently than once every 2 years; (bb) to the maximum extent practicable, indicate— (AA) the timing of area identification activities; (BB) the timing of designation of any area to be leased within the applicable area; and (CC) the timing of each lease sale; and (cc) provide an update on the status of each existing offshore wind energy area. (ii) Liaisons (I) In general Subject to subclause (III), for each area identified in a lease schedule published under clause (i)(I) or for each research lease granted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Secretary and the Administrator shall each appoint a designated liaison from their agencies to conduct outreach to potentially affected groups, including— (aa) States; (bb) local communities; (cc) fishermen; (dd) Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations; and (ee) other potentially affected groups, as determined by the Secretary and the Administrator. (II) Discontinuance For each area identified in a lease schedule published under clause (i)(I), the Secretary and the Administrator may discontinue a designated liaison if, following a request for information and call for interest, there is no commercial interest in offshore wind in the applicable area. (III) Exception This clause shall not apply to a draft offshore wind energy area on the outer Continental Shelf existing prior to the date of enactment of the COLLABORATE Act . (iii) Area impact study (I) In general Beginning 2 years after the date of enactment of the COLLABORATE Act , for each area included in a lease schedule published under clause (i)(I), the Secretary shall— (aa) conduct an area impact study to evaluate the potential impact on the human, marine, and coastal environments of the development of wind energy in that area, in order to inform the identification of draft offshore wind energy areas in that area; and (bb) provide an opportunity for public comment for not less than 30 days. (II) Considerations In carrying out an area impact study under subclause (I), the Secretary may— (aa) consider the compatibility of development of offshore wind energy in the applicable area with regional and State climate, energy, and conservation planning; (bb) use information from available assessments from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, such as integrated ecosystem assessments; (cc) identify areas for which there is insufficient science, mapping, and data; and (dd) undertake additional data collection efforts where science, mapping, and data are found to be insufficient. (III) Methods In carrying out an area impact study under subclause (I), the Secretary shall incorporate and use the best available existing science and data, including, at a minimum, appropriate suitability models such as the spatial suitability models developed by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (IV) Use of data and assessments (aa) In general The Secretary may use the data and assessments from area impact studies conducted under this clause in determining which portions of an area or region the Secretary should be made available for leasing. (bb) Other agencies To the extent practicable and as applicable, other Federal agencies may consider the data and assessments from area impact studies conducted under this clause in making permitting and authorization decisions. (V) NEPA applicability An area impact study conducted by the Secretary under subclause (I) shall not be considered a major Federal action. (VI) Consultation and support In conducting an area impact study under subclause (I), the Secretary may consult with, and request assistance from, other Federal agencies. (VII) Study duration An area impact study conducted under subclause (I) shall be completed in not more than 2 years. (iv) Grants for capacity building and community engagement (I) In general On commencement of an area impact study under clause (iii), the Secretary, in collaboration with the Administrator, may award capacity grants to relevant individuals and entities in the applicable region to enhance engagement opportunities relating to environmental reviews, permitting activities, or other authorizations. (II) Purposes Grants awarded under this clause shall be for— (aa) enabling States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, fishermen, universities, and nonprofit organizations that represent the fishing industry or other potentially affected communities and ocean users to compile data, conduct impartial analyses, objectively educate groups and communities, and complete other activities relating to offshore wind environmental reviews, permits, and consultations; (bb) engaging in planning activities and in the development of offshore wind for the purposes of— (AA) determining potential economic, social, public health, cultural, and environmental impacts; and (BB) identifying opportunities to mitigate those potentially negative impacts; (cc) facilitating wind energy siting; and (dd) training, hiring of personnel, and other activities designed to increase the capacity of States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, universities, and nonprofit organizations, as applicable, to carry out activities described in items (aa) through (cc). (III) Capacity grant funding There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this clause $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, of which not less than 2 percent shall be allocated each fiscal year for use by Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. (v) Identification of draft offshore wind energy areas (I) In general Taking into account the results of public and group engagement and the call for interest under clause (ii), any applicable area impact study under clause (iii), any community engagement activities under clause (iv), and other factors as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may identify an area as a draft offshore wind energy area. (II) Factors for consideration In identifying draft offshore wind energy areas under subclause (I), the Secretary shall consider— (aa) potential power capacity; (bb) commercial viability; (cc) existing and future onshore and offshore transmission availability and capacity; (dd) conflicts with other potential ocean uses, resources, and users; (ee) prevailing wind direction and minimal wake effects; (ff) distance to shore port infrastructure; and (gg) other requirements under paragraph (4). (III) Collaboration For purposes relating to the identification of draft offshore wind energy areas, the Secretary and the Administrator shall— (aa) engage potentially affected groups identified under clause (ii)(I); and (bb) consult with— (AA) relevant Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces established by the Secretary; (BB) relevant regional ocean partnerships; (CC) fishery management councils; and (DD) interstate fisheries commissions. (vi) Coexistence fund Activities described in subsection (b)(1) of section 204 of the COLLABORATE Act that are carried out in an area for which a leasing schedule is published under clause (i)(I) shall be eligible for funding provided from the Offshore Wind and Fisheries Coexistence Fund established by subsection (a)(1) of that section. (vii) Fisheries mitigation compensation The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, shall require offshore wind lease holders to include fisheries compensation as part of the leasing process for offshore wind energy, in accordance with section 34(b). . 