1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Fulfilling U.S. Energy
Leadership Act
or the FUEL Act
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—Traditional Energy Production
Subtitle A—Outer Continental Shelf
Sec. 101. Implementation of inventory of Outer Continental
Shelf resources.
Sec. 102. Moratorium on oil and gas leasing in certain areas of
Gulf of Mexico.
Sec. 103. 2012–2017 5-year oil and gas leasing program deemed
final.
Sec. 104. Disposition of royalties.
Sec. 105. Institute for Ocean Energy Safety.
Subtitle B—Onshore oil and gas production
Sec. 111. Establishment of Federal Onshore Energy Development
Task Force.
Sec. 112. Hydraulic fracturing sense of Congress.
Title II—Renewable and Alternative Energy
Subtitle A—Research and Development
Sec. 201. Next Generation Energy and Efficiency
Fund.
Subtitle B—Public Land Renewable Energy Deployment
Sec. 211. Renewable energy Federal permit
coordination.
Sec. 212. Extension of funding for implementation of Geothermal
Steam Act of 1970.
Sec. 213. Programmatic environmental impact statements and land
use planning for development of renewable energy on public lands and National
Forest System lands.
Sec. 214. National Academy of Sciences study and report of
siting, development, and management of renewable energy on public lands and
National Forest System lands.
Sec. 215. Renewable energy development on brownfield
sites.
Sec. 216. Development of solar and wind energy on public
land.
Subtitle C—Unconventional Fuels
Sec. 221. Transparency for delayed loan guarantee
applications.
Sec. 222. Algae-based fuel incentives.
Sec. 223. Loan guarantee eligible projects.
Title III—Nuclear Energy
Sec. 301. Objectives.
Sec. 302. Funding.
Sec. 303. Program objectives study.
Sec. 304. Nuclear energy research and development
programs.
Sec. 305. Small modular reactor program.
Sec. 306. Conventional improvements to nuclear power
plants.
Sec. 307. Fuel cycle research and development.
Sec. 308. Nuclear energy enabling technologies
program.
Sec. 309. Emergency risk assessment and preparedness
report.
Sec. 310. Next generation nuclear plant.
Sec. 311. Technical standards collaboration.
Sec. 312. Evaluation of long-term operating needs.
Sec. 313. Available facilities database.
Sec. 314. Nuclear waste disposal.
Title IV—Energy Transmission Barriers and
Opportunities
Sec. 401. Siting of interstate electric transmission
facilities.
<enum>I</enum><header>Traditional Energy
Production</header>
<subtitle id="H784C72D6D32C4223A6016F577098F19B"><enum>A</enum><header>Outer Continental
Shelf</header>
<section id="HE7FD8F7B29114E298E003A9940980A3C"><enum>101.</enum><header>Implementation
of inventory of Outer Continental Shelf resources</header>
<subsection id="H89A41A976037443480D5351F43DB666C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 357 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
15912) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H08839906176D499AB964C02513C87BD0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2B0798C6115243C8BD52379A7B14CF5F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking the
first sentence of the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the
following: <quote>The Secretary shall conduct a seismic inventory of oil and
natural gas, and prepare a summary (the latter prepared with the assistance of,
and based on information provided by, the heads of appropriate Federal
agencies) of the information obtained under paragraph (3), for the waters of
the United States Outer Continental Shelf (referred to in this section as the
<quote>OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF</quote>) in the Atlantic Region, the Eastern
Gulf of Mexico, and the Alaska Region.</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEFF53B11F12846E4862F39F90CC2007A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph
(2)—</text>
<clause id="HD1235A102A9A4452A99F73B6676FC2AC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>3–D</quote> and inserting <quote>2–D and 3–D</quote>;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H2C977B9216894AF2AE0A592E1D8F9F3C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by
adding <quote>and</quote> at the end; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H60051EA1FC9B416EAEA930F7A5F94C1D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking
paragraphs (3) through (5) and inserting in the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H7231EB112D244686A7452E33AC9408AF" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HEC463A2FFBDA4A5596B38AC683F8E404"><enum>(3)</enum><text>use existing
inventories and mapping of marine resources undertaken by the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and with the assistance of and
based on information provided by the Department of Defense and other Federal
and State agencies possessing relevant data, and use any available data
regarding alternative energy potential, navigation uses, fisheries, aquiculture
uses, recreational uses, habitat, conservation, and military
uses.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H92C731448E8246BF97C96BDFDB5DB726"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
subsection (b) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HEC433FADCA17415B90018495A61DB65A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H1B1E82BDA3ED444EB695AC4CCD0A4D7B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text>The
Secretary shall carry out the inventory and analysis under subsection (a) in 3
phases, with priority given to all or part of applicable planning areas of the
Outer Continental Shelf—</text>
<paragraph id="H9961C8CCE0FF44E282D2AC3CBB4E0BFD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>estimated to have
the greatest potential for energy development in barrel of oil equivalent;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDC1C80C126324462A557BE720A1A37A7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>outside of any
leased area or area scheduled for leasing prior to calendar year 2011 under any
outer Continental Shelf 5-year leasing program or amendment to the program
under section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1344).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H42AFB2B3969A41BEA920D95C976F64F5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="HE604FC41AAA445C9B8FD25D563299B45"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the
House of Representatives a report that provides a plan for executing the
seismic inventories required under this section, including an estimate of the
costs to complete the seismic inventory by region and environmental and
permitting activities to facilitate expeditious completion.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H113441702B88454F9C4A0DA793D889D4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>First
phase</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this
paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the
results of the first phase of the inventory and analysis under subsection
(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB6A49CFCBE464A59AE30E46B6035F050"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Subsequent
phases</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date on which the report
is submitted under paragraph (2) and 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report describing the results of the second and third
phases, respectively, of the inventory and analysis under subsection
(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9AC395C621FB4EC9B329D41D72DC7430"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Public
availability</header><text>A report submitted under paragraph (2) or (3) shall
be—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4CF7CA28085B4DADA949AD5E6B71EB30"><enum>(A)</enum><text>made publicly
available; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFEB6DAB89513451597EDC26265104564"><enum>(B)</enum><text>updated not less
frequently than once every 5
years.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4DD94D941E6343BF9ACA0D78A6BC9200"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Relationship to
5-Year program</header><text>The requirement that the Secretary of the Interior
carry out the inventory required by the amendment made by subsection (a) shall
not be considered to require, authorize, or provide a basis or justification
for delay by the Secretary of the Interior or any other agency of the issuance
of any outer Continental Shelf leasing program or amendment to the program
under section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344), or
any lease sale pursuant to that section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC81FCFE27BC94BEB8ADBE6C3286A4FE5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Permits</header><text>Nothing
in this section or an amendment made by this section precludes the issuance by
the Secretary of the Interior of a permit to conduct geological and geophysical
exploration of the outer Continental Shelf in accordance with the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) and other applicable
law.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7685F1077F604259BACAE736B0D7AA27"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>Section
999H(d) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16378(d)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H609689076FB343CA9AF13AD951063DA0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
paragraph (1) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H417FCAD37C794991A1483D9A1A9886E4" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H5A5855303833446C96FD6ECE8051FFE8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>35 percent shall
be used for activities under section 999A(b)(1), except that for each of fiscal
years 2012 through 2017 the amount made available under this paragraph shall be
used to carry out section 357 (for the completion of necessary environmental
analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), with a priority given to completion of programmatic environmental impact
statements necessary to carry out the seismic inventory or portions of the
inventory required by section 357, and the use of seismic technology to obtain
accurate resource estimates).</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1284CBE110594D778A1479F5EF6406AB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph
(4)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H89958B3F8A08409FB07C8F3D46A75FC1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B),</quote> before
<quote>25</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6B89E173F5B342CD89A46D11CD06CF0E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H51ABCA58B02C4BE9AA9FF4AEF2EEC7E1" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H5199134366C64CBFB26A17F558EC377A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017—</text>
<clause id="HE391F1B011A6487CB2CA60EA69188E79"><enum>(i)</enum><text>15
percent shall be used for the purposes described in subparagraph (A);
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H90062F43404F46579AEF4E2F8B0E8B7D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>10 percent shall
be used for the activities described in paragraph
(1).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3C8C7DC49082473F8F4550BB0FE4CBAE"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section, to be available until expended without fiscal year
limitation—</text>
<paragraph id="H51893AE592F549CD8D084DF836D6A0D3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$100,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB5293836850449B7AE9249C8174C8775"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$50,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="HA9F97019FF7E4A04AB4CA02CAA374C29"><enum>102.</enum><header>Moratorium on
oil and gas leasing in certain areas of Gulf of Mexico</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 104 of division C of the Tax Relief
and Health Care Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–432; 120 Stat. 3003) is
repealed.</text>
</section><section commented="no" id="HB653BB20A8774C1095046B909CE8AEFA"><enum>103.</enum><header>2012–2017
5-year oil and gas leasing program deemed final</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The 2012–2017 5-year oil and gas leasing
program issued by the Secretary of the Interior on March 31, 2010, is deemed to
be final and in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and all other Federal laws.</text>
</section><section id="HE0B58E4CD9854703B00846484EDD3ECD"><enum>104.</enum><header>Disposition of
royalties</header>
<subsection id="H3150C2A52D5842DDA5DBD5822F8409A2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other law, of the amounts received by
the United States as bonuses, rents, and royalties under oil and gas leases for
areas on the Outer Continental Shelf—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HCC666F5FAE364DDC8D8F0BC4E8B561D4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">25 percent shall be paid to States that are
affected States (as that term is defined in section 2 of the Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331)) with respect to the lease tracts under the
leases;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H82A651E69D534137ACB722741975D9D5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">75 percent shall retained by the Federal
Government, of which—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HF8C77AA1EED046719CBD496D41993157"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the amount described in subsection (b)
shall be deposited each fiscal year in the Next Generation Energy and
Efficiency Fund established by title II;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEF0FB2A14C5942C0A9D7001BDFB55783"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">10 percent shall be available to provide
financial assistance to States in accordance with section 6 of the Land and
Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l–8), which shall be
considered income to the Land and Water Conservation Fund for purposes of
section 2 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 460l–5); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H42ACB2334F6348308AABA87D3524518A"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the remainder shall be deposited into the
general fund.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC55105B37D134BC98ECF67928077AFE0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amount To be
deposited into Fund</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
amount referred to in subsection (a)(2)(A) is 50 percent of the amount of
bonuses, rents, and royalties received by the United States each fiscal year
under oil and gas leases for areas on the Outer Continental Shelf awarded after
the date of the enactment of this Act, except that the total amount deposited
under subsection (a)(2)(A) shall not exceed $40,000,000,000.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HA3608EDBD95F4D548F4163A3A189B17C"><enum>105.</enum><header>Institute for
Ocean Energy Safety</header>
<subsection id="H8C298569A18545E89E2D6BCF79D8D9CA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>There is established an Institute for Ocean Energy Safety
that shall exercise independent statutory authority over technical and
operational safety in all phases of Outer Continental Shelf energy resource
development projects, including the planning, designing, constructing,
operating, and decommissioning of facilities and projects, and shall have
overall responsibility for fostering safe and environmentally sound offshore
energy operations. The Institute shall oversee all non-economic aspects of the
operations and structures involved in drilling and production of oil and gas,
pipelines, and wind towers, wave, tidal, and other renewable technologies
located in the Federal offshore zone. The Institute shall also have the lead
coordination role in relation to other regulators with independent authority
over offshore oil and gas activities, including the Environmental Protection
Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Coast
Guard.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEBD0A61022924BC6AEDAB9B6B33B489F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Key
responsibilities</header><text>Key responsibilities of the Institute include
the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H309A9AA9947C446481CF11EE7A6946BD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Inspecting all
offshore operations by expert teams through scheduled and unannounced
inspections.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8F09AE0F1EFA428ABFBC1B6432BA97A6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Auditing or
otherwise requiring certification of operator health, safety, and environmental
management systems.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA5AE1375D9D34179B540B33D11C7BA46"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Evaluating
eligibility for lessees based on safety qualifications.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7346C92BE3A54625B90629CCFF553E1C"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Reviewing and
approving the safety and feasibility of any environmental mitigation activities
prescribed by National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 documents and other
environmental consultations, authorization, or permits in addition to enforcing
such requirements over the duration of an operation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1BCB8D6CC9574B51921F91C8E9C6A103"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Collecting and
analyzing leading and lagging indicators from all active parties for full risk
evaluation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H710CF288362647C2B268ADCA6DC8F65D"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Promulgating all
structural integrity, process, and workplace safety rules and regulations in
order to create a foundation of prescriptive regulations to supplement
performance-based (<quote>safety case</quote>) regulations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9AB4116E7C894BFEAC1080AD8BB66D48"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Providing
technical review and comment on the five-year leasing program and individual
lease sales.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB20862B583BE4A33A95B4A2FD9EB9C28"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Providing
technical review of spill response and containment plans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB67DCE1E8B2D4EECAD8553A95E3453F6"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Reviewing and
approving all spill response and containment plans and advising the new safety
authority on environmental considerations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6124CB8E402644C283B65D769D3D5DF1"><enum>(10)</enum><text>Investigating all
accidents and other significant events that could have potentially turned
catastrophic.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCA28771CE14E4EFA9D77245B698A2138"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Director</header><text>The
Institute shall be headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by the
President, by and with the consent of the Senate, from among individuals with
relevant engineering or technical background. The term as Director shall be 5
years.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA6D2BC67C1BB414A904694CD97840FA0"><enum>(d)</enum><header>engineering and
technical staff and inspectors</header><text>The Director may establish
classifications and salary scales for engineering and technical staff and
