113 HR 5803 IH: To require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes. U.S. House of Representatives 2014-12-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5803 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 8, 2014 Mrs. Christensen (for herself and Mr. Sablan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes.

1.

Study of electric rates in the insular areas

(a)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Comprehensive energy plan

The term comprehensive energy plan means a comprehensive energy plan prepared and updated under subsections (c) and (e) of section 604 of the Act entitled An Act to authorize appropriations for certain insular areas of the United States, and for other purposes, approved December 24, 1980 (48 U.S.C. 1492). (2)

Energy action plan

The term energy action plan means the plan required by subsection (d). (3)

Freely associated states

The term Freely Associated States means the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. (4)

Insular areas

The term insular areas means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. (5)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (6)

Team

The term team means the team established by the Secretary under subsection (b). (b)

Establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, within the Empowering Insular Communities activity, establish a team of technical, policy, and financial experts— (1)to develop an energy action plan addressing the energy needs of each of the insular areas and Freely Associated States; and (2)to assist each of the insular areas and Freely Associated States in implementing such plan. (c)

Participation of regional utility organizations

In establishing the team, the Secretary shall consider including regional utility organizations. (d)

Energy action plan

In accordance with subsection (b), the energy action plan shall include— (1)recommendations, based on the comprehensive energy plan where applicable, to— (A)reduce reliance and expenditures on fuel shipped to the insular areas and Freely Associated States from ports outside the United States; (B)develop and utilize domestic fuel energy sources; and (C)improve performance of energy infrastructure and overall energy efficiency; (2)a schedule for implementation of such recommendations and identification and prioritization of specific projects; (3)a financial and engineering plan for implementing and sustaining projects; and (4)benchmarks for measuring progress toward implementation. (e)

Reports to secretary

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary establishes the team and annually thereafter, the team shall submit to the Secretary a report detailing progress made in fulfilling its charge and in implementing the energy action plan. (f)

Annual reports to congress

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a report submitted by the team under subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a summary of the report of the team. (g)

Approval of secretary required

The energy action plan shall not be implemented until the Secretary approves the energy action plan.

2.

Amendments to the consolidated natural resources act

Section 6 of Public Law 94–241 (90 Stat. 263; 122 Stat. 854) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)(2), by striking December 31, 2014, except as provided in subsections (b) and (d) and inserting December 31, 2019; and (2)in subsection (d)— (A)in the third sentence of paragraph (2), by striking not to extend beyond December 31, 2014, unless extended pursuant to paragraph 5 of this subsection and inserting ending on December 31, 2019; (B)by striking paragraph (5); and (C)by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (5).