122. Offshore wind lease auctions (a) In general In awarding an offshore wind lease under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1337(p) ), the Secretary may offer bidding credits for nonmonetary factors and commitments made by the bidder— (1) to support or increase access to registered apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship programs that have an articulation agreement with a registered apprenticeship program for offshore wind energy projects; (2) to support development of domestic supply chains for offshore wind projects, including development of ports and other energy infrastructure necessary to facilitate offshore wind energy projects; (3) to establish with 1 or more communities or groups that may be potentially impacted by a proposed project, which may include eligible entities (as determined by the Secretary), a community benefit agreement that— (A) may include workforce agreements, project labor agreements, grants, and nonmonetary investments; and (B) prioritizes legally binding agreements described in subparagraph (A); (4) to make investments to evaluate, monitor, improve, and mitigate impacts to the health and biodiversity of ecosystems and wildlife within the leased area, to include relevant ecosystems and wildlife that could be impacted by the proposed offshore wind energy project; (5) to use preferred cable routes identified under section 132(a); and (6) to make other investments, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (b) Bidding credit cap In a leasing bid under subsection (a), the combined value of bidding credits for any non-monetary factors or commitments shall not exceed 25 percent of the bid amount for the lease area. (c) Requirements Section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1337(p) ) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) Requirements The Secretary shall ensure that any activity under this subsection is carried out in a manner that provides for a balance of— (A) safety; (B) the protection of the environment; (C) the prevention of waste; (D) the conservation of the natural resources of the outer Continental Shelf; (E) coordination with relevant Federal agencies and Tribal, State, and local governments; (F) the protection of the national security interests of the United States, including energy security; (G) the protection of correlative rights in the outer Continental Shelf, including the energy generation potential of other offshore renewable energy leases; (H) a fair return to the United States for any lease, easement, or right-of-way under this subsection; (I) prevention of unreasonable interference with other uses of the exclusive economic zone, the high seas, and the territorial seas, as determined by the Secretary; (J) consideration of— (i) the location of, and any schedule relating to, a lease, easement, or right-of-way for an area of the outer Continental Shelf; and (ii) any other use of the sea or seabed, including use for a fishery or fishery survey, a sealane, a regional coastal observing system or other scientific observation platform such as a buoy, a potential site of a deepwater port, or navigation; (K) public notice and comment on any proposal submitted for a lease, easement, or right-of-way under this subsection; (L) the oversight, inspection, research, monitoring, and enforcement relating to a lease, easement, or right-of-way under this subsection; and (M) the consideration of any applicable Federal, Tribal, and State renewable energy mandates, targets, and goals. . (d) Project manager (1) In general For each offshore wind project within a lease awarded under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1337(p) ), the Secretary, the Administrator, and the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall each assign a designated project manager to oversee, commensurate with agency authorities, the offshore wind project from the point of award through the end of the construction process. (2) Coordination and collaboration A project manager designated under paragraph (1) shall coordinate and collaborate with the applicable project coordinator from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for the project. (e) Site control The offshore wind lease holder under this section shall be considered to have site control for purposes of submitting an interconnection request in accordance with the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission promulgated pursuant to section 35.28(f) of title 18, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). 123. Offshore wind permitting and authorizations (a) Construction and operations plan requirements The Secretary shall require a construction and operations plan for an offshore wind energy generation project submitted for review and approval under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. ), to include— (1) a list of— (A) all agencies that the applicant consulted with prior to submission of the construction and operations plan, such as— (i) the Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse of the Department of Defense; (ii) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (iii) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; (iv) the Coast Guard; (v) the Corps of Engineers; (vi) the National Park Service; and (vii) affected State government agencies; (B) agency points of contact for each agency listed pursuant to subparagraph (A); (C) the dates of meetings with any agencies listed pursuant to subparagraph (A); (D) the outcomes of the meetings listed pursuant to subparagraph (C); and (E) all Federal, State, Tribal, and local authorizations, approvals, consultations, or permits required to conduct the proposed activities; (2) a list cataloguing outreach to potentially affected groups; (3) feedback received from potentially affected groups; (4) a notation as to what feedback was incorporated into the plan and an explanation for feedback not incorporated; and (5) any other requirements, as determined by the Secretary. (b) Outstanding agency authorizations All participating agencies shall issue a decision on all outstanding permits or authorizations not later than 150 days after the Secretary issues the applicable record of decision. (c) Coastal Zone Management Act review State review under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 ( 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq. ) shall commence as soon as practicable after the Secretary issues a draft environmental impact statement. C Offshore wind transmission 131. Offshore wind transmission research and development (a) Voluntary design standards (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy (referred to in this section as the Secretary ) shall initiate the development of recommended network-ready design standards for offshore high-voltage alternating current and high-voltage direct current equipment for voluntary adoption and use by States and the Federal Government. (2) Coordination In developing recommended network-ready design standards under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall coordinate with— (A) the Electric Reliability Organization; (B) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; (C) the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; (D) other relevant Federal agencies, as the Secretary determines to be necessary; (E) Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators; (F) the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; and (G) other organizations, as the Secretary determines necessary. (b) Interoperability of offshore transmission infrastructure (1) Study Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct, and publish on the website of the Department of Energy a report describing the results of, a study that assesses the need to, and challenges of, developing and standardizing interoperable equipment and systems in support of shared offshore transmission