inspectors of the Institute that are substantially similar to those of the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H9240E978082F496DA6BDF659B842FF83"><enum>(e)</enum><header>consultation and
collaboration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Institute,
in executing its responsibilities, shall consult and collaborate with other
government agencies, including in particular the Department of Energy and the
Coast Guard, and with industry, academia, and scientific experts as
appropriate.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="HE7FB84872F4D442594B3AAAFA53A6CB5"><enum>B</enum><header>Onshore oil and
gas production</header>
<section id="HC6C484FE04F9495FAA3882A1D20177C9"><enum>111.</enum><header>Establishment
of Federal Onshore Energy Development Task Force</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H7312B218CEE7424EA930069934C4147C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established a Federal Onshore
Energy Development Task Force to coordinate permitting related to energy
development on public lands.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H1AC511B181C244C1972528DA7ED6464A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Membership</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Task Force shall consist of the heads
of the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, the Environmental
Protection Agency, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the heads
of regional offices of those agencies that are determined to be relevant by the
heads of those agencies.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H48B59C066A46488789FF92234C71934C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Plan</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H8E89608E695847C3B16EFDC7320CE78C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Task Force
shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H354D20D8FD1D4B51967DFD825AD1DE0C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">within 6 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, issue a draft plan for streamlining oil and gas leasing and
permitting on Federal lands, including oil shale and tar sands leasing and
permitting;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H65F23084479F4FB5960E58CED9C3E09E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide a 60-day
period for submission of comments on the plan by the public; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2729FB1E416B41689D3E914BBF755A99"><enum>(C)</enum><text>within 4 months
after the end of such comment period, issue a final plan for such
streamlining.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H78A3A3ED1E44445ABD0BBD652AB5D72F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>consultation</header><text>In
drafting the plan the Task Force shall consult with other agencies involved in
Federal permitting process.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H044CCD5C77724044A37E499CCDB40D8C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirements for
drafting</header><text>In drafting the plan the Task Force shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HE917DDD3F5554AE4B63A03066FD6D368"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluate the effectiveness of current
statutory permitting timelines, including a discussion of how often those
timelines are exceeded and the factors that lead to delays in issuing permits
to drill;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H98EA9D49CEB74509987464ED70FCBD1D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consider ways to improve and better
facilitate coordination and collaboration among Federal agencies throughout the
permitting process;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HB3B2C436546E43DAAA55510CB4160836"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">compare the Bureau of Land Management
permitting process with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permitting
process, and evaluate whether a different process would be more efficient for
fostering onshore oil and gas development;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H6D49E1968927475CA939F35A988CBCAB"><enum>(D)</enum><text>evaluate whether
industry actors with positive safety and environmental records should be put
allowed an expedited permit approval process;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HAAD0E0649EDD440089FF205F757C9D79"><enum>(E)</enum><text>include oil shale
and tar sands permitting issues in plan; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HB3CF63C6E3D0451098BB81F24BA0A910"><enum>(F)</enum><text>provide specific
recommendations for legislative action to implement a streamlined leasing
plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H4424EC9368EB4302A4E7B1008D63C358"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Implementation
and reports</header><text>The Task Force shall oversee implementation of plan
and submit annual reports to Congress on such implementation.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H37FD1D19EEA64BAFBCB0AB249BF2BB03"><enum>112.</enum><header>Hydraulic
fracturing sense of Congress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HE189B1981A9D4C8D9E76F18F0456EAA3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Safe Drinking
Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) was not intended to regulate natural gas and
oil well construction and stimulation;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HC57850CCCD6D45C6BE48FFD96AA9D513"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">States, reflecting their unique needs, have
effectively regulated natural gas and oil well construction and stimulation;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H8A186254F7A54F91911C2B1305D2DCD8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>industry should be
encouraged to voluntarily disclose chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing
process and this information should be made available to the public.</text>
</paragraph></section></subtitle><enum>II</enum><header>Renewable and
Alternative Energy</header>
<subtitle id="HE3F29785FB1A4562BB9D30FB23F2B5AA"><enum>A</enum><header>Research and
Development</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE81E5222BA6646A7894B1C3D1693AB62" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Next Generation
Energy and Efficiency Fund</header>
<subsection id="HBFE14C1593084B4781100AFDF8B4DFEF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There
is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States the <quote>Next
Generation Energy and Efficiency Fund</quote> (in this section referred to as
<quote>the Fund</quote>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H52C3A110A55948C19C837BE1122C6E95"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>The
Secretary of Energy shall be responsible for administering the Fund for the
purpose of carrying out this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H56A4C69DCB05432CA59993F9F77D90CF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
Fund shall consist of amounts deposited into the Fund under section
104(a)(2)(A). Such deposits shall cease after $40,000,000,000 has been
deposited, or 10 years of deposits have been made, whichever occurs
first.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H33D55931A9A14C559AC63624353D6EBC"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Fund shall be used for the purpose of
research and development of technologies that will significantly decrease
America’s reliance on traditional fossil fuels and increase energy
efficiencies, including wind energy, solar energy, marine and hydrokinetic
energy, geothermal energy, hydrogen energy, vehicle energy efficiency and
environmental performance, industrial processes energy efficiencies, building
and lighting energy efficiencies, smart grid technology, and energy storage
systems to support electric drive vehicles.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD38C3DA2251A4909BBDB8D6B1FECE9F7"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Identification
of programs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall
identify programs of the Department of Energy described in subsection (d) for
funding from the Fund, including the Advanced Research Projects
Agency-Energy.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HDB5ED7257ED24846B01B2541A92FFCF6"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Availability of
Fund</header><text>After the Secretary of Energy has completed the
identification of programs under subsection (e), amounts in the Fund shall be
available, without further appropriation, for carrying out such
programs.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="HA8D510B5F8AF4863A0444258CFFE0D89"><enum>B</enum><header>Public Land
Renewable Energy Deployment</header>
<section id="H41B18844ECDD44D28A0DF1622DED7C1B"><enum>211.</enum><header>Renewable
energy Federal permit coordination</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 365 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(42 U.S.C. 15924) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H9D4C7940687944C888FAF7463AABC9E5" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H8BAD850EDB2E4B5EA4C58C1C67549BC9"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Pilot project
offices To improve Federal permit coordination for renewable energy</header>
<paragraph id="H8C10837672AF4175AF8E42510ECEDFC9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of
renewable energy</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>renewable
energy</term> means energy derived from a wind, solar, or geothermal
source.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBFB7984134E84D5CB523464E1C52F9BB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Field
offices</header><text>As part of the Pilot Project, the Secretary shall
designate 1 field office of the Bureau of Land Management in each of the
following States to serve as Renewable Energy Permit Coordination Offices for
coordination of Federal permits for renewable energy projects and transmission
involving Federal land facilitating the development of renewable energy:</text>
<subparagraph id="H559BE9C5465D4519B65CEC3F8D4065D4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Alaska.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H589FC6BE67F84CAB96C2372F08A243C2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Arizona.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF3778E9C445B4AAE82A4E93E17DFA492"><enum>(C)</enum><text>California.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB6B434A277AB47E792DD3A8B980A27EA"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Colorado.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF9B32122EEE2427B8914997549A0E419"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Idaho.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA95528DEFAC6414B9AE1B02B80904AB4"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Oregon.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCB5F15FEA42F4F4882FCC93AAA3F1202"><enum>(G)</enum><text>New Mexico.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2F623FBE475A4D85811E9CEB9C3BD28E"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Nevada.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H065C4C8C565D46EBAD8DF7DF095A128B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Montana.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC2CD041BBF8C4E808AF74096869C1392"><enum>(J)</enum><text>Utah.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H596C43DCF4244189A426981C89B8A6E5"><enum>(K)</enum><text>Washington.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEAC2DBAE9421473DBE5BA2B2F7B5AF3F"><enum>(L)</enum><text>Wyoming.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD39B67D7A35C45BF8710A848087A8F08"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Memorandum of
understanding</header>
<subparagraph id="HE7C525256A354065A5365ADA43D5A4AF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this subsection, the Secretary shall enter into an amended memorandum of
understanding under subsection (b) to provide for the inclusion of the
additional Renewable Energy Pilot Project Offices in the Pilot Project.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H936623ED403F461EA40E9F59201A40E8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Signature of
secretary</header><text>The Secretary shall be a signatory of the amended
memorandum of understanding.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE102D7E9242D4E6BA9128851E404A719"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Signatures by
governors</header><text>The Secretary shall request that the Governors of each
of the States described in paragraph (2) be signatories to the amended
memorandum of understanding.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEDF27B3928D745F29103FF8F32C16FA7"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Designation of
qualified staff</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of the
signing of the amended memorandum of understanding, all Federal signatory
parties shall, if appropriate, assign to each Renewable Energy Pilot Project
Office designated under paragraph (2) an employee described in subsection (c)
to carry out duties described in that subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC749AEFC509A4AA1818BACC94B7F664C"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Additional
personnel</header><text>The Secretary shall assign to each Renewable Energy
Pilot Project Office additional personnel under subsection (f).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCEC7493AD77144309F50D0CDAB750C63"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Transfer of
funds</header><text>To coordinate and process renewable energy authorizations
on Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Pilot Project Office designated
under paragraph (2), the Secretary may authorize the expenditure or transfer of
such funds as are necessary to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9B6133F8BE464340866566B8F65D43EE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any Federal agency
described in subsection (h); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H62DB9A38BE1B49FFB8A98781D0C30AF5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any State
described in paragraph (2).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFE75578A6C744F838D1EA066CB8CCE32"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Funding</header>
<subparagraph id="HB298DA875DAF408E911A0578564DB542"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Federal share of any royalties, fees, rentals, bonus
bids, or other payments from wind or solar development on land administered by
the Secretary shall be deposited in a special fund in the Treasury to be known
as the <quote>BLM Wind and Solar Energy Permit Processing Improvement
Fund</quote> (referred to in this subsection as <quote>Fund</quote>).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H23DF64D7567640EA9486F8C993FF8C89"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated from the
Fund or, to the extent amounts are not available in the Fund, from the Treasury
for the costs of administering program operations for wind and solar
development under the Public Land Renewable Energy Deployment and Adjustment
Act of 2009 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1701 et seq.) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2022, to remain
available without fiscal year limitation until
expended.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HA2CA8F86E6364A3FADCCEDAB4765C95A"><enum>212.</enum><header>Extension of
funding for implementation of Geothermal Steam Act of 1970</header>
<subsection id="H9AFC19A7056A4EE2B4220ED55815204F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 234(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 15873(a)) is amended by striking <quote>in the first 5 fiscal years
beginning after the date of enactment of this Act</quote> and inserting
<quote>for each fiscal year through fiscal year 2022</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB860251999C9469FA368CC788F168315"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>Section
234(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15873(b)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HA46629E28D5F4CC2816588D9A9CE04E0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Amounts</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HE6599E184A8842958D692C18414D33D9" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HD7DE0D04B409442DBE567829E9EE4DD3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Amounts</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBE6D3AE895DD4B1F83FB281E5001C4CD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H4F136BD8160E4F78A5DC3A7B56527D02" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H28B29B54271D4564BBEE86FA53B78226"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>Effective
for fiscal year 2013 and each fiscal year thereafter, amounts deposited under
subsection (a) shall be available to the Secretary of the Interior for
expenditure, subject to appropriation and without fiscal year limitation, to
implement the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) and this
Act.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HBA962EB39066414BA12C3EEB3BCA6262"><enum>213.</enum><header>Programmatic
environmental impact statements and land use planning for development of
renewable energy on public lands and National Forest System lands</header>
<subsection id="HA5CDD3EBAC214887A5CDBDEE72FC693F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Public
lands</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Bureau of Land Management, shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H1BDFA0CBE1954BDCB036D219FFC96FC6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>complete a
programmatic environmental impact statement in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) to analyze the
potential impacts of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7575E7CF2B1C4E80A1D4E16B5BA5B8EB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a program to
develop solar, wind, and geothermal energy on public lands (as defined in
section 103(e) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1702(e))); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26CA9D5A88FC4C03943D0FCDC8100590"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any amendments to land use plans for public
lands necessary to facilitate the program; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H65989A2507194DBDBF295C2525FDF318"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">amend land use plans under section 202 of
such Act (43 U.S.C. 1712) as necessary to provide for the development of solar,
wind, and geothermal energy on public lands in areas considered appropriate by
the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H385188296AE0415787EF7775D22943A6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>National Forest
System lands</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than
one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture,
acting through the Forest Service, shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H525FFA1A522B4ECD984D1DD6EC9E7D18"><enum>(1)</enum><text>complete a
programmatic environmental impact statement in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) to analyze the
potential impacts of—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCE7F3C32FC4C4AB3995F4F8325F5304B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a program to develop solar, wind, and
geothermal energy on National Forest System lands (as defined in section 11(a)
of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C.
