H.R. 7129: Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act
The bill titled "Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act" aims to amend existing legislation related to water power in the United States. It primarily focuses on reauthorizing and updating provisions for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of hydropower and marine energy technologies. Here are the key aspects of what the bill would do:
Revisions to Existing Provisions
- Enhance the scope of research and development related to water power technology by adjusting language to include both "capacity or efficiency" in addition to reducing costs.
- Promote the manufacturing of marine energy components through partnerships with universities and industry, particularly in advanced composite research and additive manufacturing.
Hydropower Research and Development
The bill specifies various updates to hydropower research, including:
- Adding language to focus on "generation" efficiency.
- Inclusion of "cybersecurity" as a critical aspect of hydropower research.
- Methods to improve the hydropower licensing process, incorporating environmental data and stakeholder input.
- Emphasis on developing technologies to assess and improve the environmental impacts of hydropower operations.
- Supporting workforce development and training programs for future professionals in the hydropower sector.
Marine Energy Research and Development
Updates proposed for marine energy research include:
- Expanding the definition of supported infrastructure to include equipment.
- Encouraging the establishment of a robust domestic supply chain for marine energy.
- Adding support for hydrogen production and other transportation fuels derived from marine energy sources.
- Understanding the resilience of waterside communities through applications like desalination and microgrids.
- Expanding research to develop marine energy solutions suited for extreme environmental conditions.
National Marine Energy Centers
The bill supports the operations of National Marine Energy Centers by ensuring they demonstrate unique advantages in marine energy research and development, including:
- Involving regional institutions, federal agencies, and supporting educational initiatives to train the next generation of marine energy professionals.
Funding Provisions
The bill proposes to increase the funding for water power research from approximately $186.6 million to $300 million for the fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with specified allocations for marine energy and hydropower.
Reporting and Accountability
There is a mandate for biennial briefings to Congress concerning the progress of the research and development activities outlined in the bill, ensuring transparency and ongoing accountability.
Relevant Companies
- NEE (NextEra Energy, Inc.) - Engaged in renewable energy projects including hydropower and may be influenced by changes in regulations that affect hydropower development and infrastructure.
- DUK (Duke Energy Corporation) - As a major utility company, changes to hydropower licensing and environmental assessments could impact operations and development of their hydropower assets.
- AEP (American Electric Power Company, Inc.) - Potentially affected by new measures in hydropower research and development, which could shape future energy generation strategies.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
2 bill sponsors
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 2026 | Introduced in House |
| Jan. 16, 2026 | Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. |
Corporate Lobbying
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