networks, including— (A) technologies and associated costs; (B) timelines for development; (C) parameters of equipment, such as weight and size; and (D) compatibility of the technologies with fixed and floating offshore generation facilities. (2) Recommendations (A) Definition of seam In this paragraph, the term seam means a shared geographic or economic boundary between— (i) an onshore electric energy transmission system and an offshore electric energy transmission system; or (ii) the transmission systems of 2 or more offshore wind energy projects. (B) Interoperability across seams The study under paragraph (1) may include recommendations for Congress, State, Tribal, and local governments, manufacturers of electric grid components, systems, and technologies, Regional Transmission Organizations, Independent System Operators, transmission planning regions (as defined by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), offshore renewable energy project developers, and appropriate standards organizations to help ensure interoperability across seams. (3) Industry survey The Secretary shall conduct, and use to inform the study under paragraph (1), an offshore wind industry survey that— (A) identifies any existing relevant interoperability standards; and (B) reviews common offshore wind transmission equipment ratings to identify gaps and issues of incompatibility. (4) Interoperability standard development program (A) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and implement a program (referred to in this paragraph as the program ) to identify, develop, support, and document a standard for the interoperability of electric grid components, systems, and technologies to accelerate the implementation and delivery of electricity generated by offshore renewable energy projects through shared transmission infrastructure. (B) Goals The goals of developing an interoperability standard under the program shall be— (i) to hasten adoption of shared transmission infrastructure for offshore electricity generation by encouraging cooperation among manufacturers of electric grid components, systems, or technologies, for the purposes of— (I) maximizing interoperability among the systems, products, tools, and applications of those manufacturers; (II) reducing offshore renewable energy project delays and cost overruns; (III) managing power grid complexity; and (IV) enhancing grid resilience, reliability, and cybersecurity; and (ii) to establish technical baseline requirements to effectively and securely measure, monitor, control, and protect electricity generation and transmission infrastructure from the point of generation to the control center. (C) Financial assistance In carrying out the program, the Secretary may provide financial assistance to eligible entities (as determined by the Secretary) to carry out activities that— (i) engage equipment manufacturers and industry stakeholders in collaborative platforms, including workshops and forums; (ii) identify current challenges and propose solutions to improve interoperability; and (iii) develop an industry interoperability standard that meets the goals described in subparagraph (B) for voluntary implementation. (D) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until expended. (c) Center of Excellence for Multiterminal High-Voltage Direct Current Testing and Certification (1) In general Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish, as a public-private partnership between 1 or more National Laboratories and 1 or more parties described in paragraph (2), a center, to be known as the Center of Excellence for Multiterminal High-Voltage Direct Current Testing and Certification — (A) to test— (i) high-voltage direct current components; and (ii) interactions— (I) between high-voltage direct current components from different equipment manufacturers; and (II) between high-voltage direct current components and alternating current devices; and (B) to ensure the compatibility of different devices before installation. (2) Parties described A party referred to in paragraph (1) is— (A) a member of the offshore wind industry; (B) a high-voltage direct current equipment vendor; (C) a transmission provider; (D) a research university; or (E) any other relevant organization, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (3) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until expended. (d) Offshore wind transmission research and development (1) In general Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program for, or modify an existing program to include, the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of offshore wind transmission technology, including with respect to— (A) high-voltage direct current technology; (B) offshore transmission, including floating transmission components; (C) transmission optimization through grid-enhancing technologies; and (D) capabilities of inverter-based resources, including to increase the reliability and resilience of offshore and onshore transmission and the needed models, data, and tools. (2) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program established under paragraph (1) $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. 132. Offshore wind transmission planning (a) Identification of preferred routes (1) Initial identification Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy (referred to in this section as the Secretaries ), in coordination with the applicable Offshore Wind Transmission Task Force (as defined in section 111(a)) and relevant Federal agencies involved in the permitting of offshore wind generation facilities and offshore wind transmission facilities, shall identify preferred routes on the outer Continental Shelf for transmission cables and sub-seabed infrastructure (where such routes have not yet been identified)— (A) between offshore wind generation facilities; and (B) between offshore wind generation facilities and optimal points of interconnection with onshore electric grids. (2) Periodic review Not less frequently than once every 3 years after the initial identification of preferred routes in accordance with paragraph (1), the Secretaries, in coordination with the applicable Offshore Wind Transmission Task Force (as defined in section 111(a)) and relevant Federal agencies involved in the permitting of offshore wind generation facilities and offshore wind transmission facilities, shall— (A) determine whether additional preferred routes are needed; and (B) if applicable, identify any additional preferred routes. (b) Considerations (1) In general In identifying preferred routes under subsection (a), the Secretaries shall take into account— (A) existing rights-of-way and existing sub-seabed infrastructure; (B) the optimal points of interconnection between offshore wind generation facilities and onshore electric grids; and (C) impacts on the marine environment, including critical habitats or protected areas, marine organisms, including protected or endangered species, and other ocean users, including fisheries. (2) Planning area studies Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter for so long as the Secretary is developing new lease areas for offshore wind development for the applicable planning area, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary, shall conduct 1 or more planning area studies for that planning area to determine the optimal locations for transmission cables in networked and backboned topologies, which shall help to inform the identification of preferred routes under subsection (a). (3) Consideration of studies In identifying preferred routes under subsection (a), the Secretaries shall take into account, as appropriate, any