1609(a))); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4AE9806373DE4EB08003F6DF083205DC"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any necessary amendments to land and
resource management plans for National Forest System lands necessary to
facilitate the program; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB915DD9471A94988887AA4DDC37645D8"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">amend land and resource management plans
under section 6 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 1604) as necessary to provide for the
development of solar, wind, and geothermal energy on National Forest System
lands in areas considered appropriate by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HAC9E1F0607354C028837B22FE1CC0951"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effect on
processing applications</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
requirement for completion of programmatic environmental impact statements
under this section shall not result in any delay in processing applications for
solar, wind, and geothermal energy development on public lands or National
Forest System lands.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H3C13969432F142A0B99CFC490C9F49FB"><enum>214.</enum><header>National
Academy of Sciences study and report of siting, development, and management of
renewable energy on public lands and National Forest System lands</header>
<subsection id="H6F79AE7123994A7CA94B25AF1EBCB805"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study
required</header>
<paragraph id="H2737D216212C4E38BF13AEFA9C83087D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of
Agriculture, shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of
Sciences under which the Academy shall conduct a study on the siting,
development, and management of projects for the production of wind, solar, and
geothermal energy on—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0AC4556B5E7F46A3BC2954D99A02499A"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">public lands (as defined in section 103(e)
of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702(e))) that
are available for energy development; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFB23A4258BF24A9F811D596835844632"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">National Forest System lands (as defined in
section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of
1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a))) that are available for energy development.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0CE92313CB704E6C9A181977733B253B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Matters to be
addressed</header><text>The study shall address—</text>
<subparagraph id="H76EA9C74C8184B03A16F867CFC3F8189"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the effectiveness
of—</text>
<clause id="HFE73D1AFE49C4630B5DD360FB501FABD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>laws
(including regulations) and policies in effect on the date of enactment of this
Act in—</text>
<subclause id="H46925350FF814374B42CE689D7F2C355"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">facilitating the development of wind,
solar, and geothermal energy projects on the land; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H50C763E6014E41A9A88FEED50947AAA2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>ensuring the
public receives a fair return for the use of the land;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HAB2D4A275F3E411EA3C2D117CAB0B1EF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">policies designed to discourage speculation
in the development of wind, solar, and geothermal energy projects on the
land;</text>
</clause><clause id="HD62C3BDA6D8B4D27A423775BABBA4758"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the land use planning process in siting
wind, solar, and geothermal energy facilities;</text>
</clause><clause id="HE7AA508FE6A945DB94BE7290949F6D04"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">mitigation planning for wind, solar, and
geothermal energy projects on the land, particularly with respect to fish and
wildlife and water resources;</text>
</clause><clause id="H9ACD9B00BC6A414DA51201D7B9F7FC32"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">best management practices developed by the
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture for wind, solar, and
geothermal energy projects; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H020C5AA6F4A5442D962444B3A9848D73"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">adaptive management of the impacts
associated with wind, solar, and geothermal energy projects on the land;
and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4E718E4EF2DD4A058AE80335E5B74E1C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the advantages and
disadvantages of using—</text>
<clause id="HA8EC6EE9EF8445CCB400A029F1813DE2"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">rights-of-way as a means of authorizing the
use of the land for wind, solar, and geothermal energy development; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HF0EDBFB6C09C410982EF703F0D3134E3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a competitive or noncompetitive leasing
system as a means of authorizing the use of the land for wind, solar, and
geothermal energy development.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H30DBB10C3ADB45CB8D3BC74B19C18C1D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>The
study shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H27EBE71F61CA4547B0D6C724A395E473"><enum>(1)</enum><text>analyze the
matters described in subsection (a)(2); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H677DBB2CF5CA43D0AFFE6043D14BB0A4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>make
recommendations as to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9A262F5108024F9A99FC60FA4EABD0D5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether a competitive or noncompetitive
leasing system would be a more effective means than the system in effect on the
date of enactment of this Act to authorize the use of the Federal land
described in subsection (a)(1) to meet the goals of facilitating the
development of wind, solar, and geothermal energy projects while achieving a
fair return to the public;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE001955F4E8E4CEFBE37DF818BAF7F20"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the most effective system to authorize the
use of the land to meet the goals of facilitating the development of wind,
solar, and geothermal energy projects while achieving a fair return to the
public; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5DE3A423660F41F781D4D07D78C3CC5B"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">changes, if any, to Federal law (including
regulations) or policy necessary to address more effectively the siting,
development, and management of wind, solar, and geothermal energy projects on
the land.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE814EA749F3141D082A0B8FE0E5B1FF1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Completion of
study</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the National Academy of Sciences shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H6E214648E60D4B7BBF4F43127E8DC99E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>submit to the
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture the findings and
recommendations of the study required under subsections (a) and (b); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H99EAC7BB2C724E5EBE478F02ABF40B5C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>make the results
of the study available to the public.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4C28FE4C26B7418BB507ABC1FA1209B9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report to
Congress</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of receipt of the
findings and recommendations of the study under subsection (c)(1), the
Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture,
shall submit to Congress a report on—</text>
<paragraph id="H399C8EE6CDBC43998453F37CA7493D08"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the findings and
recommendations of the study;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCD06E45255B648C09C52F1B9956526E9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the agreement or
disagreement of the Secretaries with respect to each of the findings and
recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC90F9540C0AE450D958C20B062542C74"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the administrative
actions to be taken by each of the Secretaries in response to the findings and
recommendations; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H69C88D60A6664A30ABF26E16838A67F3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any recommended
changes in law.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H89CCCB712DCE426DA2BE2B48916229F4"><enum>215.</enum><header>Renewable
energy development on brownfield sites</header>
<subsection id="HCB58BAC63ADE4FF298EE387A8FC1F70D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph id="HDC36A22041624388B8AD5E0A2A2495F3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Administrator</header><text>The
term <term>Administrator</term> means the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3E7ECBCC48574442A2B323BF2EF9F983"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Brownfield
site</header><text>The term <term>brownfield site</term> has the meaning given
such term in section 101(39) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601(39)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H12345635AD594506B1F7A534DF41549B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Renewable
energy</header><text>The term <term>renewable energy</term> means energy
generated from a renewable energy resource, including solar, wind, and
geothermal energy, and biomass.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD9DB537ACE334DE0A5376DABF902DD2C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The
term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Energy.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEEEA7E0AA31948E8A5A7517069929D5E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Department of
Energy and Environmental Protection Agency efforts</header><text>The Secretary,
in conjunction with the Administrator, shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HC18E23EFB6F44B798A3DA2760CA8EC90"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in partnership
with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, identify opportunities to
prioritize renewable energy development on brownfield sites;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA482BC7F48A54F54B1871D9911EE71D9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide to States,
units of local governments, project developers, and other stakeholders publicly
available resources identifying potential brownfield sites for renewable energy
development, with an emphasis on non-Federal land; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9C804B8F41DF46C8AE78E4F5610DC0A0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide technical
assistance to State and local officials, interested project developers, and
other stakeholders to expedite renewable energy production from brownfield
sites identified under this subsection, with an emphasis on non-Federal
land.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6F6050F1A3B94DA7B47C92C3939DC4F4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and
Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that includes—</text>
<paragraph id="H9242B9E985D5461A8A360ECAEB65A4F9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>proposals for
Federal policies, incentives, or other means of encouraging renewable energy
production on sites identified under subsection (b); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6CD3F67C18C643AAB15B963258A03563"><enum>(2)</enum><text>data on existing
and potential job creation from, environmental benefits of, and energy
production from renewable energy on brownfield sites.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF337706EBB3741CEB8E9528593C2BE01"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Stakeholder
forums</header><text>The Secretary, in conjunction with the Administrator,
shall conduct stakeholder forums in each region of the United States to assist
State and local officials, project developers, and other stakeholders with
renewable energy project siting on brownfield sites, with an emphasis on
non-Federal land.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H756488194F264D739F61AC182550621A"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Nothing
in this section affects existing Federal efforts to promote the reuse and
redevelopment of brownfield sites.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H882DE236B4BC4481AF266226B727629D"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as are necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2012
through 2016.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HEE8F3602E377478EA26BB08CF4F13CB1"><enum>216.</enum><header>Development of
solar and wind energy on public land</header>
<subsection id="H6F46D3F8C1D54D27AC8E3A7EADE146AF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph id="H1610573E2A6A45598AB4070361518DE8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered
land</header><text>The term <term>covered land</term> means land that
is—</text>
<subparagraph id="H677A0D5E53BC470EBAFD8639BA03F118"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H90635181FFF84A96B018E311BC71D6B0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>public land administered
by the Secretary; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HE7B15CE2007C49C3B391B77168450B6E" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>National Forest System land
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4E2CA4842E4F42FC8AFA87D55E265447"><enum>(B)</enum><text>designated for the
development of solar or wind energy under a land use plan established
under—</text>
<clause id="HF5986E91D90A44B89F50BAA906BAC1F4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.);
or</text>
</clause><clause id="HCBF879ABE9154978AA3843F982267CF5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0B4D2D5DDB2D4D608B7EE109EA20DB7E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Pilot
program</header><text>The term <term>pilot program</term> means the wind and
solar leasing pilot program established under subsection (b).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF319AC90BFCE45CAAD294D256605F7CF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Public
land</header><text>The term <term>public land</term> has the meaning given the
term <term>public lands</term> in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE4F8FFD03D16454ABE01A6735202250E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The
term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD6B8457AA05D4741BDFE77799B17D47C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Pilot
program</header>
<paragraph id="H511A4BBD618C42EEA6167844D736C1E9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall establish a wind and solar leasing pilot
program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3E38007B0405447498477D709079D429"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Selection of
sites</header>
<subparagraph id="HCC7A94D808C442FDA23092F80532E7A3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date the pilot program
is established under this subsection, the Secretary shall select 2 sites that
are appropriate for the development of a solar energy project, and 2 sites that
are appropriate for the development of a wind energy project, on covered land
as part of the pilot program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE5A5D383A74043159F4EDA7E7B73C7A3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Site
selection</header><text>In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
seek to select sites—</text>
<clause id="H04F903860FE341CA8D589DFF69487B0D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for
which there is likely to be a high level of industry interest; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H16CD09AEAAAF4CABBAF477D563F5144C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that are
representative of sites on which solar or wind energy is likely to be developed
on covered land.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE3326029EFFE44D6B101B2E2AFB83850"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Ineligible
sites</header><text>The Secretary shall not select as part of the pilot program
any site for which a right-of way for site testing or construction has been
issued.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBF987C1ABEE04EE69D87283F13D15B07"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Lease
sales</header>
<subparagraph id="HF6BFC0F6906D4970AB77B7A63CA084BC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (C)(ii), not later
than 180 days after the date sites are selected under paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall offer each site for competitive leasing to qualified bidders
under such terms and conditions as are required by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4B26B2930E0149DE95B20143BDC091E3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Bidding
systems</header><text>In offering the sites for lease, the Secretary—</text>
<clause id="HB212D47D05474276B3FC86D5A9AE8A82"><enum>(i)</enum><text>may
vary the bidding systems to be used at each lease sale; but</text>
</clause><clause id="HC07A191E32684F01859336BD58347CCD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall limit
bidding to 1 round in any lease sale.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0083C542D4F248F1BC7452A11541B727"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Lease
terms</header>
<clause id="H0C0171547F19443FBD016180966D229B"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>As part of the pilot program, the Secretary may vary the
length of the lease terms and establish such other lease terms and conditions
as the Secretary considers appropriate.</text>
</clause><clause id="H80D14762BFE44B298C328B2F304A1B2F"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Data
collection</header><text>As part of the pilot program, the Secretary
shall—</text>
<subclause id="HDC5FF75353554F60A3C6846B1261745A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>offer on a
noncompetitive basis on at least 1 site a short-term lease for data collection;
and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H04B9E467505F4F82849C02A2CD814DD9"><enum>(II)</enum><text>on the expiration
of the short-term lease, offer on a competitive basis a long-term lease, giving
credit toward the bonus bid to the holder of the short-term lease for any
qualified expenditures to collect data to develop the site during the
short-term lease.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDF69716A9A5846638AE9AE0A22ACE8CE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Compliance with
laws</header><text>In offering for lease the selected sites under paragraph
(3), the Secretary shall comply with all applicable environmental and other
laws.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H35582E4EE5DD48D0B1B77B621222691C"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The
Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H07957B8A2DE444E2A16DD7D9575CDEE8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>compile a report
of the results of each lease sale under the pilot program, including—</text>
<clause id="H606379BF112B44DAB6B651F1A9FBDD58"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the
level of competitive interest; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H0C46FC541F114784B36FC79337C2F538"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a
summary of bids and revenues received; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4B5BC55A2D874E9CB339B275DA03ABDF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not later than 90
days after the final lease sale, submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives the report described in subparagraph (A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1520DCF0E1BB46D2BC773B3755B37B46"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Rights-of-way</header><text>During
the pendency of the pilot program, the Secretary shall continue to issue
rights-of-way, in compliance with authority in effect on the date of enactment
of this Act, for available sites not selected for the pilot program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE7684B6962C34B8791F0028CBBCA36E3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Secretarial
determination</header>
<paragraph id="HC0F952B2108E410DB77CA4E544ED2040"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall determine whether to establish a leasing program
under this section for wind or solar energy.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF01F5AB94C6B4BB69100F2694A232FD2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary shall establish a leasing program if the Secretary determines that
the program—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7D79C40E991E4EBC8EA99E6D84B8224F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is in the public
interest; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H38609680AF1E4941A451C6A109A72986"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provides an
effective means of developing wind or solar energy on covered land.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H938B01B6431B40979D92BA4DAEE877C8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In
making the determinations required under this subsection, the Secretary shall
consult with—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1DDE7967CAC149E4A259A506FABB334F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary of
Agriculture;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H129B8F86183141E58A52821438989037"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the heads of other
relevant Federal agencies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFA51C3F42E5D406D81CF4CE71FC0E757"><enum>(C)</enum><text>affected States
and Indian tribes;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA128B2EF6988415EB0644963B83B95F6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>representatives of
the solar and wind industry;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBF5800069EBA45F3BA1B3A20476D0E1B"><enum>(E)</enum><text>representatives of
the environmental and conservation community; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC7F0DFE0E0F74B028CA95129FF6525FA"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the public.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H211E1FAF7B4B4EE6A599CE1B394ADDCF"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In
making the determinations required under this subsection, the Secretary shall
consider the results of the report provided under subsection (b)(5) and the
results of the pilot program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD8BFF51F4AF343559404C67A8B0A7B75"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Not
later than 180 days after the date on which any determination is made to
establish a leasing program, the Secretary shall promulgate final regulations
to implement the program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H18C6837A524B44E4BDB603E5E26EA01B"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Report</header><text>If
the Secretary determines that a leasing program should not be established, not
later than 60 days after the date of the determination, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report
describing the reasons and findings for the determination.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7225DD33988F46BEA248090E4A7315E8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transition</header>
<paragraph id="H4EBA9CE967A2415684A504DDD16AE8C3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Secretary determines that a leasing program should
be established, the Secretary shall continue to provide for the issuance of
rights-of-way for the development of wind or solar energy in accordance with
each requirement described in title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761 et seq.) until the program is established and final
regulations for the program are promulgated.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H19F5C3529B2641C9B1671AD001FD8C05"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>The
Secretary shall by regulation provide for a reasonable transition from the use
of rights-of-way to leases, taking into account the status of the project
(including whether rights-of-way for testing or construction have been granted
or whether a plan of development has been submitted).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD0734823F14C43909F727EDF86F05840"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Leasing
program</header><text>If the Secretary determines under subsection (c) that a
leasing program should be established, the program shall be established in
accordance with subsections (f) through (l).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H93B44FE295F44F7D9CD378AF7DC1E33D"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Competitive
leases</header>
<paragraph id="H4FBC1BC5CEE84774A7C273BD47A000CB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), leases for wind or
solar energy development under this section shall be issued on a competitive
basis with a single round of bidding in any lease sale.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA600C09C51AC43738913BA817249777C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>Paragraph
(1) shall not apply if the Secretary determines that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6BDF4CFDB4EA4686AB6DE9805109ACD6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>no competitive
interest exists;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H757622A2DD574FCD8CD2DC992FE73A8D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the public
interest would not be served by the competitive issuance of a lease or
right-of-way; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2D66144314A3402B9CF5505A9B25BA9A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the lease is for
the placement and operation of a meteorological or data collection facility or
for the development or demonstration of a new wind or solar technology and has
a term of not more than 5 years.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H430E5324491045038DB5AAF5CB0CB3B8"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Payments</header>
<paragraph id="H72415E9FE57A46B28ACD544CF2B4D371"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall establish royalties, fees, rentals,
bonuses, or other payments to ensure a fair return to the United States for any
lease issued under this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H104F6B765B7D45578C20B36D46107AB3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Bonus
bids</header><text>The Secretary may grant credit toward any bonus bid for a
qualified expenditure by the holder of a lease described in subsection
(f)(2)(C) in any competitive lease sale held for a long-term lease covering the
same land covered by the lease described in subsection (f)(2)(C).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4156720C3E404E1686B6E2F2AE8BE5E6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Royalties</header><text>Any
lease shall require the payment of a royalty established by the Secretary
pursuant to rulemaking that shall be a percentage of the gross proceeds from
the sale of electricity at a rate that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA1F42F5D82AA46A7946F249A875465E4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>encourages
production of solar or wind energy; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF1075350F50F4BA08F65B5A9D7E69816"><enum>(B)</enum><text>ensures a fair
return to the public comparable to the return that would be obtained on State
and private land.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC7C218ABB5534BCAA58D9650A58C0A25"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Royalty
relief</header><text>To promote the greatest generation of renewable energy,
the Secretary may—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFEAB9C1FE73B4DACBE48EA38AFBC0F84"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reduce any royalty
otherwise required on a showing by clear and convincing evidence by the person
holding a lease under which the generation of energy has occurred that, without
the reduction in royalty, generation would not occur; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6736AD8098BD46718CC9F213A663D501"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide that no
royalty or a reduced royalty is required under a lease for a period not to
exceed 5 years beginning on the date that generation initially
commences.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H65452ED24496464F95FF80C54FD9D0ED"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>To
be eligible to hold a lease under this section, a person shall meet the
eligibility requirements for leasing under the first section of the Mineral
Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3FF4EC5A8F9244A09C68557EB612848B"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The
Secretary shall ensure that any activity under a leasing program is carried out
in a manner that—</text>
<paragraph id="H0EEC206759C54D8E8293041C71448289"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is consistent with
all applicable land use planning, environmental, and other laws; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2FB1BF26C6EB4419A5BC9186CC4F9E86"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provides
for—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFF47D789B42D4B7FA1165AB5FC5F7E77"><enum>(A)</enum><text>safety;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0B74EA25C1E54580A126B1355347784B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>protection of the
environment;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H80B6E2C1F6264E21A38AC8DA35AED8AA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>prevention of
waste;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2BB2312551B84C91859C2D4C017AFF5C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>diligent
development of the resource;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE0BDBC4392CD48EC90986ED92CCA3903"><enum>(E)</enum><text>coordination with
applicable Federal agencies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAC6CC88F81144C5BAD4A55AA0C9167BB"><enum>(F)</enum><text>a fair return to
the United States for any lease;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC5E4C7F9E215425CA087EAEE5E24C94D"><enum>(G)</enum><text>use of best
management practices, including planning and practices for mitigation of
impacts;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H76C951D858234318A2DDBED7C8178B54"><enum>(H)</enum><text>public notice and
comment on any proposal submitted for a lease under this section; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE3EF1E5396044FC3AF4CB4C527EDAC65"><enum>(I)</enum><text>oversight,
inspection, research, monitoring, and enforcement relating to a lease under
this section.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB8073695B82A46AFB5DC39311C12792B"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Lease duration,
suspension, and cancellation</header><text>The Secretary shall establish terms
and conditions for the duration, issuance, transfer, renewal, suspension, and
cancellation of a lease under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7189316FDBDF45A9A48F4C2BE2A391F6"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Security</header><text>The
Secretary shall require the holder of a lease issued under this section—</text>
<paragraph id="HDBA295D75D6D4B0AB07E9B43D77FC0B8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to furnish a
surety bond or other form of security, as prescribed by the Secretary;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H35DDA17D6E4441DD836E9E0460A6823C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to provide for the
reclamation and restoration of the area covered by the lease; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1ABA4BF57E9347F58431D514031D897F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to comply with
such other requirements as the Secretary considers necessary to protect the
interests of the public and the United States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0C75A625B1F2460689E20EB25BEF1B8E"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Disposition of
revenues</header><text>The Secretary shall provide for the payment of 5 percent
of the revenues received by the Federal Government as a result of leasing under
this section or the issuance of rights-of-way for wind or solar development
under title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1761 et seq.) to the State within which the boundaries of the leased land or
right-of-way are located.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="H0CA738FAF6FF4CFA820E410C90910F75"><enum>C</enum><header>Unconventional
Fuels</header>
<section commented="no" id="H4DAB1CDBBE454EF1A99C5807C6FC989C"><enum>221.</enum><header>Transparency
for delayed loan guarantee applications</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1702 of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/16512">42 U.S.C.
