Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Introduced
Summary
Expand and fund U.S. water power research and domestic manufacturing. This bill would reauthorize and broaden federal research, demonstration, and deployment for hydropower, pumped storage, and marine energy to strengthen grid integration, resilience, and supply chains.
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- Manufacturers and industry: Would back U.S.-based manufacturing and supply chains, including composite and additive manufacturing facilities for marine energy components, and authorize support for advanced manufacturing and fuel production such as hydrogen.
- Researchers and test centers: Would expand National Marine Energy Centers, bring National Laboratories into coordination, fund equipment and regional test sites, and require development and testing for extreme tidal and icing conditions.
- Workers, coastal communities, Tribes, and grid operators: Would fund workforce development, student research, fellowships, and coordination with Alaska Native Corporations and other domestic entities, while adding cybersecurity, grid modeling, and licensing and environmental study improvements.
*It would raise the authorized annual federal funding for water power R&D from $186.6 million to $300 million for FY2026–2030, increasing authorized federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Improve hydropower research and licensing
If enacted, this would expand hydropower and pumped storage research to include generation performance, cybersecurity, hydrology, and project delivery studies. It would fund work to better include hydropower and storage in grid modeling and to test performance and reliability. The bill would also require a study with Federal, State, local, and Tribal entities, including Alaska Native Corporations, to improve hydropower licensing and compile environmental and economic data.
More training for water power jobs
If enacted, this would expand training, fellowships, and student research for marine energy and hydropower. Programs would work with regional workforce hubs, colleges, and nonprofits. National Marine Energy Centers would be required to support training, student projects, and curriculum outreach. Centers would be chosen in part for regional testing advantages like strong tides or cold water.
More funding for water power research
If enacted, this would authorize $300 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for water power research. Each year $200 million would go to marine energy and $100 million to hydropower. The money would fund research, demonstrations, and projects at labs, universities, and developers. Households would see indirect effects through jobs and local resilience projects.
Grow U.S. marine energy industry
If enacted, this would expand marine energy uses and back U.S. manufacturing for marine components. It would support projects like desalination, microgrids, data centers, hydrogen fuel production, and disaster recovery. Programs would fund scalable U.S. composite and additive manufacturing and regional manufacturing facilities. The Secretary would also be required to coordinate with Sea Grant, Commerce, and State to use ocean networks and trade resources.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
AK • R
Sponsored 1/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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