applicable findings from— (A) the Atlantic Offshore Wind Transmission Study carried out by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the Department of Energy; (B) any subsequent offshore transmission study carried out by the Department of Energy for the Pacific Region or the Gulf of Mexico; and (C) any other relevant offshore wind transmission study. (c) Designation of Offshore Wind Transmission Corridors (1) Designation The Secretary of Energy shall designate each preferred route identified under subsection (a) as an Offshore Wind Transmission Corridor . (2) Effect of designation (A) Eligibility for NIETC funding (i) Definition of national interest electric transmission corridor In this subparagraph, the term national interest electric transmission corridor means a national interest electric transmission corridor designated by the Secretary of Energy under section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824p(a) ). (ii) Eligibility for assistance Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 216(a) the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824p(a) )— (I) an Offshore Wind Transmission Corridor designated under paragraph (1) shall be considered to be a national interest electric transmission corridor for purposes of any law under which the Secretary of Energy may provide financial or other assistance for a national interest electric transmission corridor or a facility within a national interest electric transmission corridor; and (II) pursuant to subclause (I), an Offshore Wind Transmission Corridor designated under paragraph (1) and a transmission facility described in clause (iii) shall be eligible for financial and other assistance provided by the Secretary of Energy, including a direct loan or loan guarantee under section 50151 of Public Law 117–169 (commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 ) ( 42 U.S.C. 18715 ), to the same extent as a national interest electric transmission corridor or facility within a national interest electric transmission corridor, as applicable. (iii) Transmission facility described (I) In general A transmission facility referred to in clause (ii)(II) is any cable or other offshore wind transmission facility— (aa) that is located entirely within an Offshore Wind Transmission Corridor; (bb) that utilizes at least 50 percent of the length of an Offshore Wind Transmission Corridor; or (cc) with respect to which the Secretary makes the discretionary determination described in subclause (II). (II) Discretionary determination At the discretion of the Secretary, the Secretary may determine that a cable or other offshore wind transmission facility is a transmission facility referred to in clause (ii)(II) if the Secretary determines that a majority of the cable or other transmission facility runs parallel to an Offshore Wind Transmission Corridor. (iv) Savings provision Clause (ii) does not— (I) alter or otherwise affect— (aa) the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under section 216(b) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824p(b) ) (commonly known as the backstop siting authority of the Commission); (bb) the authority of the Secretary of Energy under subsection (a) or (h) of section 216 of that Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824p ); or (cc) any other authority of a Federal, State, local, or Tribal agency or authority, or interstate compact, with respect to a national interest electric transmission corridor; or (II) render an Offshore Wind Transmission Corridor subject to any authority described in subclause (I). (B) Transmission facilitation program Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a transmission cable in an Offshore Wind Transmission Corridor designated under paragraph (1) shall be considered to be an eligible electric power transmission line (as defined in section 40106(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18713(a) )) for purposes of that section. (C) DOE program to fund survey work (i) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall establish a program to provide funding for geotechnical and geophysical surveys and marine resource assessments relating to the siting of transmission cables or other offshore wind transmission facilities proposed to be located within an Offshore Wind Transmission Corridor. (ii) Requirement Funds provided under the program established under clause (i) shall be used for geotechnical and geophysical survey work to determine the suitability of 1 or more locations, including any potential route, for a transmission cable or other offshore wind transmission facility within the applicable Offshore Wind Transmission Corridor. (iii) NEPA applicablility The provision of funds under the program established under clause (i), and the use of those funds in accordance with clause (ii), shall not be considered a major Federal action (as defined in section 111 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4336e )) for purposes of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ). (iv) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this subsection $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030. (d) NEPA applicability The identification of preferred routes under subsection (a) and the designation of Offshore Wind Transmission Corridors under subsection (c) shall not be considered a major Federal action (as defined in section 111 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4336e )) for purposes of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ). 133. Offshore wind transmission siting, permitting, and authorizations (a) Lead agency (1) In general With respect to an offshore wind transmission facility, the Department of the Interior shall act as the lead agency for purposes of coordinating all applicable Federal authorizations and related environmental reviews of the facility. (2) Deadlines and milestones As head of the lead agency, the Secretary shall establish prompt and binding intermediate milestones and ultimate deadlines for the review of, and Federal authorization decisions relating to, the proposed facility. (b) Rulemaking (1) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with other relevant Federal agencies, shall issue, pursuant to section 5 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1334 ), a final rule relating to Federal authorizations for offshore wind transmission facilities. (2) Considerations In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider— (A) establishing 1 or more procedures for soliciting information about existing and potential rights-of-way; (B) establishing a process for determining interest in the use of 1 or more rights-of-way, including backboned or meshed rights-of-way; (C) establishing a process for the issuance of rights-of-way, on a competitive or noncompetitive basis, as appropriate, which may include consideration of whether a developer— (i) has an award from a State via a competitive process; (ii) has an existing agreement to interconnect a transmission project; or (iii) has submitted an interconnection request in accordance with the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures promulgated pursuant to section 35.28(f) of title 18, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); (D) any requirements relating to environmental reviews for— (i) independent transmission projects; and (ii) transmission projects within existing rights-of-way; and (E) the requirements described in section 8(p)(4) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(4) ). (c) Amendment Section 8(p)(3) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3) ) is amended— (1) by striking , the Secretary shall issue a lease, easement, or right-of-way and inserting the following: “( 43 U.S.C. 1337 note; Public Law 109–58 ), the Secretary— (A) shall issue a lease or easement ; and (2) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)— (A) by striking lease, easement, or right-of-way and inserting lease or easement ; and (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: “; and (B) may issue a right-of-way on a competitive or noncompetitive basis, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. . 