16512</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H49CECA8F8F2841D0BC0BAC86A19EAFD0" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H99AD3061944F4718A7EB0362CA429A3F"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Reporting
requirement</header>
<paragraph id="H3419C4D175F542E6AC5F150DE50D49E1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Secretary fails to make a final decision by the
date that is 270 days after the date on which the Secretary selects an
application to proceed to negotiations of terms and conditions for issuance of
a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee application under this title for
a substitute natural gas, chemical feedstock, or liquid transportation fuel
project, not later than 7 days after that date, and for every 90-day period
thereafter, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H89AA6B9AA2FA443889049F7473395921"><enum>(A)</enum><text>prepare a status
report for the period covered by the report; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6BF410B9768640EEA0316AFD2AA5007B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>submit the status
report to—</text>
<clause id="H918493DD303541959176DA6DE4741098"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H0BAFE42F266C441E90C6647D7A764733"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H56C908E1B1A14D4292855CE08D27C3E7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
status report described in paragraph (1) shall contain—</text>
<subparagraph id="H18E1C17C2968437AA8007F195B835978"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a description of
each reason for the delay of the application;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H62F7BEA35D674957839F74E325AF7A42"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the name and
office of the official who, for the period covering the status report, has
reviewed the application; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5DD8350CA14A4EC18B3E5CB3ED64AA04"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a detailed
schedule for completion of the application
review.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H140D8DB409D443DEB7A3F9B582D6F458"><enum>222.</enum><header>Algae-based
fuel incentives</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
211(o)(2)(B) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(2)(B)) is amended by
adding at the end thereof the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H450B456098054FA68D998D62BF04A24D" style="OLC">
<clause id="HE788AD2AAAAD4EA69D27C97FD93BF531"><enum>(vi)</enum><header>Algae-based
fuel incentives</header><text>In determining whether the applicable volume of
renewable fuel required by this subsection is met in any calendar year, the
Administrator shall count each gallon of renewable fuel produced from algae as
three gallons of renewable fuel if such algae-based fuel was produced using
carbon dioxide that was captured in a manner that prevented its uncontrolled
release into the atmosphere during a separate energy production
process.</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HFB17A127A1EF4294878E4BDB8BB83405"><enum>223.</enum><header>Loan guarantee
eligible projects</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
1703(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD04C909193DD4ABA99C171CC01FD3561" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H9CA228EA709049F08C51FCA7697D4960"><enum>(11)</enum><text>Substitute
natural gas production facilities, where the fuel produced—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H967D68F268CA4E0AA160A5F9BD8B6942"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is a gas produced
from a solid feedstock through a gasification process; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3392D565E2D2467392932F40A9613A99"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is produced in a
manner that captures ninety percent or more of the carbon produced through the
gasification
process.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><enum>III</enum><header>Nuclear
Energy</header>
<section id="H5B5B9B17223A452C894ACA7D0437CC53"><enum>301.</enum><header>Objectives</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 951(a) of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271(a)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HF4D84FA408A54D0394783CC251E18217"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraphs (2) through (8) as paragraphs (5) through (11), respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB7BD493AEA5B417AA2B208F3861097EE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
paragraph (1) the following new paragraphs:</text>
<quoted-block id="H82400AE54B5248E0A42D446DB4E2F8D9" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H179C2A43067F4928B90E109B05DC6173"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Reducing the costs
of nuclear reactor systems.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB0F146016B7A43228CCBC62A2FAFB224"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reducing used nuclear fuel and nuclear
waste products generated by civilian nuclear energy.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4620234FCB55411ABDC72D0281CC3C4F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Supporting
technological advances in areas that industry by itself is not likely to
undertake because of technical and financial
uncertainty.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8F2B60C33ECE48A4B31CCA33B85CEE69"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (11), as so
redesignated, the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H37EEA18F025741889A4DE7ADED6EA9A4" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HDE5C1DC04F564B01AA778F4027005D6D"><enum>(12)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Researching and developing technologies and
processes so as to improve and streamline the process by which nuclear power
systems meet Federal and State requirements and
standards.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H0560422D9DE245E0A8863DD01C4636BC"><enum>302.</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 951 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(42 U.S.C. 16271) is further amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H4BE7E2F3D6FF484CB7F7F9C790B4BD89"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b),
by striking paragraphs (1) through (3) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H2CDD829354CB4B62A83922C69D030826" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H3787665B33EB401AB52876FF423CD7C8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$419,000,000 for
fiscal year 2012;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBEC53E6F4E194059A0A24C638D991254"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$429,000,000 for
fiscal year 2013; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDF0E81C48FCA4270B06F3D275539AFB4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$439,000,000 for
fiscal year 2014.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4125940CAF474B8A8E326D945BE6653C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(d)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAC18FE708C0149729B13433DDFCB9EA7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>under subsection (a)</quote> and inserting <quote>under subsection
(b)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2C735900BE8847818C34154AFE1B39FA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by amending
paragraph (1) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="HB5307EA4BF674EFAA54D393A98164390" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HDF95089DC7E6478DBCD6FD274137D2D7"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For activities under section 953—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9A1ACB4B1C4B445D85908F4B74A44602"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$201,000,000 for
fiscal year 2012;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEE303F9B69D24897A8D29057CE1215AA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$201,000,000 for
fiscal year 2013; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H79BDE5D8CFE244DEB50B009C43AB8BEA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$201,000,000 for
fiscal year 2014.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE19F9AB850A34CA4B9E019CA1BB5A15B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after
paragraph (3) the following new paragraphs:</text>
<quoted-block id="HF0CDCA2DA0FE470F80E9A628A8901C36" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HB009DC8E27014679A603CA94DAD11856"><enum>(4)</enum><text>For activities
under section 952, other than those described in section 952(d)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC9D3065C2ED7485BA98A204DABCFE649"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$64,000,000 for
fiscal year 2012;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9A61CF3D2DD04A2D93F2A5B569AC6429"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$64,000,000 for
fiscal year 2013; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5AC764C0CA7C42CDBED2700465BF7122"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$64,000,000 for
fiscal year 2014.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFDF6E29E99BB4281A60AD19CF6B52B3D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>For activities
under section 952(d)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF34B5757AFE04B5F90BA26E4C974B8D2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$55,000,000 for
fiscal year 2012;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H60E288E787104938BDA11D3A0DDDF09C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$65,000,000 for
fiscal year 2013; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HED8DBB4F9F3F4237881DEA7EBD0BD6B6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$75,000,000 for
fiscal year 2014.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD5D7C5983FA64A1C9628237589D6B3A9"><enum>(6)</enum><text>For activities
under section 958—</text>
<subparagraph id="H77C9E6356102482B836087C40163EEBC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$99,000,000 for
fiscal year 2012;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE0ABD64FA57D4F61873CBA01830BD27F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$99,000,000 for
fiscal year 2013; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA91664D41FEB4E05B07C503619C410E1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>$99,000,000 for
fiscal year
2014.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC484FFB29D9A458FA16CEF2B0F292F5D"><enum>303.</enum><header>Program
objectives study</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 951
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271) is amended by adding at the
end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H27F6CF31EE454C24A6E9074993A0A4A9" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H48DEE4207DE449408357653F0E8C418C"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Program
objectives study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In
furtherance of the program objectives listed in subsection (a) of this section,
the Secretary shall, within one year after the date of enactment of this
subsection, transmit to the Congress a report on the results of a study on the
scientific and technical merit of major State requirements and standards,
including moratoria, that delay or impede the further development and
commercialization of nuclear power, and how the Department in implementing the
programs can assist in overcoming such delays or
impediments.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H7DD2304794984046B2CE765D4825713A"><enum>304.</enum><header>Nuclear energy
research and development programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 952 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(42 U.S.C. 16272) is amended by striking subsections (c) through (e) and
inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HFE56763CA46A4063B228350837862940" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HF01FD34C91E240199F4E011AD3393330"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Reactor
concepts</header>
<paragraph id="H87E369C7C21F414B8DC1D987E6BDCE04"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out a program of research,
development, demonstration, and commercial application to advance nuclear power
systems as well as technologies to sustain currently deployed systems.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9C3D655994054176AAFCD536D96C655E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Designs and
technologies</header><text>In conducting the program under this subsection, the
Secretary shall examine advanced reactor designs and nuclear technologies,
including those that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC8CEBF4D406A4D5F951A26656A87F0CE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are economically
competitive with other electric power generation plants;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H156A0C62339D4C75B44D910C2C598FC7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>have higher
efficiency, lower cost, and improved safety compared to reactors in operation
as of the date of enactment of the <short-title>Fulfilling
U.S. Energy Leadership Act</short-title>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H87A417CF0EA848798BF507F72E3C0F59"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">utilize passive safety features;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H040C7FCE143A4223BAF47586AFBACDDC"><enum>(D)</enum><text>minimize
proliferation risks;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H14B28932979D46DCAC31915BE67E17A5"><enum>(E)</enum><text>substantially
reduce production of high-level waste per unit of output;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H43EB9C216287426FA69B3E233D15760C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>increase the life
and sustainability of reactor systems currently deployed;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H91A56C1AE98E4675AA07A1F9D0D05BA0"><enum>(G)</enum><text>use improved
instrumentation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H29BC6182B5D440E9AC0A858A8DF4ECB3"><enum>(H)</enum><text>are capable of
producing large-scale quantities of hydrogen or process heat; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDC8E6C9DBCF34C6BA923B500E72CE02E"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">minimize water usage or use alternatives to
water as a cooling mechanism.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H28F546D9C26F4663898F2381FD41C804"><enum>(3)</enum><header>International
cooperation</header><text>In carrying out the program under this subsection,
the Secretary shall seek opportunities to enhance the progress of the program
through international cooperation through such organizations as the Generation
IV International Forum, or any other international collaboration the Secretary
considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H37C37663EE3F4FEA98A0E82270FC8EE3"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>No
funds authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities described in
this subsection shall be used to fund the activities authorized under sections
641 through
645.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H9B65B1300E9B4082AE6C8C372BA1BC50"><enum>305.</enum><header>Small modular
reactor program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 952 of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16272) is further amended by adding at
the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block id="H1D21EDA14A954D229500EC2EBF198C90" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HE77D46F4FFE74306A0D2D8AE9CA54087"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Small modular
reactor program</header>
<paragraph id="H37A0C7AB18974D0E9134955DFD4890DA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
General</header>
<subparagraph id="HF943B004A8274E899855E8CC44A9CA8B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall carry out a small modular reactor program to promote research,
development, demonstration, and commercial application of small modular
reactors, including through cost-shared projects for commercial application of
reactor systems designs.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4729BB9BFE1548AAA24EC277E18B37DE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall consult with and utilize the expertise of the Secretary of the Navy in
establishing and carrying out such program.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE9D0F28980024F5CAD0F8FFB97B25BB2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Activities may
also include development of advanced computer modeling and simulation tools, by
Federal and non-Federal entities, which demonstrate and validate new design
capabilities of innovative small modular reactor designs.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF8DE7A59BB2648E5878349E687199736"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>For
the purposes of this subsection, the term <term>small modular reactor</term>
means a nuclear reactor—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBC39EEF9126F413B8DD429E486A84063"><enum>(A)</enum><text>with a rated
capacity of less than 300 electrical megawatts;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB390A41137AA4444A9BDCEF87027E8BD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to
which most parts can be factory assembled and shipped as modules to a reactor
plant site for assembly; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6C20F822BAA743708995BFC4C8567719"><enum>(C)</enum><text>that can be
constructed and operated in combination with similar reactors at a single
site.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6306543CCD8D4CB59352ED0F1ABF1B16"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Demonstration
activities carried out under this section shall be limited to individual
technologies and systems, and shall not include demonstration of full reactor
systems or full plant operations.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3DE46BE9E1B64A018062B96AE48004EE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>In
conducting the small modular reactor program, the Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements to support small modular reactor designs that
enable—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD8083BABDA2B4AC4AFE2213102EF4288"><enum>(A)</enum><text>lower capital
costs or increased access to private financing in comparison to current large
reactor designs;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H901BA387A7A049C4BE1260362E8D14E6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>reduced long-term
radiotoxicity, mass, or decay heat of the nuclear waste produced by
generation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6B5025733A8F43569576D7977BBEC3B9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>increased
operating safety of nuclear facilities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCB1EA6388FFB4CAEB58EA111C9DC62CE"><enum>(D)</enum><text>reduced dependence
of reactor systems on water resources;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4E079FBA6A734609948704F58204D18C"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">increased seismic resistance of nuclear
generation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2BBCB904D4D84CA6AC3B6C0AE9E69D46"><enum>(F)</enum><text>reduced
proliferation risks through integrated safeguards and security proliferation
controls; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H946B8EAA22C442D28F2ED25138052902"><enum>(G)</enum><text>increased
efficiency in reactor manufacturing and construction.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDA6A72A15213436282E152DE085076B9"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Application</header><text>To
be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary under this
subsection, an applicant shall submit to the Secretary a proposal for the small
modular reactor project to be undertaken. The proposal shall document—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCA6FD54786AB4696A8EB3511337E7174"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all partners and
suppliers that will be active in the small modular reactor project, including a
description of each partner or supplier’s anticipated domestic and
international activities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2A031E0DBB5B4A3E86E4636C74F626D0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>measures to be
undertaken to enable cost-effective implementation of the small modular reactor
project;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB47FB1DEC4BB4CE0881493B671D395CA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an accounting
structure approved by the Secretary;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDC5BA44411DF4B87B2C0DDDE2D463D6B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>all known assets
that shall be contributed to satisfy the cost-sharing requirement under
paragraph (6); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7F287C6B3A0441A2B6AD8C69C4FF14A2"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the extent to which the proposal will
increase domestic manufacturing activity, exports, or employment.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA95B9BB4DDF5486391F63E603AFEA222"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Cost
sharing</header><text>Notwithstanding section 988, the Secretary shall require
the parties to a cooperative agreement under this subsection to be responsible
for not less than 50 percent of the costs of the small modular reactor
