Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act
Sponsored By: Representative Barragan
Introduced
Summary
Would establish a $1.0 billion Marine Energy Acceleration Fund to accelerate U.S. marine energy development. The Fund at the Department of Energy would support demonstrations, R&D, site assessments, permitting improvements, and workforce programs.
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- Coastal and underserved communities: Prioritizes at least 20 demonstration projects that can export power to microgrids, community grids, or utilities and sets aside $600 million for them to boost local resilience and economic opportunities.
- Technology and research: Provides $230 million for technology R&D and $20 million for National Marine Energy Centers to speed device testing, domestic manufacturing, and environmental monitoring, and $50 million to assess at least 50 promising sites.
- Workforce and permitting: Allocates $85 million for workforce assessments and training tied to demonstration sites and funds a multiagency permitting task force with $5 million each for DOE, FERC, and BOEM to identify and reduce permitting barriers.
*Would authorize $1.0 billion in appropriations to the Department of Energy for these marine energy activities.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
$1 billion fund for marine energy
This bill would create a Marine Energy Acceleration Fund at the Department of Energy. Congress would be authorized to provide $1 billion, available until spent. The fund would pay for demonstrations, research, site studies, workforce training, and permitting work in this bill.
Grants for at least 20 marine energy projects
DOE would run competitions to fund at least 20 marine energy demonstration projects. Projects would send power to microgrids, community grids, or utility grids. The bill would set aside $600 million. Priority would go to projects tied to existing transmission or marine structures, with permits in place, that allow open‑water tests, or that help rural, remote, Tribal, and low‑income communities. Projects could also support ocean research, workforce training, national security, and commercial uses limited by energy.
Research and education grants for marine energy
DOE would award competitive grants for research and for upgrades to research facilities. The goal would be to speed design, fabrication, and testing, boost U.S. manufacturing and supply chains, and improve efficiency and reliability. $230 million would fund technology R&D and $20 million would fund education through National Marine Energy Centers. Grants would also support public engagement and tools to monitor and reduce environmental impacts.
National study of 50+ marine energy sites
DOE, with NOAA and BOEM, would study at least 50 sites with strong marine energy potential. $50 million would fund site data and environmental monitoring. The work would cover different regions, coordinate with Regional Ocean Partnerships where useful, and share data publicly. Results would help choose locations for demonstration projects.
Task force to streamline energy permits
DOE would convene a Federal‑State task force to streamline marine energy permitting while following environmental review laws. The group would include FERC, BOEM, NOAA, the Army Corps, and others. It would recommend ways to cut time, cost, and uncertainty, assess staffing needs, and train State agencies. A report to Congress would be due within one year. $5 million each would go to DOE, FERC, and BOEM to support this work.
Training for marine energy jobs
DOE would study national marine energy workforce needs within two years. Based on the study, DOE would fund training with centers, industry, colleges, unions, and career programs. $85 million would support these efforts. Programs would focus first on communities near the demonstration projects.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Barragan
CA • D
Cosponsors
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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