[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 136 (Monday, October 24, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S11766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ENERGY COOPERATION ACT

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today in support of S. 1862, 
the United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Act of 2005, which I 
introduced on October 7, 2005. This bill is designed to promote 
binational collaboration in research, development, and 
commercialization of alternative and renewable energy technologies.
  Israel is a strong ally of the United States and our two nations have 
a long history of mutual interest and successful collaboration in 
scientific research and technology development. Examples include the 
numerous successes of the programs under the U.S.-Israel Binational 
Science Foundation, BSF, and the U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial 
Research and Development Foundation, BIRD.
  We also share an enduring interest in the development and 
commercialization of alternative energy technologies that offer the 
promise of enhancing the energy security of both of our countries as 
well as that of other nations. Israel and the United States have strong 
capabilities in renewable and alternative technologies based on 
extensive research and development efforts. In 1996, the United States 
and Israel entered into an agreement fostering energy cooperation as a 
means of sharing the benefits of our capabilities.
  Today, we are facing increasing concerns about adequate supplies and 
increasing prices for both petroleum products and natural gas. In this 
context, it is especially important that we redouble our efforts to 
cooperate in the development of alternative energy systems. This bill 
establishes a grant program within the Department of Energy to support 
collaborative research, development, and commercialization projects in 
alternative renewable energy.
  The program will provide grants for joint venture projects between 
U.S. and Israeli institutions meeting the program qualifications 
established by the Secretary of Energy. The bill authorizes funding of 
$20 million for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2012. 
Technologies include: solar, biomass, energy efficiency, wind, and 
other types as determined by the Secretary. Proposals may be submitted 
either to the Secretary or to either of the binational research 
foundations, BSF and BIRD. This provision enables utilization of the 
established practices of those existing foundations for implementation 
of at least half of the funds granted for collaborative projects. To 
assure sound management of this grants program, this bill calls on the 
Secretary of Energy to establish an Advisory Board, including 
representatives of both the United States and Israel.
  I thank the American Jewish Congress, the American Israeli Public 
Affairs Committee, and others for all their efforts and input on this 
bill.
  In light of increasing concerns about the security of affordable 
energy supplies, I urge consideration of this bill as a means of 
capitalizing on considerable capabilities of the United States and 
Israel to move toward broader use of these clean and indigenous energy 
resources. I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this 
important bill.

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