project.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7CA8313F52594791B0B53EB475778BA5"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Calculation of
cost sharing amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A
recipient of financial assistance under this section may not satisfy the cost
sharing requirement under paragraph (6) by using funds received from the
Federal Government through appropriation Acts.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H18AB4F0985C5441BA3510B1AEAD38EBB"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Project
selection criteria</header><text>The Secretary shall consider the following
factors in entering into a cooperative agreement under this subsection:</text>
<subparagraph id="H265556AE7A6B409DB2CF183F48095226"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The domestic
manufacturing capabilities of the parties to the cooperative agreement and
their partners and suppliers.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD3B1E4EAD180481EA1052DDC3FA4FB71"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The viability of
the reactor design and the business plan or plans of the parties to the
cooperative agreement.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAF5290B191C84AD7B29A25FC4FC330D4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The parties to the
cooperative agreement’s potential to continue the development of small modular
reactors without Federal subsidies or loan guarantees.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF677E31E4E2147339FB96183A86B38D7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The cost share to
be provided.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H33AC78300C814C138270F3CACD0A8271"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The degree to which the following goals
will be advanced:</text>
<clause id="HA78108F6A0B34CC1B119926273D8C451"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Lower capital
costs or increased access to private financing in comparison to current large
reactor designs.</text>
</clause><clause id="HBF92770C902041E1B3921BF8F594A6B8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Reduced long-term
radiotoxicity, mass, or decay heat of the nuclear waste produced by
generation.</text>
</clause><clause id="HBA04FB7703B547989EDD41F195C30E8B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Increased
operating safety of nuclear facilities.</text>
</clause><clause id="HD9B12336B87A474892402FA6264ACD3E"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Reduced
dependence of reactor systems on water resources.</text>
</clause><clause id="HD95B771C0B1C489AB584B0722C9FC993"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Increased seismic
resistance of nuclear generation.</text>
</clause><clause id="H5F5A68503766429383B39D3DA01C84F5"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Reduced
proliferation risks through integrated safeguards and security proliferation
controls.</text>
</clause><clause id="HF9AF251AC4DC4AD18C83B15B1D2AE6D1"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>Increased
efficiency in reactor manufacturing and
construction.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF34D541C67B346A78A17E62C81E06C2E"><enum>306.</enum><header>Conventional
improvements to nuclear power plants</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 952 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(42 U.S.C. 16272) is further amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H61A1B64B6DA94665A281E00DB7CCB1C0" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H52201EA987FC40F2AC2D98A232D5C1C0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Conventional
improvements to nuclear power plants</header>
<paragraph id="H583B182657F0478DAE317E8CBE4F4608"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
carry out a Nuclear Energy Research Initiative for research and development
related to steam-side improvements to nuclear power plants to promote the
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of—</text>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H59D13C4E98A84BB68AACED4628ACB5A4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">cooling systems;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3B5CB59825124351A55BFC218379BFD3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>turbine
technologies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H01238E3CCE7542AE8DCF7F8B0B11194D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>heat exchangers
and pump design;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1DE1812208954AECB64D70208012589B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>special coatings
to improve lifetime of components and performance of heat exchangers;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H39C9ED01694749C9B42DD0F8285070BC"><enum>(E)</enum><text>advanced power
conversion systems for advanced reactor technologies.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8EB25CA6409449A19C1DEF13A3C7FB85"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>The
Secretary may undertake initiatives under this subsection only when the goals
are relevant and proper to enhance the performance of technologies developed
under subsection (c). Not more than $10,000,000 of funds authorized for this
section may be used for carrying out this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H98CD0A25ABFA4B83904AB5F0C37ABFA6"><enum>307.</enum><header>Fuel cycle
research and development</header>
<subsection id="HE4B132524A1B44709CE1573288A62B9D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 953 of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16273) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HD3E9CEFAB2524AAB91B686F2835222B9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the section
heading by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">Advanced
fuel cycle initiative</header-in-text></quote> and inserting
<quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">Fuel cycle research and
development</header-in-text></quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD0AC52B5CCAE49E4BC04B35B3D4A9F06"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
subsection (a);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4548BAAF12FB4B04847DBF70F6F3CAF7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (b) through (d) as subsections (e) through (g), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HED1C30BA9F4B4D10BA0C7F9043E797CC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting
before subsection (e), as so redesignated by paragraph (3) of this subsection,
the following new subsections:</text>
<quoted-block id="H52F3A1679339467DBE165A92BA255E85" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H45BBCE1CF2A045528D2B1C744F90997E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
conduct a fuel cycle research, development, demonstration, and commercial
application program (referred to in this section as the <quote>program</quote>)
on fuel cycle options that improve uranium resource utilization, maximize
energy generation, minimize nuclear waste creation, improve safety, mitigate
risk of proliferation, and improve waste management in support of a national
strategy for spent nuclear fuel and the reactor concepts research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application program under section 952(c).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H72EEDAF7A52A413A84E100AA874BB129"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Fuel cycle
options</header><text>Under this section the Secretary may consider
implementing the following initiatives:</text>
<paragraph id="H9568C33865EA4654B89B8BF2C38FAB86"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Open
cycle</header><text>Developing fuels, including the use of nonuranium
materials, for use in reactors that increase energy generation and minimize the
amount of nuclear waste produced in an open fuel cycle.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H929645B71864444E82EA9EF799A7F78F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Modified open
cycle</header><text>Developing fuel forms, reactors, and limited separation and
transmutation methods that increase fuel utilization and reduce nuclear waste
in a modified open fuel cycle.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H597E6F06600C4C5081B3CE7FC6A6C2CE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Full
recycle</header><text>Developing advanced recycling technologies, including
Generation IV Reactors, to reduce the risk of proliferation, radiotoxicity,
mass, and decay heat to the greatest extent possible.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0763F4534CF9405F9037BCE7FDB39E9E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Advanced storage
methods</header><text>Developing advanced storage technologies for both onsite
and long-term storage that substantially prolong the effective life of current
storage devices or that substantially improve upon existing nuclear waste
storage technologies and methods, including repositories.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0984053F97C94005B0A0480291A365FB"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Alternative and
deep borehole storage methods</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Developing alternative storage methods for
long-term storage, including deep boreholes into stable crystalline rock
formations and mined repositories in a range of geologic media.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9039FA6160F24C3C8AD260E2ECB64733"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Other
technologies</header><text>Developing any other technology or initiative that
the Secretary determines is likely to advance the objectives of the program
established under subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE89CC95D37F847CB970C70A3E861DBD0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Additional
advanced recycling and crosscutting activities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to and in support of the
specific initiatives described in paragraphs (1) through (6), the Secretary may
support the following activities:</text>
<paragraph id="HCD117E9BD4DB48CBB200A1EC33AAEF13"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Development and
testing of integrated process flow sheets for advanced nuclear fuel recycling
processes.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA52FA95641024CF7A0971EC174B364DD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Research to
characterize the byproducts and waste streams resulting from fuel recycling
processes.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H140EE8B4ACF5437F87CED6821EE97309"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Research and
development on reactor concepts or transmutation technologies that improve
resource utilization or reduce the radiotoxicity of waste streams.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC19E7EF80F3940F8B49DC73576A26F03"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Research and
development on waste treatment processes and separations technologies, advanced
waste forms, and quantification of proliferation risks.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H920BAD62A1D044E5A57C0658067B8510"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Identification and
evaluation of test and experimental facilities necessary to successfully
implement the advanced fuel cycle initiative.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H04BC70757B2B473A99F162E40AF1D623"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Advancement of
fuel cycle-related modeling and simulation capabilities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H890317E2448A4AB19488FBC861A286CA"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Blue ribbon
commission report</header>
<paragraph id="H598F7F02E1AE498EB92282E22B8EAC1D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In carrying out
this section, the Secretary shall give consideration to the final report on a
long-term nuclear waste solution produced by the Blue Ribbon Commission on
America’s Nuclear Future.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H95FA31A377764E89AF4700F3A9BB2E68"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Not later than 180
days after the release of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear
Future final report, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report, which
shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF701C2DD62A54F2099FD66165B7E7458"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any plans the
Department may have to incorporate any relevant recommendations from this
report into the program; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBCE53550C00B488C807CECE555299537"><enum>(B)</enum><text>how those
recommendations for long-term nuclear waste solutions that will be incorporated
into the plan compare with plans for a long-term nuclear waste solution of a
repository at Yucca Mountain, that may or may not be incorporated into the
plan, with regard to the safety, security, legal, cost, and technological and
site readiness factors associated with any recommendations related to final
disposition pathways for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste to
the same factors associated with permanent deep geological disposal at the
Yucca Mountain waste repository.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC8C88E245CD14610B9D19C57F73B5612"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The analysis
described in paragraph (2)(B) shall be conducted using scientific and technical
materials and information used to support policy actions related to the Yucca
Mountain
project.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H68D8D9A362E04134A4B203D4D158B944"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>The item relating to section 953 in the table of
contents of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H98957BED18214E5C99EE147FCB8ABF3A" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 953. Fuel cycle research and
development.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H4012987DCE094FF3AD8C3167AD728606"><enum>308.</enum><header>Nuclear energy
enabling technologies program</header>
<subsection id="H49609C04989340B9BA6A346C8C8CEB29"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy Policy
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) is amended by adding at the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block id="H5DEAF904899D46868E78E51235DF8E27" style="OLC">
<section id="H7EDC18A10A25412DB58BC82740D4D216"><enum>958.</enum><header>Nuclear energy
enabling technologies</header>
<subsection id="H35C5FACB7E2140F58D6A01B18ACAEA22"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall conduct a program to support the
integration of activities undertaken through the reactor concepts research,
development, demonstration, and commercial application program under section
952(c) and the fuel cycle research and development program under section 953,
and support crosscutting nuclear energy concepts. Activities commenced under
this section shall be concentrated on broadly applicable research and
development focus areas.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6AF8D8E23431482384A73BFC1FCEB386"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>Activities
conducted under this section may include research involving—</text>
<paragraph id="HDC36B317776240F1A8E2010836BB9694"><enum>(1)</enum><text>advanced reactor
materials;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H27AB60613BB3451AA104430A6F0EC0F2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>advanced radiation
mitigation methods;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7884D55E6587461EBD975D7451479D73"><enum>(3)</enum><text>advanced
proliferation and security risk assessment methods;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H748BE99F4FE14A97ACAE3C6735C3C3DC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>advanced sensors
and instrumentation;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H95509F646CFB42EE9765106F427A3E04"><enum>(5)</enum><text>advanced nuclear
manufacturing methods; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4A76989ED7B84E8181D94B590F3D4FA3"><enum>(6)</enum><text>any crosscutting
technology or transformative concept aimed at establishing substantial and
revolutionary enhancements in the performance of future nuclear energy systems
that the Secretary considers relevant and appropriate to the purpose of this
section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2A570E1C9B804FA283155E3A0EB78DC7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The
Secretary shall submit, as part of the annual budget submission of the
Department, a report on the activities of the program conducted under this
section, which shall include a brief evaluation of each activity’s
progress.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H0C9A77C991F24E03B5FCEA2E5C678533"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>The table of contents of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
is amended by adding at the end of the items for subtitle E of title IX the
following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5DCD2D209C83462CB0F8DE80A70D9531" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 958. Nuclear energy enabling
technologies.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H2D864C3F286E45E8B3B4EF6BD93C450E"><enum>309.</enum><header>Emergency risk
assessment and preparedness report</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report
summarizing quantitative risks associated with the potential of a severe
accident arising from the use of civilian nuclear energy technology, including
reactor technology deployed or likely to be deployed as of the date of
enactment of this Act, and outlining the technologies currently available to
mitigate the consequences of such an accident. The report shall include
recommendations of areas of technological development that should be pursued to
reduce the potential public harm arising from such an incident.</text>
</section><section id="H77BDCE805C4847D39FA2F98F688E27DE"><enum>310.</enum><header>Next generation
nuclear plant</header>
<subsection id="H6F1E601761C3473E8F72091A80C9BB6A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prototype plant
location</header><text>Section 642(b)(3) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 16022(b)(3)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="HCD43972A078B46ABBBFAF51C1F42B734" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HCE7F7E5370CF49719E4406F053E6F281"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Prototype plant
location</header><text>The prototype nuclear reactor and associated plant shall
be constructed at a location determined by the consortium through an open and
transparent competitive selection
process.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HC3DBD6A8AB92484693977E4AE6E5A02E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header>
<paragraph id="H9A384A1A3ED745119051C8258B468755"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General shall transmit to the Congress a report providing a status update of
the Next Generation Nuclear Plant program that provides analysis of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H57517152FEA64D488EC221542B56E96C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>its
progress;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C365AC1503345A28CE3E83A6509C716"><enum>(B)</enum><text>how Federal funds
appropriated for the project have been distributed and spent; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD4E535CC8674467EBEF38ACEEB84E772"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the current and
expected participation by non-Federal entities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBCD73A1823274F10BEED3EB47CB5E0A8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
report shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="H32D3298A15CC44B1AC4AA0BEC61C505E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an analysis of the
proposed facility’s technical capabilities and remaining technological
development challenges, and a cost estimate and construction schedule;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFBF048944DBD4F25865E8F4CF09FDFDC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an assessment of
the advantages and disadvantages of funding a pilot-scale research reactor
project in lieu of a full-scale commercial power reactor;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8CAC31A69F3C4EA899C296A1FA903BCA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an assessment of
alternative construction sites proposed by private industry;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H06704811CFC9480CBF6E2C053F50B90F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an assessment of
the extent to which the Department of Energy is working with industry and the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission to ensure that the Next Generation Nuclear Plant
program meets industry expectations for long-term application of technologies
and addresses potential licensing procedures for deployment;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5A7FF1D0E654468D832E1FE54D9FCFF9"><enum>(E)</enum><text>an assessment of
the known or anticipated challenges to securing private non-Federal cost share
funds and any measures to overcome these challenges, including any alternative
funding approaches such as front loading the Federal share;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H39B11E7124E5416493699F1802E79174"><enum>(F)</enum><text>an assessment of
project risks, including those related to—</text>
