---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17337"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "17337"
heading: "United States-Israel energy cooperation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17337"
units:
  - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security"
  - "Subchapter VIII — International Energy Programs"
  - "Part A — Assistance To Promote Clean and Efficient Energy Technologies in Foreign Countries"
---

# §17337. United States-Israel energy cooperation

- (a) **Findings—** Congress finds that—
  - (1) it is in the highest national security interests of the United States to develop covered energy sources;
  - (2) the [State](/usc/42/17151.md?p=6) of Israel is a steadfast ally of the United States;
  - (3) the special relationship between the United States and Israel is manifested in a variety of cooperative scientific research and development [programs](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5), such as—
    - (A) the United States-Israel Binational Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3); and
    - (B) the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3);
  - (4) those [programs](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) have made possible—
    - (A) many scientific, technological, and commercial breakthroughs in the fields of life sciences, medicine, bioengineering, agriculture, biotechnology, communications, and others; and
    - (B) significant contributions to the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency through the established [programs](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) of the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) and the United States-Israel Binational Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3);
  - (5) on February 1, 1996, the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) of Energy (referred to in this section as the “[Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3)”) and the Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure signed an agreement to establish a framework for collaboration between the United States and Israel in energy research and development activities;
  - (6) Israeli scientists and engineers are at the forefront of research and development in the field of covered energy sources;
  - (7) enhanced cooperation between the United States and Israel for the purpose of research and development of covered energy sources would be in the national interests of both countries;
  - (8) United States-Israel energy cooperation and the development of natural resources by Israel are in the strategic interest 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](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) of the United States, to the extent consistent with the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3)’s mission, should collaborate with the Israel Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) and the United States-Israel Binational Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3);
  - (12) the United States and Israel should strive to develop more robust academic cooperation in—
    - (A) energy innovation technology and engineering;
    - (B) water science;
    - (C) technology transfer; and
    - (D) analysis of emerging geopolitical implications, crises and threats from foreign natural resource and energy acquisitions, and the development of domestic resources as a response;
  - (13) the United States supports the goals of the Alternative Fuels Administration of Israel with respect to expanding the use of alternative fuels;
  - (14) the United States strongly urges open dialogue and continued mechanisms for regular engagement and encourages further cooperation between applicable [departments](/usc/42/17001.md?p=1), [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), ministries, institutions of higher education, and the private sector 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 and sharing best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to secure cyber energy infrastructure and other energy security matters;
    - (C) leveraging natural gas to positively impact regional stability;
    - (D) issues relating to the energy-water nexus, including improving energy efficiency and the overall performance of water technologies through research and development in water desalination, wastewater [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) and reclamation, water [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) in gas and oil production processes, and other water [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) refiners;
    - (E) technical and environmental management of deep-water exploration and production;
    - (F) emergency response and coastal protection and restoration;
    - (G) academic outreach and engagement;
    - (H) private sector and business development engagement;
    - (I) regulatory consultations;
    - (J) leveraging alternative transportation fuels and technologies; and
    - (K) any other areas determined appropriate by the United States and Israel;
  - (15) the United States—
    - (A) acknowledges the achievements and importance of the Binational Industrial Research and Development [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) and the United States-Israel Binational Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3); and
    - (B) supports continued multiyear funding to ensure the continuity of the [programs](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) of the [foundations](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) specified in [subparagraph (A)](#a-15-A); and
  - (16) the United States and Israel have a shared interest in addressing immediate, near-term, and long-term energy, energy poverty, energy [independence](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=1-B), and environmental challenges facing the United States and Israel, respectively.
- (b) **Grant program—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** In implementing the agreement entitled the “Agreement between the [Department](/usc/42/17001.md?p=1) 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](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall establish a grant [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) in accordance with the requirements of sections [16352](/usc/42/16352.md) and [16353](/usc/42/16353.md) of this title to support research, development, and commercialization of covered energy.
  - (2) **Types of energy—** In carrying out [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) may make grants to promote—
    - (A) solar energy;
    - (B) biomass energy;
    - (C) energy efficiency;
    - (D) wind energy;
    - (E) [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy;
    - (F) wave and tidal energy;
    - (G) advanced battery technology;
    - (H) natural gas energy, including conventional and unconventional natural gas technologies and other associated technologies, and natural gas [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) conducted by or in conjunction with the United States-Israel Binational Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) and the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3); and