134. Reliability standards for offshore transmission (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (2) Reliability standard The term reliability standard has the meaning given the term in section 215(a) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824o(a) ). (b) Requirement Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission, in accordance with section 215(d)(5) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824o(d)(5) ), shall order the Electric Reliability Organization to file with the Commission a reliability standard relating to planning for offshore transmission that evaluates and, as necessary, provides clarity with respect to— (1) credible multiple contingencies of subsea cables within a common corridor; (2) credible multiple contingencies of high-voltage direct current bipole topologies with dedicated metallic return; and (3) generator definitions for large distributed energy generation plans composed of multiple individual generators within planning contingency standards. 135. Inclusion of offshore wind energy in interregional transmission planning (a) In general With respect to any interregional transmission planning described in subsection (b), and any rulemaking relating to that interregional transmission planning, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (referred to in this section as the Commission ) shall require the consideration of— (1) multivalue cost allocation methodologies that evaluate the economic, reliability, and public policy benefits of a networked transmission system that incorporates offshore wind generation and transmission; and (2) the reliability, resilience, and resource adequacy of integrating offshore wind into transmission systems. (b) Interregional transmission planning described The interregional transmission planning referred to in subsection (a) is any interregional transmission planning that the Commission requires to be carried out by— (1) public utility transmission providers; (2) Regional Transmission Organizations; (3) Independent System Operators; or (4) any combination of regions or entities described in paragraphs (1) through (3). 136. Coastal State integration of offshore wind energy (a) In general Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2621(d) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (22) Offshore wind integration (A) Definition of coastal State In this paragraph, the term coastal State has the meaning given the term coastal state in section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 ( 16 U.S.C. 1453 ). (B) Incorporation of offshore wind energy Each coastal State shall— (i) consider how to incorporate offshore wind generation and transmission into the electricity distribution system of the coastal State, including— (I) the optimal points of interconnection (as defined in section 101 of the COLLABORATE Act ), including consideration of— (aa) any Offshore Wind Transmission Corridors designated under section 132(c)(1) of that Act; (bb) any national interest electric transmission corridors designated under section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824p(a) ); (cc) existing or permitted transmission lines; and (dd) the potential for retiring or aged fossil fuel plants to provide system capacity; (II) onshore upgrades to facilitate interconnection; (III) design standards to support a networked offshore transmission system, including design standards developed under section 131(a) of the COLLABORATE Act ; (IV) any identified points of interconnection in State transmission solicitations for procurement; and (V) State policies and procurement goals; (ii) modify integrated resource plans to account for— (I) the matters considered under clause (i); (II) existing single-source contingency limits; (III) the adoption of the standard published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Standards Association entitled Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Inverter-Based Resources Interconnecting with Associated Transmission Electric Power Systems and numbered IEEE 2800 into utility interconnection requirements; and (IV) the use of grid-enhancing technologies; (iii) establish design standards described in clause (i)(III); and (iv) incorporate the consideration of the matters described in clause (i) into State planning processes relating to electric energy transmission and distribution. . (b) Compliance (1) Time limitation Section 112(b) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2622(b) ) is amended— (A) in paragraph (8), by indenting subparagraph (B) appropriately; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (9) (A) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, with respect to each coastal State (as defined in paragraph (22)(A) of section 111(d)), each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility shall commence consideration under section 111, or set a hearing date for consideration, with respect to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d). (B) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, with respect to each coastal State (as defined in paragraph (22)(A) of section 111(d)), each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility shall complete the consideration and make the determination under section 111 with respect to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d). . (2) Failure to comply Section 112(c) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2622(c) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: In the case of the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d), the reference contained in this subsection to the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of that paragraph (22). . (3) Prior State actions (A) In general Section 112 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2622 ) is amended— (i) in subsection (h), in the subsection heading, by striking Other ; and (ii) by adding at the end the following: (i) Prior State actions Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d) in the case of any electric utility in a State if, before the date of enactment of this subsection— (1) the State has implemented for the electric utility the standard (or a comparable standard); (2) the State regulatory authority for the State or the relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a proceeding to consider implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility; or (3) the State legislature has voted on the implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility during the 3-year period ending on that date of enactment. . (B) Cross reference Section 124 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2634 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: In the case of the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d), the reference contained in this section to the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of that paragraph (22). . (c) Application to territories and Freely Associated States (1) In general The requirements of sections 111(d)(22) and 112(b)(9) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2621(d)(22) , 2622(b)(9)), and any related provisions of that Act (as amended by paragraph (2), or subparagraph (A)(ii) or (B) of paragraph (3), of subsection (b)), shall apply to each coastal State (as defined in section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 ( 16 U.S.C. 1453 )), including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, as if those coastal States (as so defined) were included in the definition of the term State in section 3 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1979 ( 16 U.S.C. 2602 ). (2) Savings provision Nothing in this subsection alters or otherwise affects the application of any provision of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2601 et seq. ) not added or amended by— (A) subsection (a); (B) paragraph (1)(B) or (2) of subsection (b); or (C) subparagraph (A)(ii) or (B) of subsection (b)(3). D Miscellaneous 141. Judicial review (a) In general Section 23(c)(2) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1349(c)(2) ) is amended by inserting , any issuance of a final lease, easement, or right-of-way pursuant to section 8(p)(1), and any approval, modification, or disapproval of any plan for construction or operations on such a lease, easement, or right-of-way after under this Act . (b) Applicability The amendment made by subsection (a)— (1) shall apply with respect to any action brought pursuant to section 23(c)(2) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1349(c)(2) ) that is filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) shall not apply with respect to any action described in paragraph (1) that is filed before that date of enactment. II Fisheries 201. Offshore Wind Energy Fisheries Compensation Fund The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 34. Offshore Wind Energy Fisheries Compensation Fund (a) Establishment (1) In general There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the Offshore Wind Energy Fisheries Compensation Fund (referred to in this section as the Fund ). (2) Purpose (A) In general The Fund shall be available to the Secretary of Commerce without fiscal year limitation as a revolving fund for the purpose of making payments to compensate eligible recipients for losses caused by the planning, pre-construction survey, construction, maintenance, operation, and decommissioning of offshore wind energy facilities on the outer Continental Shelf within the jurisdiction of a State that participates in the Fund. (B) Required participation Each offshore wind lease holder and project sponsor shall be required to provide amounts into the Fund as described in subsection (b), unless the offshore wind lease holder or project sponsor is in a State that is not participating in the Fund pursuant to paragraph (3). (3) State participation (A) Required participation Each State that does not have an existing or under development fisheries compensation fund or a comparable program shall participate in the Fund with respect to projects within the jurisdiction of the State. (B) Election to opt-in Each State that has an existing or under development fisheries compensation fund or a comparable program is not required to participate in the Fund, but may elect to opt-into participation in the Fund with respect to projects within the jurisdiction of the State. (C) Payment into one fund An offshore wind lease holder or project sponsor shall only provide amounts into the Fund or a State's fisheries compensation fund, and not both. (4) Fund use; resources The Fund shall— (A) be used by the Secretary of Commerce to provide to eligible recipients payments for claims described under subsection (c); and (B) consist of— (i) revenues received from investments made under paragraph (5); and (ii) amounts collected pursuant to subsection (b). (5) Investment (A) In general Amounts in the Fund that are not currently needed for the purposes of the Fund shall be— (i) kept on deposit in appropriate interest-bearing accounts that shall be established by the Secretary of the Treasury; or (ii) invested in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States. (B) Revenue accrual Any revenue accruing from such deposits and investments described in subparagraph (A) shall be deposited in the Fund. (6) Division of fund (A) In general (i) In general The Fund shall be divided into 3 separate geographic area accounts based on the jurisdiction of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. (ii) Additional accounts In addition to the 3 separate geographic area accounts described in clause (i), the Secretary of Commerce may add 1 or more separate geographic area accounts into which the Fund shall be divided. (B) Amounts in accounts The division of amounts in each geographic area account of the Fund shall be based on the leasing activity for offshore wind energy in the geographic area of the account and payments from amounts in each account of the Fund shall address losses in the applicable geographic area. (b) Fisheries mitigation compensation (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management— (A) shall require offshore wind lease holders in States that are participating in the Fund to include fisheries compensation as part of the leasing process for offshore wind energy under section 33, including by providing to the Secretary, for deposit into the Fund, amounts determined to be appropriate by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (2), which shall be separate from any other fees, payments, or other amounts, and paid in one lump sum at final investment decision; (B) shall require project sponsors in States that are participating in the Fund to provide to the Secretary, for deposit into the Fund, an additional amount equal to 5 percent of any amount required to be provided for deposit into the Fund under subparagraph (A), of which additional amount— (i) 40 percent shall be available to the Secretary to cover the administrative expenses of carrying out this section; and (ii) 60 percent shall be available to the Secretary of Commerce to cover the administrative expenses of carrying out this section; (C) shall deposit any amounts received under subparagraph (A) or (B) in the Fund; and (D) shall require the designated liaisons appointed under section 8(p)(11)(B)(ii) to conduct outreach to fishermen on the availability of compensation from the Fund pursuant to this section. (2) Establishment of formula to calculate amounts to be paid (A) In general The Secretary, in coordination with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall establish a formula to calculate the amounts to be paid by each project sponsor into the Fund. (B) Reevaluation of formula The Secretary shall evaluate and potentially adjust the formula established under subparagraph (A) not less often than every 5 years. (C) State authority Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to diminish or otherwise alter a State's authority pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 ( 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq. ). (3) Applicability The requirements described in this subsection shall not apply to a project sponsor that issued a notice of intent to prepare a draft environmental impact statement with respect to the project before the date the Fund is established under subsection (a). (c) Claims process (1) In general The Secretary of Commerce— (A) in collaboration with relevant agencies that hold relevant fisheries data, such as State agencies, Regional Fishery Management Councils, and the applicable Interstate Marine Fisheries Commission, shall establish a process to file, process, and verify claims for purposes of making payments from the Fund; and (B) shall make payments to eligible recipients from the Fund— (i) in accordance with this section; and (ii) in