[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6739 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6739

    To encourage stronger building energy efficiency codes, promote 
 renewable energy technology deployment, and protect the United States 
      from the effects of climate change, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 31, 2008

   Mr. Inslee (for himself, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Hinchey, Ms. 
Baldwin, and Mr. Welch of Vermont) introduced the following bill; which 
          was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To encourage stronger building energy efficiency codes, promote 
 renewable energy technology deployment, and protect the United States 
      from the effects of climate change, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United States 
Climate Action Now Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                        TITLE I--BUILDING CODES

Sec. 101. Encouraging stronger building codes.
                         TITLE II--TRANSMISSION

Sec. 201. Findings.
Sec. 202. National renewable energy zones.
             TITLE III--EXPEDITED INTERCONNECTION STANDARDS

Sec. 301. Adoption of expedited interconnection standards for small 
                            generators.
                    TITLE IV--BIOENERGY PARTNERSHIP

Sec. 401. National Bioenergy Partnership.
  TITLE V--REDUCTION OF BLACK CARBON EMISSIONS TO PRESERVE THE ARCTIC

Sec. 501. Findings.
Sec. 502. Purposes.
Sec. 503. Definitions.
Sec. 504. Black carbon abatement study.
Sec. 505. Authorization of appropriations.

                        TITLE I--BUILDING CODES

SEC. 101. ENCOURAGING STRONGER BUILDING CODES.

    (a) In General.--Section 304 of the Energy Conservation and 
Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6833) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 304. UPDATING STATE BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY CODES.

