[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 42 (Monday, March 12, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3001-S3002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SMITH (for himself, Mr. Bingaman, and Ms. Landrieu):
  S. 838. A bill to authorize funding for eligible joint ventures 
between United States and Israeli businesses and academic persons, to 
establish the International Energy Advisory Board, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, today I am introducing the United States-
Israel Energy Cooperation Act, which is cosponsored by Senators 
Bingaman and Landrieu. This bill will help foster cooperation on 
renewable energy projects between the United States and our democratic 
ally in the Middle East.
  Israel has some of the most advanced facilities in the world for 
concentrated solar. Israel is developing technology to use unsorted 
municipal waste to produce biogas, an alternative ``green''

[[Page S3002]]

energy for transportation and power plants. Israel has also developed 
rooftop systems for electricity and hot water supplies.
  This bill will help implement an existing agreement between the two 
nations entitled, ``Agreement between the Department of Energy of the 
United States of America and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure 
of Israel Concerning Energy Cooperation,'' dated February 1, 1996. The 
Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, will establish a grant program to 
support research development and commercialization of alternative 
renewable energy sources.
  Eligible projects must be joint ventures between an entity in the 
U.S. and an entity in Israel, or between the U.S. government and the 
government of Israel. Eligible projects include those projects for the 
research, development or commercialization of alternative energy 
facilities, improved energy efficiency or renewable energy sources. 
Under certain circumstances, the Secretary may require repayment of the 
grant.
  The bill also establishes an advisory board to provide the Secretary 
with advice on the criteria for grant recipients and on the appropriate 
amount of total grant money to be awarded. Finally the bill authorizes 
$20 million annually for fiscal years 2008 through 2014 to carry out 
this program.
  At this time when issues related to energy security and to greenhouse 
gas emissions are receiving so much attention by the Congress, I hope 
that my colleagues will join me in cosponsoring this bill. This will 
enable the United States and Israel to build upon the important work 
being done in both countries to reduce our dependence on imported oil 
that too often comes from politically unstable or hostile nations.
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