consultation with Interstate Marine Fisheries Commissions, at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce. (2) Restrictions The Secretary of Commerce may not make a payment from the Fund— (A) for gear loss or damage; (B) for loss caused by the negligence or fault of the claimant; (C) for loss caused by events or occurrences unrelated to planning, pre-construction survey, construction, maintenance, operation, or decommissioning of offshore wind energy projects on the outer Continental Shelf; or (D) for any portion of loss that may be compensated by insurance. (d) Payment amounts and mitigation grants (1) In general Payments made, including direct payments, under this section from the Fund shall— (A) be based on the scope of the verified claim; (B) be fair and provided efficiently and in a transparent manner; and (C) if the eligible recipient receiving the payment has or will receive direct compensation for the verified claim pursuant to a community benefit agreement or other agreement between such eligible recipient and a holder of a lease, easement, or right-of-way, be reduced by an amount that is equal to the amount of such direct compensation. (2) Mitigation grants If the Secretary of Commerce determines that there are sufficient amounts in a geographic area account of the Fund, as described in subsection (a)(6), to provide payments for all verified claims at any given time, the Secretary may use not more than $20,000,000 of amounts in the geographic area account of the Fund that are in excess of the amount necessary to provide payments for all verified claims to provide grants to eligible recipients, and other entities determined appropriate by the Secretary, to mitigate the potential effects of development of an offshore wind energy project, including by paying for gear modifications, navigation technology improvements, and other measures, including training, to enhance safety. (e) Advisory group (1) Establishment The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall establish and convene an advisory group not less frequently than twice a year that shall provide recommendations on the development and administration of this section. (2) Membership The advisory group established under paragraph (1) shall— (A) be comprised of individuals— (i) appointed by the Secretary of Commerce; and (ii) representing the geographic diversity of areas impacted by the development of offshore wind energy projects; and (B) include representatives from— (i) recreational fishing interests; (ii) commercial fishing interests; (iii) Tribal fishing interests; (iv) fish processing interests; (v) the National Marine Fisheries Service; (vi) the Department of the Interior; (vii) State agencies; (viii) the fisheries science community; (ix) the offshore wind industry; and (x) other fields of expertise necessary to effectively develop and administer this section, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce. (3) Travel expenses The Secretary of Commerce may provide amounts to any member of the advisory group to pay for travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the advisory group. (f) Annual report The Secretary of Commerce shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available, an annual report on activities carried out under this section, including a description of claims filed and the amount of payments and grants provided. (g) Insufficient funds (1) In general If the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, determines that a geographic area account of the Fund does not contain a sufficient amount to provide payments for all verified claims under this section, the Secretary may, not more than once each calendar year, require each holder of an offshore wind energy lease located within the area covered by the geographic area account to pay an amount specified by the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (2), which shall be deposited into such geographic area account of the Fund. (2) Limit No holder of an offshore wind energy lease shall be required to pay an amount under paragraph (1) that is in excess of $3 per acre per year of the leased area. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible recipient The term eligible recipient means— (A) a community, stakeholder, or Tribal interest— (i) that uses a geographic space of an offshore wind energy lease area, or uses resources harvested from a geographic space of an offshore wind energy lease area; (ii) for which such use is directly and adversely impacted by the development of an offshore wind energy project located in such area; and (iii) located in the United States, including the territories of the United States; or (B) a regional association, cooperative, nonprofit organization, commission, or corporation that— (i) serves, and acts on behalf of, a community, stakeholder, or Tribal interest described in paragraph (1); and (ii) is located in the United States, including the territories of the United States. (2) Interstate Marine Fisheries Commission The term Interstate Marine Fisheries Commission means the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, or the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. . 202. Fishermen's Contingency Fund (a) Definitions Section 401 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978 ( 43 U.S.C. 1841 ) is amended— (1) by striking the section heading and designation and all that follows through term— in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the following: 401. Definitions In this title: ; (2) in each of paragraph (1) through (8)— (A) by inserting The term after the paragraph designation; and (B) by adding a paragraph heading, the text of which comprises the term defined in that paragraph; (3) in each of paragraphs (1) through (6), by striking the semicolon at the end of the paragraph and inserting a period; (4) in paragraph (1)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking area: and inserting area— ; (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking oil or gas and inserting oil, gas, or offshore wind energy ; (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking exploration, development or production and inserting exploration, development, construction, operation, decommissioning, or production ; and (D) in subparagraph (C), by striking pipeline rights-of-way have been granted and inserting rights-of-way have been granted for a pipeline or offshore wind energy transmission ; (5) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking of therein and inserting therein ; (6) in paragraph (7), by striking 402 of this title; and and inserting 402. ; (7) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9); and (8) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following: (8) Offshore wind energy The term offshore wind energy means energy produced at a facility that— (A) produces electric energy solely by the use, as the only energy source, of wind; and (B) is located on the outer Continental Shelf. . (b) Payments by leaseholders Section 402(b)(1) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978 ( 43 U.S.C. 1842(b)(1) ) is amended, in the first sentence— (1) by striking Act and each holder and inserting Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. ), and each holder ; and (2) by inserting or offshore wind energy after pipeline . (c) Duties and powers of Secretary Section 403 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978 ( 43 U.S.C. 1843 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting and offshore wind energy site characterization and assessment activities, after production activities, ; and (2) in subsection (c)(1), in the first sentence, by inserting , offshore wind energy site characterization and assessment activities, or activities authorized under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1337(p) ) after production activities . (d) Disbursement of payments Section 403(c) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978 ( 43 U.S.C. 1843(c) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (3) Disbursement allocation The Secretary shall ensure— (A) that amounts deposited in the Fund for oil and gas activities shall only be disbursed to compensate claims for oil and gas activities; and (B) that amounts deposited in the Fund for offshore wind energy activities shall only be disbursed to compensate claims for offshore wind energy activities. . (e) Burden of proof Section 404 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978 ( 43 U.S.C. 1844 ) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting , or offshore wind energy site characterization and assessment activities, as applicable, after production . 