    ``(a) Updating National Model Building Energy Codes.--
            ``(1) The Secretary shall support updating the national 
        model building energy codes and standards at least every 3 
        years to achieve overall energy savings, compared to the 2006 
        IECC for residential buildings and ASHRAE Standard 90.1 2007 
        for commercial buildings, of at least--
                    ``(A) 30 percent in editions of each model code or 
                standard released in or after 2010;
                    ``(B) 50 percent in editions of each model code or 
                standard released in or after 2020; and
                    ``(C) targets for intermediate and subsequent years 
                to be set by the Secretary at least 3 years in advance 
                of each target year, coordinated with the IECC and 
                ASHRAE Standard 90.1 cycles, at the maximum level of 
                energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and 
                life-cycle cost effective.
            ``(2)(A) Whenever the provisions of the IECC or ASHRAE 
        Standard 90.1 regarding building energy use are revised, the 
        Secretary shall, not later than 12 months after the date of 
        such revision, determine--
                    ``(i) whether such revision will improve energy 
                efficiency in buildings; and
                    ``(ii) whether such revision will meet the targets 
                under paragraph (1).
            ``(B) If the Secretary makes a determination under 
        subparagraph (A)(ii) that a code or standard does not meet the 
        targets under paragraph (1), or if a national model code or 
        standard is not updated for more than 3 years, then the 
        Secretary shall within 12 months establish a modified code or 
        standard that meets such targets. Any such modified code or 
        standard--
                    ``(i) shall achieve the maximum level of energy 
                savings that are technically feasible and economically 
                justified, incorporating available appliances, 
                technologies, and construction practices;
                    ``(ii) shall be achieved through amendments or 
                additions to the latest revision of the IECC or ASHRAE 
                Standard 90.1 but may consider other model codes or 
                standards; and
                    ``(iii) shall serve as the baseline for the next 
                determination under subparagraph (A)(i).
            ``(C) The Secretary shall provide the opportunity for 
        public comment on targets, determinations, and modified codes 
        and standards under this subsection, and shall publish notice 
        of targets, determinations, and modified codes and standards 
        under this subsection in the Federal Register.
    ``(b) State Certification of Building Energy Code Updates.--
            ``(1) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
        the United States Climate Action Now Act, each State shall 
        certify to the Secretary that it has reviewed and updated the 
        provisions of its residential and commercial building codes 
        regarding energy efficiency. Such certification shall include a 
        demonstration that such State's code provisions meet or exceed 
        the 2006 IECC for residential buildings and the ASHRAE Standard 
        90.1-2007 for commercial buildings, or achieve equivalent or 
        greater energy savings.
            ``(2)(A) If the Secretary makes an affirmative 
        determination under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) or establishes a 
        modified code or standard under subsection (a)(2)(B), each 
        State shall within 2 years certify that it has reviewed and 
        updated the provisions of its building code regarding energy 
        efficiency. Such certification shall include a demonstration 
        that such State's code provisions meet or exceed the revised 
        code or standard, or achieve equivalent or greater energy 
        savings.
            ``(B) If the Secretary fails to make a determination under 
        subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) by the date specified in subsection 
        (a)(2), or makes a negative determination, each State shall 
        within 2 years after the specified date or the date of the 
        determination, certify that it has reviewed the revised code or 
        standard, and updated the provisions of its building code 
        regarding energy efficiency to meet or exceed any provisions 
        found to improve energy efficiency in buildings, or to achieve 
        equivalent or greater energy savings in other ways.
    ``(c) State Certification of Compliance With Building Codes.--(1) 
Each State shall, not later than 3 years after a certification under 
subsection (b), certify that it has achieved compliance with the 
certified building energy code. Such certification shall include 
documentation of the rate of compliance based on independent 
inspections of a random sample of the new and renovated buildings 
covered by the code in the preceding year.
    ``(2) A State shall be considered to achieve compliance under 
paragraph (1) if--
            ``(A) at least 90 percent of new and renovated buildings 
        covered by the code in the preceding year substantially meet 
        all the requirements of the code; or
            ``(B) the estimated excess energy use of new and renovated 
        buildings that did not meet the code in the preceding year, 
        compared to a baseline of comparable buildings that meet the 
        code, is not more than 10 percent of the estimated energy use 
        of all new and renovated buildings covered by the code in the 
        preceding year.
    ``(d) Failure To Meet Deadlines.--
            ``(1) A State that has not made a certification required 
        under subsection (b) or (c) by the applicable deadline shall 
        submit to the Secretary a report on--
                    ``(A) the status of the State with respect to 
                meeting the requirements and submitting the 
                certification; and
                    ``(B) a plan for meeting and requirements and 
                submitting the certification.
            ``(2) The Secretary shall permit extensions of the 
        deadlines for the certification requirements under subsections 
        (b) and (c) of this section for up to 1 year if a State 
        demonstrates in the report under paragraph (1) that it has made 
        a good faith effort to comply with such requirements and that 
        it has made significant progress in doing so, including by 
        developing and implementing a plan under paragraph (1)(B).
            ``(3) Any State for which the Secretary has not accepted a 
        certification by a deadline under subsection (b) or (c) of this 
        section, with any extension granted under paragraph (2), is out 
        of compliance with this section.
            ``(4) In any State that is out of compliance with this 
        section, a local government may be in compliance with this 
        section by meeting the certification requirements under 
        subsections (b) and (c) of this section.
            ``(5) The Secretary shall annually submit to Congress, and 
        publish in the Federal Register, a report on the status of 
        national model building energy codes and standards, the status 
        of code adoption and compliance in the States, and 
        implementation of this section. The report shall include 
        estimates of impacts of past action under this section and 
        potential impacts of further action on lifetime energy use by 
        buildings and resulting energy costs to individuals and 
        businesses.
    ``(e) Technical Assistance.--
            ``(1) The Secretary shall on a timely basis provide 
        technical assistance to model code-setting and standard 
        development organizations. This assistance shall include 
        technical assistance as requested by the organizations in 
        evaluating code or standards proposals or revisions, building 
        energy analysis and design tools, building demonstrations, and 
        design assistance and training. The Secretary shall submit code 
        and standard amendment proposals, with supporting evidence, 
        sufficient to enable the national model building energy codes 
        and standards to meet the targets in subsection (a)(1).
            ``(2) The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to 
        States to implement the requirements of this section, including 
        procedures for States to demonstrate that their code provisions 
        achieve equivalent or greater energy savings than the national 
        model codes and standards, and to improve and implement State 
        residential and commercial building energy efficiency codes or 
        to otherwise promote the design and construction of energy 
        efficient buildings.
    ``(f) Availability of Incentive Funding.--
            ``(1) The Secretary shall provide incentive funding to 
        States to implement the requirements of this section, and to 
        improve and implement State residential and commercial building 
        energy efficiency codes, including increasing and verifying 
        compliance with such codes. In determining whether, and in what 
        amount, to provide incentive funding under this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall consider the actions proposed by the State to 
        implement the requirements of this section, to improve and 
        implement residential and commercial building energy efficiency 
        codes, and to promote building energy efficiency through the 
        use of such codes.
            ``(2) Additional funding shall be provided under this 
        subsection for implementation of a plan to achieve and document 
        at least a 90 percent rate of compliance with residential and 
        commercial building energy efficiency codes, based on energy 
        performance--
                    ``(A) to a State that has adopted and is 
                implementing, on a Statewide basis--
                            ``(i) a residential building energy 
                        efficiency code that meets or exceeds the 
                        requirements of the 2006 IECC, or any 
                        succeeding version of that code that has 
                        received an affirmative determination from the 
                        Secretary under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i); and
                            ``(ii) a commercial building energy 
                        efficiency code that meets or exceeds the 
                        requirements of the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007, 
                        or any succeeding version of that standard that 
                        has received an affirmative determination from 
                        the Secretary under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i); or
                    ``(B) in a State in which there is no Statewide 
                energy code either for residential buildings or for 
                commercial buildings, or where State codes fail to 
                comply with subparagraph (A), to a local government 
                that has adopted and is implementing residential and 
                commercial building energy efficiency codes, as 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(3) Of the amounts made available under this subsection, 
        the Secretary may use amounts required, not exceeding $500,000 
        for each State, to train State and local officials to implement 
        codes described in paragraph (2).
            ``(4)(A) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
        out this subsection--
                    ``(i) $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 
                through 2013; and
                    ``(ii) such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 
                2013 and each fiscal year thereafter.
            ``(B) Funding provided to States under paragraph (2) for 
        each fiscal year shall not exceed one-half of the excess of 
        funding under this subsection over $5,000,000 for the fiscal 
        year.''.
    (b) Definition.--Section 303 of the Energy Conservation and 
Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6832) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(17) The term `IECC' means the International Energy 
        Conservation Code.''.

