The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has approved the Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) Renewable Energy Act of 2013 (S. 1419), and the Nexus of Energy and Water for Sustainability Act of 2014 (S. 1971).
S. 1419, sponsored by Senator Ron Wyden [D-OR], amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The bill adds additional purposes for the Department of Energy’s National Marine Renewable Energy Centers, including a requirement to support in-water testing, and demonstration of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies. S. 1419 also amends the Federal Power Act, authorizing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue pilot licenses for constructing, operating, and maintaining hydrokinetic pilot projects.
Furthermore, the legislation authorizes funding for research and development from Fiscal Years (FY) 2014-2017. “As anyone who’s ever felt the pounding ocean surf off the coast of Oregon knows, there is tremendous energy in water,” Senator Wyden said. “I’m thrilled that the committee recognizes the need to get marine and hydrokinetic power projects into the water so they can move a step closer to contributing to U.S. energy production.”
The second bill approved by the committee, S. 1971, would require the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy Director to create an interagency committee or subcommittee focused on the energy-water nexus, promoting coordination and information exchange on research and development.
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