Government and Policy News

Two U.S. Representatives introduce Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act

Two U.S. Representatives introduce Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act
(Image by willyambradberry on 123rf)

U.S. Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) have introduced the Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act, which would invest $1 billion to advance marine energy toward full scale commercialization.

Marine energy harnesses the power from waves, tides, currents, and other water-based resources. The act would provide unprecedented levels of funding to the Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office for demonstration projects, research and development, detailed resource potential mapping, workforce development, and more efficient permitting processes.

“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 arragán. “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.”

“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. said Bonamici.”

There is an upcoming marine energy demonstration 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.”

The legislation is co-sponsored by Bonamici (Ore.), Ed Case (Hawaii), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Kevin Mullin (Calif.), Val Hoyle (Ore.), Troy Carter (La.), Salud Carbajal (Calif.) and Anne Kuster (N.H.).

Click here to read the full text of the bill.