                         TITLE II--TRANSMISSION

SEC. 201. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) electricity produced from renewable resources helps to 
        reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and limits emissions of other 
        pollutants regulated pursuant to the Clean Air Act, enhances 
        national energy security, and provides substantial economic 
        benefits;
            (2) the potential exists for a far greater percentage of 
        electric production in the United States to be generated 
        through the use of renewable resources than current levels;
            (3) many of the best potential renewable energy resources 
        are located in rural areas far from population centers;
            (4) the lack of adequate electric transmission capacity is 
        one of the primary obstacles to the development of electric 
        generation facilities fueled by renewable energy resources;
            (5) the economies of many rural areas would substantially 
        benefit from the increased development of electric generation 
        facilities fueled by renewable energy resources; and
            (6) it is in the national interest for the Federal 
        Government to implement policies that will enhance the amount 
        of electric transmission capacity available to take full 
        advantage of renewable energy resources to generate 
        electricity.

SEC. 202. NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONES.

    Title II of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.) is 
amended as follows:
            (1) By inserting before the section heading of section 201 
        (16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.) the following:

       ``Subtitle A--Regulation of Electric Utility Companies''.

            (2) By adding at the end the following:

             ``Subtitle B--National Renewable Energy Zones

``SEC. 231. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subtitle:
            ``(1) The term `Commission' means the Federal Energy 
        Regulatory Commission.
            ``(2) The term `electricity from renewable energy' means 
        electric energy generated from--
                    ``(A) solar, wind, geothermal, or marine and 
                hydrokinetic renewable energy;
                    ``(B) biomass (as defined in section 203(b) of the 
                Energy Policy Act of 2005);
                    ``(C) landfill gas; or
                    ``(D) qualified hydropower.
            ``(3) The term `marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy' 
        means energy derived from--
                    ``(A) waves, tides, and currents in oceans, 
                estuaries, and tidal areas;
                    ``(B) free flowing water in rivers, lakes, and 
                streams;
                    ``(C) free flowing water in an irrigation system, 
                canal, or other man-made channel, including projects 
                that utilize nonmechanical structures to accelerate the 
                flow of water for electric power production purposes; 
                or
                    ``(D) differentials in ocean temperature (ocean 
                thermal energy conversion).
            ``(4) The term `geothermal energy' means energy derived 
        from a geothermal deposit (within the meaning of section 
        613(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).
            ``(5) The term `qualified hydropower' means--
                    ``(A) incremental hydropower generation that is 
                achieved from increased efficiency or additions of 
                capacity made on or after the earlier of January 1, 
                2001, or the effective date of an existing applicable 
                State renewable portfolio standard program at a 
                hydroelectric facility that was placed in service 
                before that date; or
                    ``(B) additions of capacity made on or after the 
                earlier of January 1, 2001, or the effective date of an 
                existing applicable State renewable portfolio standard 
                program at an existing nonhydroelectric dam, provided 
                that--
                            ``(i) the hydroelectric project installed 
                        on the nonhydroelectric dam is licensed by the 
                        Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and meets 
                        all other applicable environmental, licensing, 
                        and regulatory requirements, including 
                        applicable fish passage requirements;
                            ``(ii) the nonhydroelectric dam was placed 
                        in service before the date of the enactment of 
                        this paragraph and operated for flood control, 
                        navigation, or water supply purposes and did 
                        not produce hydroelectric power on the date of 
                        the enactment of this paragraph; and
                            ``(iii) the hydroelectric project is 
                        operated so that the water surface elevation at 
                        any given location and time that would have 
                        occurred in the absence of the hydroelectric 
                        project is maintained, subject to any license 
                        requirements imposed under applicable law that 
                        change the water surface elevation for the 
                        purpose of improving the environmental quality 
                        of the affected waterway.

