§17216 Organization and Administration of Programs

Summary

Require the Secretary to coordinate and run water power research and programs across the Department and other federal agencies, including the National Laboratories and the National Marine Energy Centers. The Secretary must work with industry, labs, other agencies, colleges (including Minority Serving Institutions), National Marine Energy Centers, Tribal entities (including Alaska Native Corporations), and international groups. The Secretary should encourage projects that include partners not usually involved, support international work (including with the United States Agency for International Development), publish project results on websites and at conferences while withholding industrial secrets and information protected under section 552(b) of title 5, ask for applications at least once per fiscal year, and support education, outreach, technical help, and workforce training, including for rural, Tribal, and low‑income communities. The Secretary must write a plan no later than one year after December 27, 2020, update it each year, and make the plan address near‑term (up to 2 years), mid‑term (up to 7 years), and long‑term (up to 15 years) challenges. The Secretary must also give a public report, including the current strategic plan and progress, no later than one year after December 27, 2020 and at least once every 2 years after that to the public and relevant Congressional committees.