S. 1821 — what changed

Section 633 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17212) is amended to read as follows:

“633. Marine energy research and development

“(a) In general—The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Water Power Technologies Office, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, shall carry out 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—

“(1) to assist technology development on a variety of scales, including full-scale prototypes, to improve the components, processes, and systems used for power generation from marine energy resources;

“(2) to establish and expand critical testing infrastructure and facilities necessary—

“(A) to cost-effectively and efficiently test and prove marine 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 energy technologies by participating in demonstration projects;

“(4) to investigate variability issues and the efficient and reliable integration of marine energy with the utility grid;

“(5) to identify and study critical short- and long-term needs to create a sustainable marine energy supply chain based in the United States;

“(6) to increase the reliability and survivability of marine energy technologies;

“(7) to verify the performance, reliability, maintainability, and cost of new marine energy device designs and system components in an operating environment;

“(8) to 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) to 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) to coordinate public-private collaboration in carrying out the programs under this section;

“(10) to 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) to 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) to 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) 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

changed “(B) to 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.abroad. abroad; and

added “(14) to assist in the development of technology necessary to support the use of marine energy—

added “(A) for the generation and storage of power at sea, including in applications relating to—

added “(i) ocean observation and navigation;

added “(ii) underwater vehicle charging;

added “(iii) marine aquaculture;

added “(iv) production of marine algae; and

added “(v) extraction of critical minerals and gasses from seawater;

added “(B) for the generation and storage of power to promote the resilience of coastal communities, including in applications relating to—

added “(i) desalination;

added “(ii) disaster recovery and resilience; and

added “(iii) community microgrids in isolated power systems; and

added “(C) in any other applications, as determined by the Secretary.

“(b) Cost sharing and merit review—The Secretary shall carry out the program under this section in accordance with sections 988 and 989 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352, 16353).”

changed Section 636 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17215) is amended by striking “$50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012” and inserting “$150,000,000 $160,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021”.