,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bgje ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #cj1 #bjad ,mr4 ,begich introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish1 within the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 an integrated and comprehensive ocean1 coastal1 ,great ,lakes1 and atmospheric research and environmental information sharing program to support renewable energy1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,renewable ,energy ,environmental ,research ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to establish an integrated and comprehensive ocean1 coastal1 ,great ,lakes1 and atmospheric research and environmental information sharing program to support renewable energy4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administration ,the term ,administration means the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration4 7#b7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,under ,secretary for ,oceans and ,atmosphere in the ,under ,secretary's capacity as ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration4 7#c7 ,renewable energy ,the term renewable energy means any form of renewable energy1 including traditional hydropower1 terrestrial renewable energy1 and renewable energy derived from the sea1 such as wave energy1 tidal energy1 ocean current energy1 offshore wind energy1 salinity gradient energy1 ocean thermal gradient energy1 and ocean thermal energy conversion4 #d4 ,renewable energy research plan 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall develop a plan-- 7#a7 to define requirements for a comprehensive and integrated ocean1 coastal1 ,great ,lakes1 and atmosphere science program to support renewable energy development in the ,united ,states based on a review of scientific and industry information2 7#b7 to identify and describe current climate1 weather1 and water data programs1 products1 services1 and authorities within the ,administration relevant to renewable energy development2 7#c7 to provide targeted research1 data1 monitoring1 observation1 and other information1 products1 and services concerning climate1 weather1 and water in support of renewable energy and smart grid technology1 including research to accurately quantify the downstream micro-climate impacts of wind-power turbines2 7#d7 to reduce duplication and leverage the resources of existing ,administration programs through coordination with-- 7,a7 other offices and programs within the ,administration1 including the atmospheric1 ocean1 and coastal observation systems2 7,b7 ,federal1 ,state1 tribal1 and local observation systems2 and 7,c7 other entities1 including the private sector organizations and institutions of higher education2 7#e7 to facilitate public-private cooperation1 including identification and assessment of current private sector capabilities2 and 7#f7 to inform and educate the public and the private sector about the progress and findings of the renewable research and development carried out pursuant to the plan4 7b7 ,public hearings ,in developing the plan1 the ,administrator shall provide public notice and opportunity for #a or more public hearings and shall seek comments from ,federal and ,state agencies1 tribes1 local governments1 representatives of the private sector1 and other parties interested in renewable energy observations1 data1 and use in order to improve ,administration climate1 weather1 and water observation data products and services to more effectively support renewable energy development4 #e4 ,establishment of research1 prediction1 and environmental information program 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall establish a program to develop and implement an integrated and comprehensive ocean1 coastal1 ,great ,lakes1 and atmosphere research and operations program1 based on the plan required by section #d1 to support renewable energy development in the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,program components ,at a minimum1 the program required by subsection 7a7 shall include the following3 7#a7 ,improvements in coordinated climate1 weather1 water research1 biological and technological research monitoring1 and observations to support renewable energy siting and development4 7#b7 ,coordinated weather1 water1 and climate prediction capability focused on renewable energy and smart grid technology to provide information and decision services in support of renewable energy development4 7#c7 ,support for the transition to1 and reliable delivery of1 sustained operational weather1 water1 and climate products from research1 observation1 and prediction outputs4 7#d7 ,means of identifying biological and ecological effects of marine renewable energy development on living marine resources1 the marine and coastal environment1 marine-dependent industries1 and coastal communities4 7#e7 ,baseline ecological characterization1 including research1 data collection1 and mapping1 of the coastal and marine environment and living marine resources for marine renewable energy development4 7#f7 ,avoidance1 minimization1 and mitigation strategies to address the potential impacts of renewable energy on the marine1 coastal1 and ,great ,lakes habitats resources and communities1 including developing effective monitoring protocols1 use of adaptive management1 informed engineering design and operating parameters1 and the establishment of protocols for minimizing the environmental impacts of testing1 developing1 and deploying marine renewable energy devices4 7#g7 ,support for the development of marine special area management plans by states as defined by the ,coastal ,zone ,management ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adea et seq47 that would support renewable energy development consistent with natural resource protection and other coastal-dependent economic growth4 7#h7 ,coordination of comprehensive digital mapping1 modeling1 and other geospatial information and services to support planning for renewable energy and stewardship of ecosystem and living marine ecosystems1 including protected species1 in ocean1 ,great ,lakes1 and coastal areas4 7#i7 ,a coordinated approach for examining and quantifying the micro-climate impacts of wind-power farms on soil transpiration and drying4 7#aj7 ,provision for outreach to the public and private sector about program research1 information1 and products1 including making non-proprietary information and best management practices developed under this program available to the public4 7c7 ,use in agency decisions ,the program established under subsection 7a7 shall be designed to collect1 synthesize1 and distribute data in a manner that can be used by resource managers responsible for making decisions about renewable energy projects4 ,the ,army ,corps of ,engineers1 ,department of ,commerce1 ,bureau of ,ocean ,energy ,management1 ,federal ,energy ,regulatory ,commission1 and ,department of ,energy shall consider this information when making planning1 siting1 and permitting decisions for renewable energy4 7d7 ,support for public-,private cooperation ,to the extent practicable1 in implementing the program established under this section1 the ,administrator shall seek appropriate opportunities to facilitate and expand cooperation with private sector entities to develop and expand information services that serve the renewable energy industry4 #f4 ,biennial reports 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date on which the ,administrator establishes the program under section #e7;a7 and not less frequently than once every #b years thereafter1 the ,administrator shall submit to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,natural ,resources and the ,committee on ,science and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives a report on progress made in implementing this ,act4 7b7 ,contents ,each report submitted under subsection 7a7 shall include the following3 7#a7 ,a description of activities carried out under this ,act4 7#b7 ,recommendations for prioritization of activities under this ,act for fiscal years beginning after the date on which the report is submitted4 7#c7 ,funding levels for activities under this ,act in those fiscal years4 #g4 ,library 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator1 in consultation with relevant ,federal agencies1 shall establish and maintain a renewable energy information library and data portal to function as a common1 cross agency repository of data pertinent to renewable energy development4 7b7 ,elements ,the library required by subsection 7a7 shall include1 at a minimum1 the following3 7#a7 ,links to data and information products for use in renewable energy development4 7#b7 ,links to planning and decision support tools for use in renewable energy development4 7#c7 ,data about the baseline condition of ocean and coastal resources4 7#d7 ,links to digital mapping and geospatial information1 products1 and services described in section #d7;b74 #h4 ,federal coordination ,the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,energy1 the ,secretary of ,transportation1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 the ,federal ,energy ,regulatory ,commission1 the ,department in which the ,coast ,guard is operating1 and the heads of other relevant ,federal agencies shall cooperate with the ,administrator in carrying out this ,act4 #i4 ,agreements ,the ,administrator may enter into and perform such contracts1 leases1 grants1 cooperative agreements1 or other agreements and transactions with any agency or instrumentality of the ,united ,states1 or with any ,state1 local1 tribal1 territorial or foreign government1 or with any person1 corporation1 firm1 partnership1 educational institution1 nonprofit organization1 or international organization as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this ,act4 #aj4 ,authority to receive funds ,the ,administrator may accept1 retain1 and use funds received from any party pursuant to an agreement entered into under section #i for activities furthering the purposes of this ,act4 #aa4 ,use of ocean observing offshore infrastructure 7a7 ,in general ,any offshore exploration and production facility1 at the discretion of the ,administrator1 may execute a memorandum of understanding authorizing the use of offshore platforms and infrastructure for the placement of meteorological and oceanographic observation sensors of a type to be designated by the ,administrator in support of the ,integrated ,ocean ,observing ,system4 7b7 ,availability of information ,all information collected by such sensors shall be managed by ,administration and be readily available for use in spill and other hazard response as well as available to the ,national ,weather ,service1 other ,administration programs1 and the general public4 #ab4 ,savings provision ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed to supersede or modify the jurisdiction1 responsibilities1 or authority of any ,federal or ,state agency under any provision of law in effect on the date of the enactment of this ,act4