203. Grant program for research on the impacts of offshore wind development on fisheries resources (a) Grant program (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish and carry out a program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable such entities to carry out research that contributes to an understanding of the impacts of all stages of offshore wind energy planning, construction, operation, and decommissioning on fisheries resources, including marine and coastal ecosystems, wildlife, and habitat. (2) Reservation From the amounts appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary of Commerce shall reserve 2 percent for use by Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. (b) Applications (1) In general An eligible entity, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce, that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary of Commerce at such time and in such form as the Secretary may require, including a demonstration of how the eligible entity will use the grant funds to further understanding of the impacts of offshore wind energy development on fisheries resources. (2) Priority for inclusion of fishermen; considerations The Secretary of Commerce shall, in awarding grants under this section— (A) give priority to eligible entities that demonstrate engagement with, and collection of input from, the fishing community in the grant development process and include fishermen as active contributors in any research supported under this section; and (B) to the extent practicable, consider eligible entities that serve areas that are scheduled for offshore wind development. (c) Eligible uses of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds for research on any of the following: (1) Understanding the effects of electric and magnetic forces, habitat changes, vibrations, noise, and thermal radiation on any fish populations. (2) Conducting planning or analysis on how to adapt fisheries surveys to the presence of wind farms. (3) Establishing baseline conditions for benthic habitat and conducting monitoring throughout offshore wind energy operation. (4) Increasing automated or indirect data collection from fishing vessels. (5) Studying oceanographic changes due to the presence of offshore wind infrastructure, including turbulence and surface wind reduction. (6) Studying the socioeconomic impacts of wind energy development on fishermen and their communities, including ability to adapt, resilience to change, and economic impacts. (7) Social science research on how fishermen and communities will be impacted by offshore wind energy development. (8) Examining potential uses of offshore wind turbines, pilings, mooring lines, inter-array cables, transmission cables, and other hard structures as data collection points for scientific research, infrastructure for aquaculture operations, or for other uses. (9) Finding pathways and opportunities for skill transferability for fishermen to other industries. (10) Infrastructure designs that can facilitate and support biodiversity in the area of the offshore wind project. (11) Cumulative impacts on highly migratory species from development of offshore wind energy facilities in multiple lease areas in migratory pathways. (12) Understanding impacts from offshore wind energy development on species and oceanographic processes outside the boundaries of wind energy areas. (13) Other topics as recommended— (A) in consultation with the Standing Committee on Offshore Wind Energy and Fisheries at the National Academies; and (B) by studies and reports on offshore wind energy impacts to fisheries resources, including the Fisheries and Offshore Wind Interactions: Synthesis of Science technical memo produced by the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and other studies and reports of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (d) Coordination; accessibility of data (1) In general The Secretary of Commerce shall encourage eligible entities that receive a grant under this section to, when practicable and appropriate (as determined by the Secretary of Commerce)— (A) coordinate with the Integrated Ocean Observing System and the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind in conducting research described in subsection (c); and (B) make data generated from such research accessible through the Integrated Ocean Observing System. (2) Public accessibility An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall make data generated from conducting research described in subsection (c) publicly accessible, to the extent consistent with other laws. (e) Reporting (1) In general An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary of Commerce a report, at such time and in such form as the Secretary may require, on the results of the use of the grant. (2) Content Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include any relevant data requested by the Secretary for purposes of tracking the effectiveness of the program established under this section. (3) Public availability The Secretary of Commerce shall make each report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly available. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2035, to remain available until expended. 204. Offshore Wind and Fisheries Coexistence Fund (a) Establishment of fund (1) In general There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the Offshore Wind and Fisheries Coexistence Fund (referred to in this section as the Fund ), to be administered by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (referred to in this section as the Administrator ). (2) Deposits The Fund shall consist of such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under subsection (c). (3) Use Amounts in the Fund shall be used to carry out subsection (b). (b) Grant program (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, shall— (A) use amounts in the Fund to award grants for research and development of technologies that support the coexistence of offshore wind energy development and other ocean users, including fishing gear and vessel modifications, modifications or updates to radar equipment, and safety equipment or trainings; and (B) in awarding grants under subparagraph (A), prioritize proposals that include coordination and collaboration between different ocean stakeholders and users, including between fishermen and developers. (2) Reservation From the amounts appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Administrator shall reserve 2 percent for use by Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. (c) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2035, to be deposited in the Fund, to remain available until expended.