[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1058 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1058

   To promote research, development, and demonstration of marine and 
  hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 22, 2015

    Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Schatz, and Mr. King) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
               Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To promote research, development, and demonstration of marine and 
  hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable 
Energy Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF MARINE AND HYDROKINETIC RENEWABLE ENERGY.

    Section 632 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17211) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by 
striking ``electrical''.

SEC. 3. MARINE AND HYDROKINETIC RENEWABLE 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 AND HYDROKINETIC RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    ``The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, shall carry out a program of research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application to accelerate the 
introduction of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy production 
into the United States energy supply, giving priority to fostering 
accelerated research, development, and commercialization of technology, 
including programs--
            ``(1) to assist technology development to improve the 
        components, processes, and systems used for power generation 
        from marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy resources;
            ``(2) to establish critical testing infrastructure 
        necessary--
                    ``(A) to cost effectively and efficiently test and 
                prove marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy devices; 
                and
                    ``(B) to accelerate the technological readiness and 
                commercialization of those devices;
            ``(3) to support efforts to increase the efficiency of 
        energy conversion, lower the cost, increase the use, improve 
        the reliability, and demonstrate the applicability of marine 
        and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies by participating 
        in demonstration projects;
            ``(4) to investigate variability issues and the efficient 
        and reliable integration of marine and hydrokinetic renewable 
        energy with the utility grid;
            ``(5) to identify and study critical short- and long-term 
        needs to create a sustainable marine and hydrokinetic renewable 
        energy supply chain based in the United States;
            ``(6) to increase the reliability and survivability of 
        marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies;
            ``(7) to verify the performance, reliability, 
        maintainability, and cost of new marine and hydrokinetic 
        renewable energy device designs and system components in an 
        operating environment;
            ``(8) to coordinate and avoid duplication of activities 
        across programs of the Department and other applicable Federal 
        agencies, including National Laboratories and to coordinate 
        public-private collaboration in all programs under this 
        section;
            ``(9) to identify opportunities for joint research and 
        development programs and development of economies of scale 
        between--
                    ``(A) marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy 
                technologies; and
                    ``(B) other renewable energy and fossil energy 
                programs, offshore oil and gas production activities, 
                and activities of the Department of Defense; and
            ``(10) to support in-water technology development with 
        international partners using existing cooperative procedures 
        (including memoranda of understanding)--
                    ``(A) to allow cooperative funding and other 
                support of value to be exchanged and leveraged; and
                    ``(B) to encourage the participation of 
                international research centers and companies within the 
                United States and the participation of United States 
                research centers and companies in international 
                projects.''.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND 
              DEMONSTRATION CENTERS.

    Section 634 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17213) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(b) Purposes.--A Center (in coordination with the Department and 
National Laboratories) shall--
            ``(1) advance research, development, demonstration, and 
        commercial application of marine and hydrokinetic renewable 
        energy technologies;
            ``(2) support in-water testing and demonstration of marine 
        and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies, including 
        facilities capable of testing--
                    ``(A) marine and hydrokinetic renewable 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 
        and hydrokinetic renewable energy industry by collecting and 
        disseminating information on best practices in all areas 
        relating to developing and managing marine and hydrokinetic 
        renewable energy resources and energy systems.''.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 636 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 
U.S.C. 17215) is amended by striking ``2008 through 2012'' and 
inserting ``2016 through 2019''.
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