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To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to improve United States-Israel energy cooperation, and for other purposes.

H.R. 3677 · 113th Congress · Dec 9, 2013 · Lineage

A BILL

Section 1 United States-Israel energy cooperation

(a)
Findings— Section 917(a) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(a)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by striking “renewable” and inserting “covered”;
(2)
in paragraph (4)—
(A)
by striking “possible many” and inserting “possible—

“(A) many”

(B)
by inserting “and” after the semicolon at the end; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:

“(B) significant contributions to the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency through the established programs of the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation and the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation;”

(3)
in paragraph (6)—
(A)
by striking “renewable” and inserting “covered”; and
(B)
by striking “and” after the semicolon at the end;
(4)
in paragraph (7)—
(A)
by striking “renewable” and inserting “covered”; and
(B)
by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(5)
by adding at the end the following:

“(8) United States-Israel energy cooperation, and the development of natural resources by Israel, are strategic interests of the United States;

“(9) Israel is a strategic partner of the United States in water technology;

“(10) the United States can play a role in assisting Israel with regional safety and security issues;

“(11) the National Science Foundation of the United States should collaborate with the Israel Science Foundation;

“(12) the United States and Israel should strive to develop more robust academic cooperation in energy innovation technology and engineering, water science, technology transfer, and analysis of geopolitical implications of new natural resource development and associated areas;

“(13) the United States supports the goals of the Alternative Fuels Administration of Israel;

“(14) the United States strongly urges open dialogue and continued mechanisms for regular engagement and encourages further cooperation between applicable departments, agencies, ministries, institutions of higher education, and the private sectors of the United States and Israel on energy security issues, including—

“(A) identifying policy priorities associated with the development of natural resources of Israel;

“(B) discussing best practices to secure cyber energy infrastructure;

“(C) best practice sharing;

“(D) leveraging natural gas to positively impact regional stability;

“(E) improving energy efficiency and the overall performance of water technologies through research and development in water desalination, wastewater treatment and reclamation, and other water treatment technologies;

“(F) technical and environmental management of deep-water exploration and production;

“(G) coastal protection and restoration;

“(H) academic outreach and engagement;

“(I) private sector and business development engagement;

“(J) regulatory consultations;

“(K) leveraging alternative transportation fuels and technologies; and

“(L) any other areas determined appropriate by the United States and Israel;

“(15) the United States acknowledges the achievements and importance of the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation and the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation and supports continued multiyear funding to ensure the continuity of the programs of the Foundations; and

“(16) the United States and Israel have a shared interest in addressing their immediate, near-term, and long-term energy and environmental challenges.”

(b)
Establishment— Section 917(b)(1) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)(1)) is amended by striking “renewable energy or energy efficiency” and inserting “covered energy”.
(c)
Types of energy— Section 917(b)(2) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)(2)) is amended—
(1)
in the heading, by striking “Types of” and inserting “Covered”;
(2)
in subparagraph (F), by striking “and” after the semicolon at the end;
(3)
in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:

“(H) natural gas energy, including conventional and unconventional natural gas technologies and natural gas projects conducted by or in conjunction with the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation, and the United States-Israel Science and Technology Foundation; and

“(I) improvement of energy efficiency and the overall performance of water technologies through research and development in water desalination, wastewater treatment and reclamation, and other water treatment technologies.”

(d)
Eligible applicants— Section 917(b)(3) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)(3)) is amended by striking “energy efficiency or renewable” and inserting “covered”.
(e)
Authorization of appropriations; international partnerships— Section 917 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337) is amended—
(1)
by striking subsection (d);
(2)
by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and
(3)
by inserting after subsection (b) the following:

“(c) International partnerships

“(1) In general—The Secretary may, subject to the availability of appropriations, enter into cooperative agreements supporting and enhancing dialogue and planning involving international partnerships between the Department, including National Laboratories of the Department, and the Government of Israel and its ministries, offices, and institutions.

“(2) Federal share—The Secretary may not pay more than 50 percent of the costs described in paragraph (1).

“(3) Annual reports—The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate an annual report that describes—

“(A) actions taken to carry out this subsection; and

“(B) any projects under this subsection for which the Secretary requests funding.

“(d) United States-Israel Center—The Secretary may establish a joint United States-Israel Center based in an area of the United States with the experience, knowledge, and expertise in offshore energy development to further dialogue and collaboration to develop more robust academic cooperation in energy innovation technology and engineering, water science, technology transfer, and analysis of geopolitical implications of new natural resource development and associated areas.”

(f)
Termination— Subsection (e) of section 917 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337) (as redesignated by subsection (d)(2)) is amended by striking “the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act” and inserting “September 30, 2024”.

Sec. 2 United States-Israel energy cooperation working group

(a)
Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that open dialogue and continued mechanisms for regular engagement encourages further cooperation between applicable departments, agencies, ministries, institutions of higher education, and the private sectors of the United States and Israel on energy security issues.
(b)
Establishment— The Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of State shall seek to establish an Energy Cooperation Working Group within the semi-annual United States-Israel Strategic Dialogue.
(c)
Purpose— The purpose of the Energy Cooperation Working Group referred to in subsection (b) shall be to strengthen dialogue between the United States and Israel on—
(1)
strategies to advance the research, development, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency;
(2)
identifying policy priorities associated with the development of the natural resources of Israel;
(3)
best practices for energy infrastructure cybersecurity;
(4)
leveraging natural gas resources to positively impact regional stability;
(5)
technical and environmental management of deep-water exploration and production; and
(6)
coastal protection and restoration.