``SEC. 232. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONES.

    ``(a) Report.--Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
subtitle, the President shall report to Congress on the barriers to 
constructing new transmission lines that would increase renewable 
electric power generation capacity in the United States.
    ``(b) Designation.--Within 18 months after the date of enactment of 
this subtitle, the President shall designate as a National Renewable 
Energy Zone each area that meets each of the following conditions:
            ``(1) The potential to generate in excess of 1 gigawatt of 
        electric power from renewable energy if there were a sufficient 
        level of electric transmission capacity without having a 
        material detrimental impact on reliability.
            ``(2) An insufficient level of electric transmission 
        capacity to enable one or more load centers to access the 
        potential renewable electric power generation capacity 
        identified pursuant to paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Substantial demand in one or more load centers for 
        renewable energy that would be generated in the National 
        Renewable Energy Zone if there were a sufficient level of 
        transmission capacity.
    ``(c) Factors.--In making the designations required by subsection 
(b), the President shall take into account each of the following:
            ``(1) Federal and State requirements for utilities to 
        incorporate renewable energy as part of the load of electric 
        generating facilities.
            ``(2) Compatibility with State and regional transmission 
        plans.
    ``(d) Additional Facilities.--Within 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this subtitle, the President shall identify, and provide 
public notice of, specific new transmission facilities that, if 
constructed, could substantially increase the generation of electricity 
from renewable energy within the National Renewable Energy Zone. In 
identifying such facilities, the President shall take into account the 
ability of the facility to provide transmission capacity from the 
National Renewable Energy Zone to multiple load centers.
    ``(e) Exclusions.--The President shall not include in any National 
Renewable Energy Zone designated under subsection (b), or identify 
facilities under subsection (d) on, any Federal land that is designated 
as a wilderness study area, Wilderness Area, unit of the National Park 
System, national monument, national wildlife refuge, unit of the 
National Landscape Conservation System, Inventoried Roadless Area 
within the National Forest System, Wild and Scenic River, National 
Marine Sanctuary, or unit of the National System of Trails.
    ``(f) Public Views and Consultation.--Before making any designation 
under subsection (b) or identifying facilities under subsection (d), 
the President shall consult with--
            ``(1) the Governors of affected States;
            ``(2) the public;
            ``(3) electric utilities and owners and operators of 
        transmission facilities;
            ``(4) public utilities commissions and regional electricity 
        planning organizations;
            ``(5) Federal and State land management and energy and 
        environmental agencies;
            ``(6) renewable energy companies;
            ``(7) local government officials;
            ``(8) renewable energy and energy efficiency interest 
        groups;
            ``(9) Indian tribes; and
            ``(10) environmental protection and land, water, and 
        wildlife conservation groups.
    ``(g) Expansion.--The President shall, every 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this subtitle, consider whether to expand an existing 
National Renewable Energy Zone or designate a new National Renewable 
Energy Zone pursuant to the criteria set forth in subsection (b).
    ``(h) Delisting.--The President, after opportunity for public 
comment, shall every 9 years review the National Renewable Energy Zones 
designated pursuant to subsection (b) and delist those Zones that no 
longer meet the criteria specified in that subsection.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for fiscal years 2009 through 2012 such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section.''.

