[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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