<clause id="H1D0F5907E6604377B3B6259C4FCA7E84"><enum>(i)</enum><text>project scope,
schedule, and resources;</text>
</clause><clause id="H951E98F29C134DB7AD20BE8CDFD7C2C0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
formation of partnerships or agreements between the Department and the private
sector necessary for the project’s success; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H9643EB1FE4384555A954B8A702807238"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Department’s
capabilities to identify and manage such risks; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2247FBFF216F4A83ACFB668D2724380F"><enum>(G)</enum><text>an assessment of
what is known about the potential impact of natural gas and other fossil fuel
prices on private entity participation in the project.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H34006959D2C44682B5F9523E76AB4681"><enum>311.</enum><header>Technical
standards collaboration</header>
<subsection id="HB3FD918FDE3D4037A71A34A0AC98F2D1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology shall establish a nuclear energy standards committee (in this
section referred to as the <quote>technical standards committee</quote>) to
facilitate and support, consistent with the National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995, the development or revision of technical standards for
new and existing nuclear power plants and advanced nuclear technologies.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H53C1690590B84CCCAA9BD0038832CC98"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Membership</header>
<paragraph id="HC0F0F3ED1E0C4E0990E2AEADB6A1BAB6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The technical standards committee shall include
representatives from appropriate Federal agencies and the private sector, and
be open to materially affected organizations involved in the development or
application of nuclear energy-related standards.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6654BBCA759C45508454B3C8E7891611"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Co-chairs</header><text>The
technical standards committee shall be co-chaired by a representative from the
National Institute of Standards and Technology and a representative from a
private sector standards organization.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4ACA944656A34759A55925C2AE90FC93"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
technical standards committee shall, in cooperation with appropriate Federal
agencies—</text>
<paragraph id="HFC1C78CF3A9E4598BB7C10A8F26A8D31"><enum>(1)</enum><text>perform a needs
assessment to identify and evaluate the technical standards that are needed to
support nuclear energy, including those needed to support new and existing
nuclear power plants and advanced nuclear technologies;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4D050FD6D5AC4D838554B454D7789947"><enum>(2)</enum><text>formulate,
coordinate, and recommend priorities for the development of new technical
standards and the revision of existing technical standards to address the needs
identified under paragraph (1);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEBFE143446104F39811EF3943C5638F9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>facilitate and
support collaboration and cooperation among standards developers to address the
needs and priorities identified under paragraphs (1) and (2);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBDDA8AC46B3841E085D2405A56662E3F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>as appropriate,
coordinate with other national, regional, or international efforts on nuclear
energy-related technical standards in order to avoid conflict and duplication
and to ensure global compatibility; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1933D2EC3F85447EA67D266A89A65D6D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>promote the
establishment and maintenance of a database of nuclear energy-related technical
standards.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H11BC914229E7492EA23618B6F5CD2EFC"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2014 to the Director of the National
Institute for Standards and Technology for activities under this
section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H559395902A1F472F9B277D473869F36B"><enum>312.</enum><header>Evaluation of
long-term operating needs</header>
<subsection id="HF78D5273089C44AB85EC379EC25DD7A8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Energy shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academies to conduct
an evaluation of the scientific and technological challenges to the long-term
maintenance and safe operation of currently deployed nuclear power reactors up
to and beyond the specified design-life of reactor systems.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3EFEEF69F87047A6865098C98561FC57"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
transmit to the Congress, and make publically available, the results of the
evaluation undertaken by the Academies pursuant to subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H7C0FFA2117924E8BB548A598727104CC"><enum>313.</enum><header>Available
facilities database</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The
Secretary of Energy shall prepare a database of non-Federal user facilities
receiving Federal funds that may be used for unclassified nuclear energy
research. The Secretary shall make this database accessible on the Department
of Energy’s Web site.</text>
</section><section id="HEC128D5CD1AF4D5E9B985BF8B554F461"><enum>314.</enum><header>Nuclear waste
disposal</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">To the extent
consistent with the requirements of current law, the Department of Energy shall
be responsible for disposal of high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear
fuel generated by reactors under the programs authorized in this title, or the
amendments made by this title.</text>
</section><enum>IV</enum><header>Energy
Transmission Barriers and Opportunities</header>
<section id="HCBDE160FF75A4BF98537C8A5EDD7FCE7"><enum>401.</enum><header>Siting of
interstate electric transmission facilities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16
U.S.C. 824p) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="HD0D6ED0EA3764BDA9D403846ED15A5B7" style="OLC">
<section id="HC651A49AA1374158BA9A6B378B70FBF1"><enum>216.</enum><header>Siting of
interstate electric transmission facilities</header>
<subsection id="H5087EEE8D7AF4EB49B937B9650782BCC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Policy</header><text>It
is the policy of the United States that the national interstate transmission
system should be guided by the goal of maximizing the net benefits of the
electricity system, taking into consideration—</text>
<paragraph id="H67EE6EEC3CBE4AF89C77E81AF13656FD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>support for the
development of new renewable energy generation capacity, including renewable
energy generation located distant from load centers and other
location-constrained resources;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFE18831C9B6744DB9768C3965417E8D3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>opportunities for
reduced emissions from regional power production;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H557A404C7DE64A7DAA1194AD485A9D75"><enum>(3)</enum><text>cost savings
resulting from—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1C84564ACD8944B9917FFA2A662118C4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reduced
transmission congestion;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1CFC63E5C2E04FEEB6DD7473CB9BED21"><enum>(B)</enum><text>enhanced
opportunities for intraregional and interregional electricity trades;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC995C078E1FD4AB0B231542C0FD01398"><enum>(C)</enum><text>reduced line
losses;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H67A3100666494A59893BFC3192A66FCF"><enum>(D)</enum><text>generation
resource-sharing; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4D29504403484D92975F671ABA0D999E"><enum>(E)</enum><text>enhanced fuel
diversity;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFB898A01E3EE4C01873BFE74775399FB"><enum>(4)</enum><text>reliability
benefits, including satisfying reliability standards and guidelines for
resource adequacy and system security;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDD6F73DB19D048E196431F622E1943E3"><enum>(5)</enum><text>diversification of
risk relating to events affecting fuel supply or generating resources in a
particular region;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF838FEA892AF4B888B653DFE494BA18A"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the enhancement of
competition in electricity markets and mitigation of market power;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8886BF0BF1D84F74896EB659BCFD1C0D"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the ability to
collocate facilities on existing rights-of-way;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAC89546B45DE49FBB0A58C6B6E7F674B"><enum>(8)</enum><text>competing land use
priorities, including land protected under Federal or State law;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4E4E62F0FAC140988A14B3F1B64595B6"><enum>(9)</enum><text>the requirements
of section 217(b)(4); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1FE5F6F8F9DD4B5AA7A4677854B49486"><enum>(10)</enum><text>the contribution
of demand side management (including energy efficiency and demand response),
energy storage, distributed generation resources, and smart grid
investments.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1CC2A58A8F2B4ADFA2EC3F7D3756BB96"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph id="H030C13E131A04A5F86C5C0F099A46EB7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>High-priority
national transmission project</header><text>The term <term>high-priority
national transmission project</term> means an overhead or underground
transmission facility, consisting of conductors or cables, towers, manhole duct
systems, phase shifting transformers, reactors, capacitors, and any ancillary
facilities and equipment necessary for the proper operation of the facility,
that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3D5624362C374165A3ACF82752DDA52D"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HCBF36F4F56C34399B3B2342864ACE973"><enum>(i)</enum><text>operates at or above a
voltage of—</text>
<subclause id="H0851B3E0F0934DAC83E29A02C8964648" indent="up1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>345 kilovolts alternating current;
or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H06151AA02F634C19A030D6E09F0003B9" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>300 kilovolts direct current;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HEC3E2585EB154C9EA80B8779A9A9EB1A" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is a very high current conductor
or superconducting cable that operates at or above a power equivalent to the
power of a conventional transmission cable operating at or above 345 kilovolts
alternating current or 300 kilovolts direct current; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HEE4CBE5F769E4F2CB2C3771B2FDB121C" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>is a renewable feeder line that
transmits electricity directly to a transmission facility under clause (i) or
(ii); and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCF6CA5B2B36E4167982970797379725D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is included in a
regional plan pursuant to subsection (c).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8C3D532037DF4C9DB3CDB1431C61E446"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Indian
land</header><text>The term <term>Indian land</term> means land—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6A7166E999864FAC8BB2FC811D3D972F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the title to which
is held by the United States in trust for an Indian tribe or individual Indian;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4D6E9347C5104066B99F1196E34A8545"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that is held by an
Indian tribe or individual Indian subject to a restriction by the United States
against alienation or encumbrance.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8F9202DA03004B6AA82DC6114DD6A7B0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Indian
tribe</header><text>The term <term>Indian tribe</term> means any Indian tribe,
band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska
Native village or regional or village corporation (as defined in or established
pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)),
which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided
by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7394C88433104BBC8E5050BEF7231971"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Load-serving
entity</header><text>Except as otherwise provided in this section, the term
<term>load-serving entity</term> means any person, Federal, State, or local
agency or instrumentality, or electric cooperative that delivers electric
energy to end-use customers.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB71ACC2112DD4A7FBBC14378A094B10C"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Location-constrained
resource</header>
<subparagraph id="HD42093EA0AF347B98650B32B15F27132"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The term <term>location-constrained resource</term> means
a low-carbon resource used to produce electricity that is geographically
constrained such that the resource cannot be relocated to an existing
transmission line.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H024F685CC61E4EA78DD395BB526C712D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The
term <term>location-constrained resource</term> includes the following types of
resources described in subparagraph (A):</text>
<clause id="H074EF89E21424555AB1191D21AE74591"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Renewable energy,
including offshore resources.</text>
</clause><clause id="HD4393D6D8B594DD18E3BD26974721B08"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>A
fossil fuel electricity plant equipped with carbon capture technology that is
located at a site that is appropriate for carbon storage or beneficial
reuse.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3278C0B978054D2DA15FECAB49E8A214"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Renewable
energy</header><text>The term <term>renewable energy</term> means electric
energy generated from—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2D25FCA6025142B8ABC737DB03AC99E4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>solar
energy;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAA5E29BDB50242218F248D09148641C3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>wind
energy;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H05F6450943ED44ACBE93E2F438515EC2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>marine and
hydrokinetic renewable energy;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2F80F1C95D014DA1BFB71738CED3BB70"><enum>(D)</enum><text>geothermal
energy;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD65ECE37C1744B60913F628A70A692A2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>hydropower;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFEE26F2AD0F3429886C9B86E627139D6"><enum>(F)</enum><text>biomass; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC3D40E1D4BAE438C8A9DE103E8749F75"><enum>(G)</enum><text>landfill
gas.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE76FCE13C60B4773A126D310B3BBC6CC"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Renewable feeder
line</header><text>The term <term>renewable feeder line</term> means a
transmission line that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H265270C3B67543C7A4542D4463E95F76"><enum>(A)</enum><text>operates at a
voltage of 100 kilovolts or greater; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC5089E28252248A08BAEB2E59BA855D0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is identified in
the applicable Interconnection-wide transmission plan or by the Commission as a
facility that is to be developed to facilitate collection of electric energy
produced by renewable energy.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0A3494A01D92431EB366BE9139E89E6F"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The
term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Energy.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H46D8F6EA9374405A8FACF24595A6F264"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Plans for
national interstate transmission system</header>
<paragraph id="HDD7A4B4FD5564B19BA829F0632DE92DB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Commission shall coordinate regional planning to
ensure that regional plans are integrated into an Interconnection-wide
transmission plan with respect to high-priority national transmission projects,
that achieves the policy established under subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H999D7A9B03F744A6A74A8F998A4CD8ED"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Planning
principles</header>
<subparagraph id="HDF09515966404B9E80209CE11616C6F8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
the <short-title>Fulfilling U.S. Energy Leadership
Act</short-title>, the Commission shall issue, by rule, after notice and
opportunity for comment, national electricity grid planning principles pursuant
to the policy established under subsection (a).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFB8E5559BE53492DB0A5E472384C9080"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Content</header><text>The
principles shall—</text>
<clause id="H950859FCB359472CAB9ECB2284421F6D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>address how the
utilities should fully incorporate consideration of the need for high-priority
national transmission projects into planning efforts;</text>
</clause><clause id="H169DADFB89A64B4C898C5ADFB7D873C4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>address how the
utilities should coordinate with each other, States, Indian tribes, and other
planning efforts in the applicable Interconnection to effectively develop an
Interconnection-wide analysis to identify needed additions or modifications to
high-priority national transmission projects, with particular attention to
identifying needs that can be most efficiently and effectively addressed with
high-priority national transmission projects that cross multiple utilities,
Regional Transmission Organizations, or Independent System Operators;</text>
</clause><clause id="H5197A955078B41ABB367A33A549FE06C"><enum>(iii)</enum><subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H6FE7DF37130B4F32A9BC28E1A9961376"><enum>(I)</enum><text>address alternatives to
high-priority national transmission projects, based on the factors described in
subparagraph (C)(iii); and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H3C498307D5D2479CA8ABF89F64024569" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>determine whether alternative
investments can provide a more expedient means of improving electricity system
capacity or reliability or reduced costs for end-users; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H09CBCDA749944DAFAA4A82009528A15D"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>include
mechanisms for soliciting input from the Secretary, Federal transmitting
utilities, the Secretary of the Interior, States, Indian tribes, electric
reliability organizations, regional entities, entities described in section
201(f), generators, load-serving entities, other interested parties, and the
public.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBCAFB9C7FD6B408DA9D73B43B611E049"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Factors</header><text>Plans
for the development and improvement of high-priority national transmission
projects into a national high-capacity transmission grid shall take into
consideration—</text>
<clause id="H382694E9235A449FB263CB86C20DD7D1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the location of
load centers;</text>
</clause><clause id="H5741D73542E54D9792636D06D2C2AAE9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the location of
generation and potential generation development, including location-constrained
resources;</text>
</clause><clause id="HEB15172F17DE4198BABA42327DA0FB94"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>existing and
potential demand side management (including energy efficiency and demand
response), energy storage, distributed generation resources, and smart grid
investments;</text>
</clause><clause id="H387AF13CEA8048B78B162A26AED0C184"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the plans of
Regional Transmission Organizations, Independent System Operators, State
authorities, Indian tribes, transmission owners, load-serving entities, and
others in the region;</text>
</clause><clause id="H11CDC445FC2445838C381456E069AD4E"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the needs and
long-term rights described in section 217(b); and</text>
</clause><clause id="HE8D97BF111BA4F4496AD678EE0C4E70F"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>costs to
consumers of high-priority national transmission projects, including
considering the cost of reasonable alternatives.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1EDFAE72457C43889C24E61742C8BF2B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Submission of
plans</header>
<subparagraph id="HAA9A9464325D47BEB1A487B1A5B1B8EB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header>