             TITLE III--EXPEDITED INTERCONNECTION STANDARDS

SEC. 301. ADOPTION OF EXPEDITED INTERCONNECTION STANDARDS FOR SMALL 
              GENERATORS.

    (a) Interconnection for Utilities Not Subject to Federal Power Act 
Jurisdiction.--Section 113(b) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policy 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2623(b)) is amended by adding the following at 
the end thereof:
            ``(6) Interconnection standards.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each electric utility shall 
                provide interconnection service to devices used for the 
                production of electricity having a capacity of no more 
                than 20 megawatts. Such interconnection shall be 
                consistent with the standards promulgated by the 
                Federal Energy Regulatory Commission through Order 
                Number 2006.
                    ``(B) Purposes of standards.--The standard adopted 
                under this paragraph shall be designed to--
                            ``(i) encourage the use of distributed 
                        renewable and combined heat and power 
                        electricity generation; and
                            ``(ii) ensure the safety and reliability of 
                        devices used for the production of electricity 
                        and the local distribution systems 
                        interconnected with devices used for the 
                        production of electricity.
                    ``(C) Expedited procedures.--Each standard under 
                this section shall include separate expedited 
                procedures for interconnecting devices used for the 
                production of electricity having a capacity of up to at 
                least 10 kilowatts and a separate standard that 
                expedites interconnection for devices used for the 
                production of electricity having a capacity of no more 
                than 2000 kilowatts. In designing such expedited 
                procedures, each State regulatory authority (with 
                respect to each electric utility for which it has 
                ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated utility 
                shall consider model interconnection rules published by 
                the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
                    ``(D) Safety, reliability, performance, and cost.--
                Each standard under this section shall establish those 
                measures for the safety and reliability of the affected 
                equipment and transmission systems as may be 
                appropriate. Such standards shall be consistent with 
                the reliability standards under section 215 of the 
                Federal Power Act and all applicable safety and 
                performance standards established by the National 
                Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and 
                Electronics Engineers, Underwriters Laboratories, or 
                the American National Standards Institute, and the 
                North American Electric Reliability Corporation, yet 
                constitute the minimum cost and technical burdens to 
                the interconnecting devices used for the production of 
                electricity.
                    ``(E) Additional charges.--The standards under this 
                section shall prohibit the imposition of additional 
                charges by the owners or operators of electric 
                utilities for equipment or services for interconnection 
                that are additional to those necessary to achieve the 
                objectives of this paragraph.
                    ``(F) Exemptions.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of this section, any State regulatory 
                authority or electric utility that adopted standards 
                consistent with this paragraph before the enactment of 
                this paragraph shall not be required to take any 
                additional action under this paragraph. Such an 
                exemption shall be effective upon the issuance by the 
                State regulatory authority (or the electric utility, in 
                the case of a nonregulated electric utility) within 120 
                days after the date of enactment of this paragraph of a 
                public notice demonstrating that such interconnection 
                standards have been adopted.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 113(a) of the Public Utility 
Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2623(a)) is amended by adding 
the following at the end thereof: ``For the purpose of applying this 
subsection to the standard under paragraph (6) of subsection (b), the 
date of the enactment of such paragraph (6) shall be substituted for 
the date of the enactment of this Act.''.

                    TITLE IV--BIOENERGY PARTNERSHIP

SEC. 401. NATIONAL BIOENERGY PARTNERSHIP.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish a National 
Bioenergy Partnership to provide coordination among programs of State 
governments, the Federal Government, and the private sector that 
support the institutional and physical infrastructure necessary to 
promote the deployment of sustainable biomass fuels and bioenergy 
technologies for the United States.
    (b) Program.--The National Bioenergy Partnership shall consist of 
five regions, to be administered by the CONEG Policy Research Center, 
the Council of Great Lakes Governors, the Southern States Energy Board, 
the Western Governors Association, and the Pacific Regional Biomass 
Energy Partnership led by the Washington State University Energy 
Program.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out 
this section--
            (1) $20,000,000, to be allocated among the five regions 
        described in subsection (b) on the basis of the number of 
        States in each region, for distribution among the member States 
        of that region based on procedures developed by the member 
        States of the region; and
            (2) $5,000,000, to be allocated equally among the five 
        regions described in subsection (b) for regionwide activities, 
        including technical assistance and regional studies and 
        coordination.

