HR5692-119

What This Bill Does

The Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act creates a $1 billion Marine Energy Acceleration Fund to speed wave, tidal, current, ocean thermal, and related marine energy technologies. DOE must solicit at least 20 demonstration projects that export power to microgrids, community grids, or utility-scale grids, prioritizing projects tied to existing transmission or marine structures, projects with permits in place, open-water prototype testing, resilience and economic opportunities for rural, remote, Tribal, and low-income communities, and projects supporting scientific research, education, workforce development, national security, and commercial ocean uses. The bill dedicates $600 million to demonstrations. It dedicates $230 million for R&D and facility upgrades and $20 million for National Marine Energy Centers' education activities. DOE, NOAA, BOEM, and other agencies must assess at least 50 high-potential sites, share data through public repositories, and use those assessments to inform demonstrations, with $50 million for that work. DOE, FERC, BOEM, NOAA, the Corps of Engineers, and state agencies must form a permitting task force, report to Congress within one year, recommend ways to reduce permitting time, cost, and uncertainty consistent with NEPA, and train state and territory permitting agencies, with $5 million each for DOE, FERC, and BOEM. DOE must also assess workforce needs within two years and launch workforce programs with National Marine Energy Centers, industry, universities, labor unions, nonprofits, and career and technical education programs, prioritizing communities near demonstration projects, with $85 million for that work.

Who Benefits and How

Marine energy developers benefit from a $600 million demonstration-project pool and at least 20 projects that can export power to grids. National Marine Energy Centers benefit from R&D coordination, education funding, and workforce program partnerships. Rural remote Tribal energy communities benefit when demonstrations prioritize resilience and economic opportunity in underserved areas. Marine energy researchers benefit from R&D funding, facility upgrades, site assessments, environmental monitoring, and public data repositories.

Who Bears the Burden and How

DOE marine energy staff must establish the fund, run solicitations, manage awards, assess workforce needs, and coordinate with other agencies. FERC licensing staff and BOEM renewable energy staff must participate in the permitting task force and receive dedicated funding. NOAA coastal management staff must coordinate resource assessments and regional ocean partnership work. Federal taxpayers fund the $1 billion authorization and agency allocations.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Marine Energy Acceleration Fund with $1 billion available until expended.
• Provides $600 million for at least 20 marine energy demonstration projects exporting power to microgrids, community grids, or utility-scale grids.
• Provides $230 million for marine energy R&D and facility upgrades and $20 million for National Marine Energy Centers education.
• Requires assessments of at least 50 high-potential marine energy sites and public sharing of collected data.
• Requires a federal and state permitting task force report within one year, with $5 million each for DOE, FERC, and BOEM.
• Provides $85 million for workforce assessment and development programs near demonstration communities.