    - (I) improvement of energy efficiency and the overall performance of water technologies through research and development in water desalination, wastewater [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) and reclamation, and other water [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) refiners.
  - (3) **Eligible applicants—** An applicant shall be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) of the applicant—
    - (A) addresses a requirement in the area of improved covered energy sources, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3); and
    - (B) is a joint venture between—
      - (i)
        - (I) a for-profit business entity, academic institution, [National Laboratory](/usc/42/17211.md?p=4) (as defined in [section 15801 of this title](/usc/42/15801.md)), or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) entity in the United States; and
        - (II) a for-profit business entity, academic institution, or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) entity in Israel; or
      - (ii)
        - (I) the Federal Government; and
        - (II) the Government of Israel.
  - (4) **Applications—** To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an applicant shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) an application for the grant in accordance with procedures established by the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3), in consultation with the advisory [board](/usc/42/17351.md?p=1) established under [paragraph (5)](#b-5).
  - (5) **Advisory board—**
    - (A) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall establish an advisory [board](/usc/42/17351.md?p=1)—
      - (i) to monitor the method by which grants are awarded under this subsection; and
      - (ii) to provide to the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) periodic performance reviews of actions taken to carry out this subsection.
    - (B) **Composition—** The advisory [board](/usc/42/17351.md?p=1) established under [subparagraph (A)](#b-5-A) shall be composed of 3 members, to be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3), of whom—
      - (i) 1 shall be a representative of the Federal Government;
      - (ii) 1 shall be selected from a list of nominees provided by the United States-Israel Binational Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3); and
      - (iii) 1 shall be selected from a list of nominees provided by the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3).
  - (6) **Contributed funds—** Notwithstanding [section 3302 of title 31](/usc/31/3302.md), the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) may accept, retain, and use funds contributed by any person, government entity, or organization for purposes of carrying out this subsection—
    - (A) without further appropriation; and
    - (B) without fiscal year limitation.
  - (7) **Report—** Not later than 180 days after the date of completion of a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) for which a grant is provided under this subsection, the grant recipient shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) a report that contains—
    - (A) a description of the method by which the recipient used the grant funds; and
    - (B) an evaluation of the level of success of each [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) funded by the grant.
  - (8) **Classification—** Grants shall be awarded under this subsection only for [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that are considered to be unclassified by both the United States and Israel.
- (c) **International partnerships—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3), subject to the availability of appropriations, may enter into cooperative agreements supporting and enhancing dialogue and planning involving international partnerships between the [Department](/usc/42/17001.md?p=1), including [National Laboratories](/usc/42/17211.md?p=4) of the [Department](/usc/42/17001.md?p=1), and the Government of Israel and its ministries, offices, and institutions.
  - (2) **Federal share—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) may not pay more than 50 percent of Federal share of the costs of implementing cooperative agreements entered into pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#c-1).
  - (3) **Annual reports—** If the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) enters into agreements authorized by [paragraph (1)](#c-1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives that describes—
    - (A) actions taken to implement such agreements; and
    - (B) any [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) undertaken pursuant to such agreements.
- (d) **United States-Israel Energy Center—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) may establish a joint United States-Israel Energy Center in the United States leveraging the experience, knowledge, and expertise of institutions of higher education and entities in the private sector, among others, 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 emerging geopolitical implications, crises and threats from foreign natural resource and energy acquisitions, and the development of domestic resources as a response.
- (e) **Termination—** The grant [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) and the [advisory committee](/usc/42/17061.md?p=2) established under this section terminate on September 30, 2024.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–140, title IX, § 917, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1730; Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(a)–(c)(1), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4078–4080.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(a)(1), substituted “covered” for “renewable”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(a)(2), substituted “possible—” for “possible”, designated remaining existing provisions as subpar. (A), and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(a)(3)(A), substituted “covered” for “renewable”.

Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(a)(4)(A), substituted “covered” for “renewable”.

Subsec. (a)(8) to (16). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(a)(3)(B), (4)(B), (5), added pars. (8) to (16).

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(b)(1), substituted “covered energy” for “renewable energy or energy efficiency”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(H), (I). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(b)(2), added subpars. (H) and (I).

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(b)(3), substituted “covered” for “energy efficiency or renewable”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(c)(1)(C), added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (e).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(c)(1)(A), (C), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which related to authorization of appropriations.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–296, § 12(c)(1)(B), (D), redesignated subsec. (c) as (e) and substituted “September 30, 2024” for “the date that is 7 years after December 19, 2007”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.