Sec. 5. Energy infrastructure project support
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The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the heads of other relevant United States agencies, and energy-importing allies and partners of the United States, shall, as appropriate, prioritize and expedite the efforts of the Department of State, the Department of Energy, and such other agencies in supporting the governments of like-minded Indo-Pacific countries to increase their energy security and reduce energy emissions, including through— providing diplomatic and political support to those governments, as necessary— to facilitate international negotiations concerning cross-border infrastructure; to enhance the regulatory environment with respect to energy projects in the Indo-Pacific region; and to develop accessible, transparent, and competitive energy markets supplied by diverse sources, types, and routes of energy; and providing support— to improve energy markets in the Indo-Pacific region, including early-stage project support and late-stage project support for the construction or improvement of energy projects and related infrastructure; to diversify the energy sources and supply routes of Indo-Pacific countries to strengthen energy security; to enhance energy market integration across the region; and through— investments in infrastructure to support the importation of liquefied natural gas and other clean energy products by Indo-Pacific countries; energy-related international technical assistance; energy technology collaboration; commercial engagement; and any other mode of energy infrastructure support the Secretary considers appropriate.
The Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Energy shall identify energy infrastructure projects that would be appropriate for United States assistance under this section. A project is eligible for United States assistance under this section if the project— has been identified by the Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Energy as promoting energy security in the Indo-Pacific region or the country in which the project is located; promotes the use of liquefied natural gas and other clean energy products and related energy infrastructure; has the potential to use goods and services produced in the United States or an Indo-Pacific country during project implementation; and is located in an Indo-Pacific country.
In selecting projects for United States assistance under this section, the Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Energy shall give preference to projects that are expected to enhance energy market integration; In carrying out the requirements of this subsection, the Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Energy shall give equal consideration to each type of eligible project, without regard to the type of clean energy product or related energy infrastructure involved.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 10 years, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing how the Secretary will prioritize the selection of projects that promote the export of liquefied natural gas and other clean energy products and development of related energy infrastructure under subsection (b), taking into consideration— the ability of the project to provide resilient and reliable energy to the Indo-Pacific country in which the project would be located; geostrategic imperatives and the national security interests of— the United States; and the Indo-Pacific country in which the project would be located; the development goals of the Indo-Pacific country in which the project would be located; and potential reductions in global emissions, including the abatement of methane emissions.
In developing the report required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with— the Secretary of Commerce; the Secretary of Energy; the Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources; the Director of the Trade and Development Agency; with respect to projects described in section 1455 of the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (as added by section 6(a)), the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation; and with respect to projects described in section 16 of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (as added by section 6(b)), the President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
The Secretary shall provide diplomatic and political support to the governments of like-minded Indo-Pacific countries, as necessary, including by using the diplomatic and political influence and expertise of the Department of State to build the capacity of those countries to resolve any impediments to the development of projects selected under subsection (b). The Director of the Trade and Development Agency shall provide early-stage project support with respect to projects selected under subsection (b).
Not later than 30 days before providing any diplomatic or political support under this section with respect to a project in an Indo-Pacific country, the Secretary shall certify, in writing, to the appropriate congressional committees that, except in the case of an extraordinary event, there is no foreseeable risk that the project identified or selected for support by the United States will be taken over, either through the use of force, hostile acquisition, or other commercial engagement, by a country that is an adversary of, or is not an ally of, the United States.