<clause id="H2F355E0A3096460E89593036C7B703E4"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>One or more public utilities, transmitting utilities,
Regional Transmission Organizations, Independent System Operators, regional
entities (as defined in section 215(a)), or other multistate organizations or
entities (including entities described in section 201(f)) may develop a
regional plan relating to 1 or more high-priority national transmission
projects that is consistent with the planning principles established by the
Commission.</text>
</clause><clause id="H478A1D3436084478A12F84EC188CECD3"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Other
plans</header>
<subclause id="H189158ECCD2B46578E73F5B2AF19D90D"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any public utility or transmitting utility that does not
participate in 1 of the regional plans developed under clause (i) shall develop
its own plan relating to any high-priority national transmission project
planned for the system of the utility.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HE64A809F064149A0A86C9A19E0E007F6"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Planning
principles</header><text>The plan shall be consistent with the planning
principles established by the Commission.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H725AD8D41C2348D1955A2750F7DE3B9B"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Timing</header><text>Any
plan developed under clause (i) or (ii) shall be submitted to the
Commission—</text>
<subclause id="H0F8FAF85FE82473C9A852A9DEA2DDD01"><enum>(I)</enum><text>as soon as
practicable, but not later than 2 years, after the date of enactment of the
<short-title>Fulfilling U.S. Energy Leadership
Act</short-title>; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H3EA4397BDC784DA496BBE6A14B27552D"><enum>(II)</enum><text>periodically
thereafter as prescribed by the Commission.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3F25801762E44A2185B491376E8D88C0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Coordination</header>
<clause id="H833E8AB7D30E4F26B8C6C75D0FE956DC"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Joint
submissions</header><text>The requirements of subparagraph (A) may be satisfied
by a joint submission.</text>
</clause><clause id="HD05EB636B00245E2A4DEC697262EC7B6"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Single
interconnection-wide plan</header><text>The Commission shall encourage
coordination that would permit submission of a single Interconnection-wide plan
for high-priority national transmission projects.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2EADAFF935A940C2B83DCF32961624FF"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Modifications</header><text>The
Commission may require modification of a submitted plan to the extent that the
Commission determines that the modification is necessary—</text>
<clause id="HFAEA7A80F5C24C1B8462704D1A1887CC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to
reconcile inconsistencies between plans submitted; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HE616BAA0DA524D14A12CE1A0081E0845"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to achieve the
policy goals established under subsection (a).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4153B74F616E4D9889C04698AA946185"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>The
transmission planning principles and requirements of this subsection shall
apply to each transmission owner and transmission planning entity in the United
States portion of the Eastern and Western Interconnections, including an entity
described in section 201(f).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H20D21F2AC6AD4032B03F406CF2DC3DC4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Siting</header>
<paragraph id="H8B175D8AE3334307A991B817718E0D09"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>The
purposes of this section is to ensure that high-priority national transmission
projects are in the public interest and advance the policy established under
subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6A56379D2FE6424CAE982D02C08CDFAE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Designation of
eligibility</header><text>The Commission may grant an applicant that submits an
application for a proposed project a designation of eligibility for
consideration under this subsection if the Commission finds that the proposed
project is a high-priority national transmission project.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H72AA004C5FEE4140A2CC67D3F30AF124"><enum>(3)</enum><header>State review of
project siting</header>
<subparagraph id="H4BDDD290C26340A7BB3A481BB37ED891"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>No developer of a high-priority national transmission
project may seek a certificate for construction under subsection (e) unless the
developer first seeks authorization to construct the high-priority national
transmission project under applicable State law concerning authorization and
routing of transmission facilities.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H18BA18F7946147A4B60037CFA071F2FB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Federal
authority</header><text>The Commission may authorize, in accordance with
subsection (e), construction of a high-priority national transmission project
that the Commission finds to be in the public interest and in accordance with
this section if a State—</text>
<clause id="H15DC109B7309430C897C5A365ACA50CF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>fails to approve
construction and authorize routing of a high-priority national transmission
project not later than 1 year after the date the applicant submits a completed
application for authorization to the State;</text>
</clause><clause id="H6EFC22B12DDB4593BED3D8196DE3E90E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>rejects the
application for a high-priority national transmission project; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H1F3C7DC87B80400F98F6FFCB917F27FC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>authorizes the
high-priority national transmission project subject to conditions that
unreasonably interfere with the development of a high-priority national
transmission project contrary to the purposes of this section.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H73BE170A68A441E1B83286A7ABF76DCE"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Construction</header>
<paragraph id="HA8DE12584DD64436BF332659CB8E720B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Application for
certificate</header>
<subparagraph id="HBDFA2391256B4CA99DE1FBD2657627A3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An applicant for a high-priority national transmission
project may apply to the Commission for a certificate of public convenience and
necessity with respect to construction of the high-priority national
transmission project within a State affected by the high-priority national
transmission project if the State—</text>
<clause id="H08FF5FD349C84D0B84633C60470C7405"><enum>(i)</enum><text>fails to authorize
construction of the high-priority national transmission project under State law
not later than 1 year after the date the developer submits a completed
application for authorization to the State;</text>
</clause><clause id="HAA1EC0A75E354146B02D7D6106484CC6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>rejects the
application for the high-priority national transmission project; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H5ED1073AAE87447EADD3B63D74C850DD"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>authorizes the
high-priority national transmission project subject to conditions that
unreasonably interfere with the development of a high-priority national
transmission project contrary to the purposes of this section.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA9E0B0FEB26D4AD3B1273D0E5634AFDB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Form</header><text>The
application for a certificate shall be made in writing in such form and
containing such information as the Commission may by regulation require.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC16F6BC7554B4A07B9493CB47BD5277D"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Hearing</header><text>On
receipt of an application under this paragraph, the Commission—</text>
<clause id="HCF68331A51B04F5B9CA80D6DE4BCA742"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall provide
notice to interested persons and opportunity for hearing; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H0B8BB8CD5ABC47899A4F4BD53261ABDD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may approve (with
or without conditions) or disapprove the application, in accordance with
paragraph (2).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF1E04651539D4A5E82DC6F5725C75645"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Grant of
certificate</header>
<subparagraph id="H2FF2413AD756480DADCB9C96EBF2FA97"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A certificate shall be issued to a qualified applicant
for a certificate authorizing the whole or partial operation, construction,
acquisition, or modification covered by the application, only if the Commission
determines that—</text>
<clause id="HED097B8D1F064E088B53F1BB5F02C06D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the applicant is
able and willing—</text>
<subclause id="HA321016E8A794CE2B0916A14833701C5"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to do the acts and
to perform the service proposed; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HDE144E97F9B84FF9A6F64BE9A814289C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to comply with
this Act (including regulations); and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H8313E10D95164314BF6DA15660839FD0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the proposed
operation, construction, acquisition, or modification, to the extent authorized
by the certificate, is or will be required by the present or future public
convenience and necessity.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H65AFD7EEFA3D4C6394BD369B72717D65"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Terms and
conditions</header><text>The Commission shall have the power to attach to the
issuance of a certificate under this paragraph and to the exercise of the
rights granted under the certificate such reasonable terms and conditions as
the public convenience and necessity may require.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE450A805785F4C76BAB0B75475E8537C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Use of State
work</header><text>If 1 or more States reject or fail to act on a high-priority
national transmission project and the Commission has siting authority for the
high-priority national transmission project under this section, the Commission
shall give due weight to—</text>
<clause id="HE774C6B9E6DE470181ADDC46AE47B533"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the environmental
record and results of the siting process of a State that did complete the
siting process of the State under this section; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H71A81755DB2448D8AD9BB9B88432F4DB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the information
that had been submitted by an applicant to the State under this section.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4D27180605D247E7ADDF616828EC27BE"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Evaluation of
abilities of applicant</header>
<clause id="HF8462E3A80144F5BB6BAB4155761DEE7"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In evaluating the ability of an applicant described in
subparagraph (A)(i), the Commission shall consider whether the financial and
technical capabilities of the applicant are adequate to support construction
and operation of the high-priority national transmission project proposed in
the application.</text>
</clause><clause id="HAF5EAD1B39D54D5C867190D401E1B98B"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Joint ownership
projects</header><text>In evaluating applications under paragraph (1), the
Commission shall consider benefits from the greater diversification of
financial risk inherent in the applications involving joint ownership projects
by multiple load-serving entities.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC67A983CA09A46C982B7F36A89C247C8"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Public
convenience and necessity</header><text>In making a determination with respect
to public convenience and necessity described in subparagraph (A)(ii), the
Commission shall—</text>
<clause id="HA97E181338CB4E6092D4F943F8F464BB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>consider whether
the facilities covered by an application are included in an
Interconnection-wide transmission grid plan for a high-priority national
transmission project developed pursuant to subsection (c); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H5F46B5F12ACD4F3EAB709B667C0C0F46"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>determine whether
the facilities covered by the application are in the public interest.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3D178C847914499B952E5B287DF0D8BE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Right of eminent
domain</header><text>If any holder of a certificate issued under paragraph (2)
cannot acquire by contract, or is unable to agree with the owner of property on
the compensation to be paid for, the necessary right-of-way to construct,
operate, and maintain the high-priority national transmission project to which
the certificate relates, and the necessary land or other property necessary to
the proper operation of the high-priority national transmission project, the
holder may acquire the right-of-way by the exercise of the right of eminent
domain in—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAD07585B674B415184CC84D7812B59AD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the United States
district court for the district in which the property is located; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF3525F95FD4C467B94B91B2F36A86AB1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a State
court.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE240C5219D09460B9C52F859494A3511"><enum>(4)</enum><header>State and tribal
recommendations</header><text>In granting a certificate under paragraph (2),
the Commission shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H92BFE52C54264E7E881353BA900201E9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>permit State
regulatory agencies and affected Indian tribes to recommend mitigation
measures, based on habitat protection, environmental considerations, or
cultural site protection; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC0E89E061FA344E994B371BA8F262511"><enum>(B)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H989440307EDC4ED28F83E322D60EBA9F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>incorporate those
identified mitigation measures as conditions on the certificate; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H46E5EE77E2FD4CEB8E2F590CAF19C1C7" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if the Commission determines that
a recommended mitigation measure is inconsistent with the purposes of this
section, infeasible, or not cost-effective—</text>
<subclause id="HD4D4F91C8BEB48E6AEDF2543E1A304D5"><enum>(I)</enum><text>consult with State regulatory agencies
and affected Indian tribes to seek to resolve the issue;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H523ABC8D6CE04C2A82D6C610A018BBE2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>incorporate as conditions on the
certificate such recommended mitigation measures as are determined to be
appropriate by the Commission, based on consultation by the Commission with
State regulatory agencies and affected Indian tribes, the purposes of this
section, and the record before the Commission; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HAD9B60FC670D4096895C274DFA192958"><enum>(III)</enum><text>if, after consultation, the Commission
does not adopt in whole or in part a recommendation of an agency or affected
Indian tribe, publish a statement of a finding that the adoption of the
recommendation is infeasible, not cost-effective, or inconsistent with this
section or other applicable provisions of law.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE6DA807C6FDA4C6D9613B0DF04D2BB45"><enum>(5)</enum><header>State or local
authorizations</header><text>An applicant receiving a certificate under this
subsection with respect to construction or modification of a high-priority
national transmission project in a State shall not require a separate siting
authorization from the State or any local authority within the State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB3D359AF34CA40F188F416A21C384A13"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Rights-of-way
over indian land</header><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (3), in the case of
siting, construction, operation, and maintenance of a transmission facility to
be located on or over Indian land, a certificate holder under this section
shall comply with the requirements of Federal law for obtaining rights-of-way
on or over Indian land.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7DB2252B2B46471FB92A15DB0E736236"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Coordination of
Federal authorizations for transmission facilities</header>
<paragraph id="H79A4A22E916F485E9DE9ECA78714207D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of
Federal authorization</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>Federal
authorization</term> means any authorization required under Federal law in
order to site a transmission facility on Federal land, including such permits,
special use authorizations, certifications, opinions, or other approvals as may
be required under Federal law in order to site a transmission facility.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H12F42DD37CBF4CBABE6E9FFF2FF153A8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Lead
agency</header><text>If a Federal authorization for a high-priority national
transmission project involves land under the jurisdiction of the Department of
the Interior and any other Federal agency, the Secretary of the Interior shall
act as the lead agency for purposes of coordinating all applicable Federal
authorizations and related environmental reviews.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8874DF9AD01847399E7630E1B4F26502"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>To
the maximum extent practicable under applicable Federal law, the Secretary of
the Interior shall coordinate the Federal authorization and review process
under this subsection with the Commission, and with any Indian tribes,
multistate entities, and State agencies that are responsible for conducting any
separate permitting and environmental reviews of the facility, to ensure timely
and efficient review and permit decisions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5CCA41D6065F4594964937448BE65112"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Milestones and
deadlines</header>
<subparagraph id="H9F7165AE157442FEB3CF6D649ACDB0E7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>As the lead agency, the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with the Commission and any other agency responsible for Federal
authorizations and, as appropriate, with Indian tribes, multistate entities,
and State agencies that are willing to coordinate their own separate permitting
and environmental reviews with the Federal authorization and environmental
reviews, shall establish prompt and binding intermediate milestones and
ultimate deadlines for the review of, and Federal authorization decisions
relating to, the proposed high-priority national transmission project.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9273927C469F40FDA82073AFA3F8A8A1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>The
Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that, once an application has been
submitted with such data as the Commission and the Secretaries with
jurisdiction over the affected land consider necessary, all permit decisions
and related environmental reviews under all applicable Federal laws shall be
completed not later than 1 year after the date of submission.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H97FE54CEFA9546FBAC79537FFDC35CA2"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Preapplication
information</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with
the Commission, shall provide an expeditious preapplication mechanism for
prospective applicants to confer with the agencies involved to have each such
agency determine and communicate to the prospective applicant not later than 60
days after the prospective applicant submits a request for such information
concerning—</text>
<clause id="H2FBCFF6A61C14A54A4056F575E3980FA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the likelihood of
approval for a potential facility; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HFF07532442794D83BBFEAF7463D8E212"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>key issues of
concern to the agencies and public.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H438533A72A314D0A8E603B851D4010A9"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Environmental
review document</header>
<subparagraph id="HC60D4362AA41415996CDDFE27B5D0115"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>As lead agency, the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with the Commission and any affected agency, shall prepare a
