U.S. Representatives Introduce $1 Billion Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act

U.S. Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) have introduced the Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act, which aims to invest $1 billion to advance marine energy toward full-scale commercialization. This landmark legislation seeks to harness the power of waves, tides, currents, and other water-based resources to provide clean, renewable energy.

Unprecedented Investment in Marine Energy

The act would channel unprecedented funding to the Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office. The funds are earmarked for demonstration projects, research and development (R&D), detailed resource potential mapping, workforce development, and more efficient permitting processes. The initiative represents a significant step toward realizing marine energy's potential.

“Nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population lives in coastal communities where marine energy resources are abundant and offer tremendous potential to power our communities with clean, renewable energy, including California,” said Representative Barragán. “With the Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act, we can usher in an emerging clean energy resource to help our nation and our communities meet clean energy and decarbonization goals, reduce pollution, and create high-paying jobs.”

Addressing the Climate Crisis

Representative Bonamici emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for diverse energy solutions. “The scale of the climate crisis requires us to use every possible approach to rapidly transition to a clean energy economy. Marine energy has the potential to tap into the immense power of the ocean, but the industry’s progress has been hampered by inconsistent and limited federal investment. I’m grateful to introduce the Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act with Representative Barragán to catalyze the development of the marine energy field and support the coastal communities where technology demonstrations occur. These investments will create good clean technology jobs and reduce climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.”

Key Provisions of the Act

The Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act includes several critical components:

• Marine Energy Demonstration Projects: At least 20 competitive solicitation projects will export power to various grid scales. This includes collaboration with National Marine Energy Centers, non-profits, universities, and other entities with technical expertise. The act prioritizes projects integrating with existing infrastructure, supporting disadvantaged communities, and powering ocean-based research and education.
• Research and Development: The act allocates substantial funding for R&D projects and facility upgrades, emphasizing rapid design and testing, public education, and environmental impact mitigation technologies.
• Workforce Development: The act mandates a comprehensive needs assessment to evaluate the workforce and educational requirements in the marine energy sector, with initiatives focusing on communities near demonstration projects.
• Resource Potential Mapping: The act calls for assessing at least 50 sites for marine energy potential, with detailed resource characterizations and deployment of environmental monitoring technologies.

Support and Upcoming Projects

There is growing support for marine energy technologies, exemplified by an upcoming project by Eco Wave Power at AltaSea, a public-private ocean technology hub at the Port of Los Angeles dedicated to growing the blue economy. Eco Wave Power is set to install the first U.S. onshore wave energy pilot station in the coming months. “For too long, this useful source of power has had a back seat to investments in other renewable and non-renewable forms of energy,” said Terry Tamminen, chief executive officer of AltaSea. “With this bill, Representative Barragán puts wave and tidal energy on the map — and does so in a very meaningful way.”

Representatives Ed Case (Hawaii), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Kevin Mullin (Calif.), Val Hoyle (Ore.), Troy Carter (La.), Salud Carbajal (Calif.), and Anne Kuster (N.H.) co-sponsor the legislation.