Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium

Item 250 #1h

Language
Page 253, line 40, strike "$2,800,000" and insert "$3,800,000".
Page 254, strike lines 16 through 34 and insert:
"3. a. Out of this appropriation, the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, shall transfer $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund to the University of Virginia to support cancer research.
b. 1. Out of this appropriation, $1,500,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium (VCERC) to implement research and development of Virginia’s marine renewable energy resources, with an initial focus on offshore winds, waves, and marine biomass.  These funding amounts are necessary for (but not limited to) energy resource assessment, characterization of extreme storm survival conditions and sea floor anchoring and foundation properties, identification of potential environmental concerns, new technology research and development to enable project installations in deeper offshore waters “over the horizon,” and realistic evaluation of economic benefits and new business opportunities for Virginia's maritime industry.  These funds also are necessary to support VCERC's close engagement of the Mineral Management Service (MMS) to ensure that the new MMS rules for alternative energy uses of the outer continental shelf, as well as the 2007-2012 offshore leasing program now being formulated, are well-supported by data and have the best possible terms for Virginia.
The distribution of funds to VCERC member institutions shall be as follows:
Old Dominion University $875,000
Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute $250,000
James Madison University $150,000
Virginia Institute of Marine Science  $150,000
Norfolk State University  $75,000
The above funds shall be used to support the following VCERC activities:
1)   Characterization of offshore wind environment and extreme wave and current conditions and sea floor anchoring and foundation properties (ODU and VT-ARI).
2)   Estimate of economic benefits and identification of workforce training and entrepreneurial development needs to support a marine renewable energy industry in Tidewater region (ODU, NSU, and industry partner).
3)   GIS development to map other uses of Virginia's outer continental shelf, including military, shipping, and commercial fishing, and identify areas with minimal potential conflict (ODU and JMU).  
4)   GIS development to map flyways of migratory shore birds, pelagic birds, and potential storm impacts on migratory patterns, as well as baseline assessment of offshore benthic communities (VT, VIMS and JMU).
5)   Assessment of potential environmental effects of commercial offshore wind power development (ODU and VIMS).
6)   Engineering studies of innovative technology for deep-water moorings and platforms, integration of hybrid project concepts, and long-distance submarine power cable transmission (VT-ARI and Industry Partner).
7)   Engagement with MMS rulemaking and leasing program development for Virginia's outer continental shelf, to ensure favorable regulatory environment and promote federal revenue sharing with state (VT-ARI).
8)   Investigation of potential offshore solar energy applications (NSU).
9)   Independent validation of emerging technology innovations that minimize ocean space requirements for offshore wind energy (JMU,VT-ARI and Industry Partner).
10) Extension of existing undergraduate curriculum in renewable energy to include coastal energy topics (JMU).
11) Measurement program and pre-feasibility study of wave-powered desalination application to recharge coastal aquifers threatened by sea level rise (VT-ARI and ODU).
12) Literature review and preliminary planning to conduct long-term research on marine biomass as a source of liquid and/or gaseous fuels (ODU and JMU).
13) Assessment of the VT Agricultural Extension and Research Center as an anchor and field laboratory for VCERC studies related to the nearby access to deepwater and offshore research projects.
2. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for cost-sharing on proposals submitted in response to federal R&D funding opportunities from the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and other federal agencies.  These cost-sharing funds shall be allocated by the VCERC Board of Directors on a competitive basis, and only proposals involving at least three VCERC institutions working together shall be eligible for such cost-sharing.  ODU will fund the support for the VCERC organization as required and provide industry sub-contracting as appropriate to support research and industry collaboration.
3. It is intended that VCERC shall operate following the administrative model of the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, employing Old Dominion Research Foundation as its fiscal agent.
4. Funding contained in b.1. and b.2. is contingent on the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium (VCERC) and/or the member institutions being able to document existing financial investments in such research activities of at least $2,000,000 from other federal or private funds.
c. Out of this appropriation, the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, shall transfer $1,000,000 the first year from the general fund to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in support of research efforts related to House Bill 2238.
d. Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 the first year from the general fund is designated for the Commonwealth Technology Research Fund pursuant to § 2.2-2233.1., Code of Virginia. These funds shall be used primarily to enhance the capability of institutions of higher education to commercialize technologies developed through their research.  Specifically, these funds shall support collaborative, translational research aimed at commercialization of discoveries, including pre-investment funding to support prototyping and proof-of-concept testing. Awards from the Fund shall be matched on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis by the respective institutions of higher education with institutional funds, private funds, local funds or combinations thereof."
Page 254, strike line 35 and insert:
"e. Out of this appropriation, $3,000,000 is designated the".

Explanation
(This amendment provides funding in support of cancer research at the University of Virginia, alternative and renewable energy, and research coordination efforts throughout the Commonwealth.)