  TITLE V--REDUCTION OF BLACK CARBON EMISSIONS TO PRESERVE THE ARCTIC

SEC. 501. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Black carbon is a largely unregulated greenhouse 
        particulate pollutant that contributes significantly to overall 
        greenhouse pollution by attracting the sun's heat and has a 
        particularly detrimental effect when it falls onto the Arctic 
        and other ice because it increases the absorption of solar 
        radiation, reducing the albedo effect, and leads to faster ice 
        heating and melting. The atmospheric residence of black carbon 
        is less than 2 weeks, making this pollutant a candidate for 
        immediate greenhouse-effect amelioration.
            (2) Through various clean air programs, the United States 
        has reduced much of its black carbon pollution, though some 
        industries (e.g., commercial shipping and certain other diesel-
        engine powered machines) could improve and help spur 
        technological innovation in other countries where major black 
        carbon pollution still occurs through industrial activities, 
        agriculture and forestry practices, and residential cooking 
        with dirty fuels.
            (3) The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the 
        House of Representatives received testimony establishing that 
        black carbon is a serious threat to health and that reductions 
        in black carbon will produce immediate health improvements.
            (4) Black carbon is not explicitly regulated by the United 
        Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, other 
        international instruments, or by present United States Federal 
        law.
            (5) The United States foreign policies and assistance 
        programs, as well as directions to multilateral lending 
        organizations such as the World Bank, possess the potential to 
        significantly reduce black carbon pollution globally.
            (6) Taking immediate cost-effective and technologically 
        feasible action to protect the Arctic, especially by 
        significantly reducing black carbon pollution, will protect an 
        ecosystem under imminent threat due to global warming and will 
        establish a strong foundation for further United States 
        leadership in combating global warming.

SEC. 502. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this title are--
            (1) to immediately identify ways to reduce black carbon 
        emissions and pollution, both in the United States and world-
        wide at low cost, to stem and reverse the melting of Arctic Sea 
        ice, as well as contribute to reduction of overall global 
        warming; and
            (2) to establish the United States as a leader in 
        protecting the Arctic environment.

SEC. 503. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this title:
            (1) The term ``Administrator'' means the head of the 
        Environmental Protection Agency, or that person's designee.
            (2) The term ``black carbon'' means the soot-based 
        absorbing component of carbonaceous aerosols, known to attract 
        the sun's rays and increase global warming, and includes black 
        carbon and organic carbon complexes that induce net global 
        warming.
            (3) The term ``person'' means any individual, corporation, 
        partnership, trust, association, or any other private entity, 
        or any officer, employee, agent, department, or instrumentality 
        of the Federal Government or of any State, municipality, or 
        political subdivision of a State, or of any foreign government, 
        any State, municipality, or political subdivision of a State, 
        or any other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the United 
        States.
            (4) The term ``soot'' means the carbonaceous aerosol 
        product of incomplete combustion, including both black carbon 
        and organic carbon.
            (5) The term ``technologically feasible'' means practices 
        and technology that have been experimentally demonstrated to 
        reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The term includes promising 
        new technology that has not yet been implemented by any person.

SEC. 504. BLACK CARBON ABATEMENT STUDY.

    (a) Study.--The Administrator shall conduct a study of black carbon 
emissions in consultation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
Agency for International Development, the Department of the Interior, 
and other agencies. The study shall include each of the following:
            (1) An identification of--
                    (A) the latest scientific data relevant to the 
                climate-related impacts of black carbon emissions from 
                diesel engines and other sources;
                    (B) the major sources of black carbon emissions in 
                the United States and worldwide, and an estimate of 
                black carbon emissions from those sources;
                    (C) the diesel and other direct emission control 
                technologies, operations, or strategies to remove or 
                reduce emissions of black carbon, including estimates 
                of the costs and effectiveness of the measures;
                    (D) the entire lifecycle and net climate impacts of 
                installation of diesel particulate filters on existing 
                heavy-duty diesel engines; and
                    (E) control technologies, operations, or strategies 
                for black carbon emissions from residential cookstoves, 
                forest burning, and other agriculture-based burning, 
                including estimates of the costs and effectiveness of 
                the measures.
            (2) Recommendations of the Administrator regarding--
                    (A) areas of focus for additional research for 
                technologies, operations, and strategies with the 
                highest potential to reduce emissions of black carbon; 
                and
                    (B) actions the Federal Government could carry out 
                to encourage or require additional black carbon 
                emission reductions.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report 
describing the results of the study.

SEC. 505. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 to carry out 
this title.
                                 <all>