single environmental review document, which shall be used as the basis for all
decisions on the proposed high-priority national transmission project under
Federal law.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8D03B3C96CB249C794003F1DA0A62428"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Streamlining</header><text>The
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation
with the Commission, shall streamline the review and permitting of transmission
within corridors designated under section 503 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1763) or section 368 of the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15926) by fully taking into account prior analyses and
decisions relating to the corridors.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC05170FFF36D4A4488FDA2A700799BE9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Comments</header><text>If
the high-priority national transmission project includes Federal land that is
not under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, the document
shall include comments made by the Secretary with jurisdiction over the
affected land on matters necessary for the protection of the land or required
under applicable law.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H374A798D71D64FA49F717C32C1970F5A"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Issuance or
denial of authorization by president</header>
<subparagraph id="HEC4CE75FEE854DA9A939E37A4B37E7B2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (7), if any agency has denied a
Federal authorization required for a transmission facility within an energy
right-of-way corridor on Federal land designated pursuant to section 368 of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15926), or has failed to act by the
deadline established by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to this section
for deciding whether to issue the authorization, the applicant or any State in
which the facility would be located may file an appeal with the President, who
shall, in consultation with the affected agency, review the denial or failure
to take action on the pending application.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H53F797CB82024D53A577BFDAC05D787F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Options</header><text>Based
on the overall record and in consultation with the affected agency, the
President may—</text>
<clause id="H363EB21EC0EB41B4AF36F2616330F7DD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>issue the
necessary authorization with any appropriate conditions; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HB380C4A50FF64384B3E2FE2E81065D22"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>deny the
application.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8C1EA70919E54BB980B310F8027076FA"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>The
President shall issue a decision not later than 90 days after the date of the
filing of the appeal.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6A50CB351806410A8B45A0745147B539"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Federal
requirements</header><text>In making a decision under this paragraph, the
President shall comply with applicable requirements of Federal law, including
any requirements of—</text>
<clause id="H8503C51AE369416DA7633864C7971D41"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the National
Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.);</text>
</clause><clause id="H9B392BB2F0EB45C4BCF5D4B7CD43C919"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);</text>
</clause><clause id="HCF47D26A5C9943EAAB16A3D6CB7E79EA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.);</text>
</clause><clause id="H43D76559FC7C491DB8132F4362F4F935"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H29AD798FD3AB46C1B7E9C54BBD33193E"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE1C1772BA4A44BA3A12CFD98B506F8F0"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Applicability of
issuance or denial of authorization by president</header><text>Paragraph (6)
shall not apply to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H807684F68CB64872A6A39A93381C8742"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a unit of the
National Park System;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2FA0A5543D1B4226B767E4CD08036C9F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a unit of the
National Wildlife Refuge System;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H229F08C637B24BA2BB52D54045EFD559"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a component of the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFA3A2D448C964BC589B3F1E194DFEF42"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a component of the
National Trails System;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFBCB9EB855874A67AABFF556501796B8"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a component of the
National Wilderness Preservation System;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB052917492814F05BA348F22D3738F4D"><enum>(F)</enum><text>a National
Monument;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7DB38023396046398A357F9B9C6C801E"><enum>(G)</enum><text>any part of the
National Landscape Conservation System;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H82A2B38E1F7B48C08D291AFFAE4C49D5"><enum>(H)</enum><text>a National
Preserve;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H06B69054752C4AE28666CC7C1DDC6785"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a National Scenic
Area; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8064BD0B66E74A3FA7077180BFBCFAC0"><enum>(J)</enum><text>a National
Recreation Area.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H991D4B9EB2A2494CBC52B204921283B9"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Energy
right-of-way corridors on federal land</header>
<subparagraph id="HBB9F2293BE5E4F9DB7E0032C23DBD277"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary with
jurisdiction over the land shall, to the maximum extent practicable, use the
energy right-of-way corridors designated in accordance with section 368 of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15926).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H03DE6889C9D94511957A2779E692E062"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Additional
corridors</header><text>If the Secretary is unable to use an energy
right-of-way corridor described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
establish an additional corridor in accordance with section 368(c) of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15926(c)).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBCBAC4B9C48648BAB3D3C79C2F69445C"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Duration</header>
<subparagraph id="HEB18191BCC124525AEBD2EA003798919"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Each Federal land use authorization for an electricity
transmission facility shall be issued—</text>
<clause id="H9A377E4401E2449783830511CEC66626"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for a duration, as
determined by the Secretary with jurisdiction over the land, commensurate with
the anticipated use of the facility;</text>
</clause><clause id="HC7DBAB81967D465EA4ED0E8B9D6F37FF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>with appropriate
authority to manage the right-of-way for reliability and environmental
protection; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H033BDD32009947EEA62764BB71FFC106"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>consistent with
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and
other applicable law.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H984AC092E398456A9445476825E05E21"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Renewal</header><text>On
the expiration of the authorization (including an authorization issued before
the date of enactment of the <short-title>Fulfilling U.S.
Energy Leadership Act</short-title>), the authorization shall be reviewed for
renewal—</text>
<clause id="H59CD6B056EBB498B95F6C73D6E232D62"><enum>(i)</enum><text>taking fully into
account reliance on the electricity infrastructure; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HA132764BE4C748EFB620129E10D776BA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>recognizing the
importance of the authorization for public health, safety, and economic welfare
and as a legitimate use of Federal land.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H90315224CE134747ACE5687252A3647A"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In
exercising the responsibilities under this section, the Secretary of the
Interior and the Commission shall consult regularly with—</text>
<subparagraph id="H979A8BFB655846A4B3CE0B3EB0BFFC62"><enum>(A)</enum><text>electric
reliability organizations (including related regional entities) approved by the
Commission;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9F30E032B0D746168D53A41BFB555CFD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Transmission
Organizations approved by the Commission; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26F510AE00604440BD6C55F3687DCBBC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>transmission
owners and users and other interested parties.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3FD77AB2A0DD4CDDBFE992E5004186F2"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Implementation</header>
<subparagraph id="H758927BB86B5408D919613AC926A10A4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Not
later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the
<short-title>Fulfilling U.S. Energy Leadership
Act</short-title>, the Secretary of the Interior and the Commission shall issue
any regulations necessary to carry out this subsection.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8D2B311460E447758A4606EFE4706C93"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Federal staff
and resources</header><text>The head of each Federal agency with authority to
issue a Federal authorization shall designate a senior official responsible
for, and dedicate sufficient other staff and resources to ensure, full
implementation of the regulations and memorandum required under this
paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4F489F024EBB4024A6928EDFE2B94D8F"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Evaluation and
recommendations</header><text>The Commission shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HAA3A28232536451CBE2B1721028D6E1B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>periodically
evaluate whether high-priority national transmission projects are being
constructed in accordance with the Interconnection-wide transmission grid plan
for high-priority national transmission projects for both the Western and
Eastern Interconnection areas;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0442E178660B4A5EA107047ACC87D3E3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>take any necessary
actions, pursuant to applicable law, to address any identified obstacles to
investment, siting, and construction of high-priority national transmission
projects identified as needed under an Interconnection-wide plan; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB32E2FF789CD43148D91D600A04885C2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Fulfilling U.S. Energy Leadership Act</short-title>,
submit to Congress recommendations for any further actions or authority needed
to ensure the effective and timely development of—</text>
<subparagraph id="HED8D631BD3B54649945621A914FF76E1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>high-priority
national transmission projects; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE70EB4DB271D499C9486E9DAE8372839"><enum>(B)</enum><text>transmission
projects to access regional and offshore renewable energy generation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H733B59E8D479442CBBB72A7A4941712B"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Report of
secretary</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
the <short-title>Fulfilling U.S. Energy Leadership
Act</short-title>, the Secretary shall submit to Congress recommendations for
any further actions or authority needed to ensure the effective and timely
development of—</text>
<paragraph id="H3E6B73FF13AA4DFA81DB937BC8F5596E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>demand
response;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8C5F054F376B4F6E9378DC71E28D93E5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>energy
storage;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6FAE57958CD44ADEA9DE61D23CA89536"><enum>(3)</enum><text>distributed
generation;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H367E722BF0B34E57939DBF52F3B57B87"><enum>(4)</enum><text>energy efficiency;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB14252B1CECB453C96321DD2DAAE3B27"><enum>(5)</enum><text>other areas
necessary to carry out the policy established under subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H45F10DF1C2E44381AEC01752090FB7F8"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Cost
allocation</header>
<paragraph id="HBA5D5A4773CE42BB9A8CDD7E6970280B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of
the <short-title>Fulfilling U.S. Energy Leadership
Act</short-title>, the Commission—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6E3A0A303FED4259AC0224FF5B77A6E7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall establish by
rule an appropriate methodology for allocation of the costs of high-priority
national transmission projects, subject to the requirement that any cost
allocation methodology, and any rates affected by the cost allocation
methodology, shall be just, reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory or
preferential;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDED6D0C2CFA44BFE87AFA0A52FA97FA0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may permit
allocation of costs for high-priority national transmission projects to
load-serving entities within all or a part of a region, except that costs shall
not be allocated to a region, or subregion, unless the costs are reasonably
proportionate to measurable economic and reliability benefits;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H496DF967A8D246EEB8D198C3CC101413"><enum>(C)</enum><text>may permit
allocation of costs to generators of electricity connected by a high-priority
national transmission project; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H52C486D8EBC84D47A03E27968BBC675F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>shall provide for
due deference to cost allocation proposals supported by broad agreement among
affected States.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9477A0E621234B18B5F068A5CA1B23C2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mechanism for
collection of costs</header><text>The Commission shall adopt such rules and
require inclusion of such provisions in transmission tariffs as are required to
provide for—</text>
<subparagraph id="H514B1354AAA7418AA780989C1E9B9518"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the efficient
collection of allocated costs for development and operation of high-priority
national transmission projects; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF9CA9AC38CC44FA29DD798263279B678"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the distribution
of those revenues to owners of the high-priority national transmission
projects.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA318FD4DC40844CDAF4B1B152CC0D67E"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Relationship to
other laws</header>
<paragraph id="HDD12610901FE45CDB801E4A4FF1CD673"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as specifically provided in this section, nothing
in this section affects any requirement of an environmental or historic
preservation law of the United States, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="H01EB702CD3D54464B93075E5CF08BBE8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H859338B38A9E4B2691CEB31A329A2034"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Wilderness Act
(16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9907A7EFC39E4850B811C42151CB3FB4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H223B97A1533943DDB93789D6FBE1FD96"><enum>(2)</enum><header>State
law</header><text>Nothing in this section precludes any person from
constructing or modifying any transmission facility in accordance with State
law.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2BBEBFA7EA394760A4D2462F9B7EA82D"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Transmission
rights To support new generation development</header><text>Subject to section
217(b)(4), it is the policy of the United States that long-term transmission
rights of firmness and duration sufficient to support generation investment (or
equivalent tradable or financial long-term transmission rights), shall be
available under appropriate terms and conditions to load-serving entities (as
defined in section 217(a)(2)) for long-term power supply arrangements for new
generation facilities using renewable energy.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD2ED3D09F1594F868CB93D01DE39075C"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Resource
assessments</header>
<paragraph id="HDACEA1D3012F405EAC238057AD39D3FC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall conduct nationwide assessments to
identify areas with a significant potential for the development of
location-constrained resources.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6DFD2641B02749578ED890D26718F7EE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Formats</header><text>The
resource assessments shall be made available to the public in multiple formats,
including in a geographical information system compatible format.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H75532C84868748E5B89C6549A4F162E3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Timing</header><text>The
Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H576A774364004CF792FF108967C5DD2A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>make the initial
resource assessment required under this subsection not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Fulfilling
U.S. Energy Leadership Act</short-title>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC84BB8037BBA4025BA6DBB3ABD910ECF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>refine the
resource assessment on a regular basis that is consistent with regional
planning cycles.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB3F297DFED284121A256699B1FD0A9B1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Technical
assistance</header><text>The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to
regional planning authorities, on request, to assist the authorities in
carrying out this subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF17D7FF840D048928596F9D2C520D2D0"><enum>(m)</enum><header>Congestion
studies</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the
<short-title>Fulfilling U.S. Energy Leadership
Act</short-title> and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation
with affected States and Indian tribes, shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HFC2F5F8EF40F4AF6BD6DF11003D6F768"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct a study of
electric transmission congestion; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE56EBD219DDF4174934308CC3E7A1C1C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the results of the
study.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H45F69E492EAE4072965F4ACAAFD1B713"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Applicability</header>
<paragraph id="H9048AC2B25444EE2BE29ADAD67DD6412"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the
authority of the Commission under this section to approve transmission plans
and to allocate costs incurred pursuant to the plans applies to all
transmission providers, generators, and users, owners, and operators of the
power system within the Eastern and Western Interconnections of the United
States, including entities described in section 201(f).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC8167D4D4FD944A28CD41F9E5753082D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Regional
planning entities</header><text>The Commission shall have authority over
regional planning entities to the extent necessary to carry out this
section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB0E753BAEB004EEDA24ADCAE5588CA64"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Project
developers</header><text>Nothing in this section precludes the development,
subject to applicable regulatory requirements, of transmission projects that
are not included in plans developed under this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDA4EECFE309A42F9BF0CCFCF91C51EDB"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Commission-approved
planning processes</header><text>Nothing in this section affects the approval,
siting, or cost allocation for a project that is authorized pursuant to
planning processes that have been approved by the Commission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF05F8D4A54294CDA9F9F07556677AF33"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>This
section does not apply in the State of Alaska or Hawaii or to the Electric
Reliability Council of Texas, unless the State or the Council voluntarily
elects to participate in a cost allocation plan under this
section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section>