[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 108 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         ENERGY POLICY AND CONSERVATION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1994

  Mr. SHARP. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill, (H.R. 4752) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to 
manage the Strategic Petroleum Reserve more effectively, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4752

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Policy and 
     Conservation Act Amendments of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSES.

       (a)(1) In the table of contents of the Energy Policy and 
     Conservation Act, strike the items relating to sections 102, 
     153, 155, 158, and 164, and strike the items relating to 
     parts A and C of title II.
       (2) The item in the table of contents of the Energy Policy 
     and Conservation Act relating to section 159 is amended to 
     read as follows:

``Sec. 159. Development, operations, and maintenance of the Reserve.''.

       (3) The item in the table of contents of the Energy Policy 
     and Conservation Act relating to section 165 is amended to 
     read as follows:

``Sec. 165. Reports.''.

       (b) Section 2 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
     U.S.C. 6201) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``standby authority to the 
     President, subject to congressional review, to impose 
     rationing, to reduce demand for energy through the 
     implementation of energy conservation plans, and'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``authority to the President''; and
       (2) by striking paragraphs (3) and (6) and redesignating 
     paragraphs (4), (5), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (3), (4), 
     (5), and (6), respectively.

     SEC. 3. TITLE I AMENDMENTS.

       Title I of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking section 102 (42 U.S.C. 6211);
       (2) in section 151 (42 U.S.C. 6231)--
       (A) in subsection (a) by striking ``limited'' and by 
     striking ``short-term''; and
       (B) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
       ``(b) It is the policy of the United States to provide for 
     the creation of a Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the storage 
     of up to 1,000,000,000 barrels of petroleum products to 
     reduce the impact of disruptions in supplies of petroleum 
     products or to carry out obligations of the United States 
     under the international energy program.'';
       (3) in section 152 (42 U.S.C. 6232)--
       (A) by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs 
     (2) through (11) as paragraphs (1) through (10), 
     respectively; and
       (B) in paragraph (10) (as so redesignated by subparagraph 
     (A) of this paragraph) by striking ``, the Early Storage 
     Reserve'';
       (4) by striking section 153 (42 U.S.C 6233);
       (5) in section 154 (42 U.S.C. 6234)--
       (A) by amending subsection (a)(1) to read as follows:
       ``(a)(1) A Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the storage of 
     up to 1,000,000,000 barrels of petroleum products shall be 
     created pursuant to this part.'';
       (B) in subsection (a)(2)(D), by striking ``160(h)'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``160(e)'';
       (C) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
       ``(b) The Secretary, acting through the Strategic Petroleum 
     Reserve Office and in accordance with this part, shall 
     exercise authority over the development, operation, and 
     maintenance of the Reserve.'';
       (D) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
       ``(c) The Secretary, not later than 6 months after the date 
     of enactment of this subsection, and every two years 
     thereafter, shall prepare and transmit to the Congress a 
     Strategic Petroleum Reserve Operating and Readiness Plan. 
     Such plan shall describe the long-range operational, 
     maintenance, refurbishment, product replacement, testing, 
     withdrawal and distribution, and readiness requirements to 
     enable the implementation of the policy declared in section 
     151.''; and
       (E) by striking subsections (d) and (e).
       (6) by striking section 155 (42 U.S.C. 6235);
       (7) in section 156(b) (42 U.S.C. 6236(b)) by striking ``To 
     implement the Early Storage Reserve Plan or the Strategic 
     Petroleum Reserve Plan which has taken effect pursuant to 
     section 159(a), the'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``The'';
       (8) by amending section 157 (42 U.S.C 6237)--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``The Strategic 
     Petroleum Reserve Plan shall provide for the establishment 
     and maintenance of'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``The 
     Secretary shall establish and maintain as part of the 
     Strategic Petroleum Reserve''; and
       (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``To implement the 
     Strategic Petroleum Reserve Plan, the Secretary shall 
     accumulate and maintain'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``The 
     Secretary shall establish and maintain as part of the 
     Strategic Petroleum Reserve'';
       (9) by striking section 158 (42 U.S.C 6238);
       (10) in section 159 (42 U.S.C. 6239)--
       (A) by amending the section head to read as follows:


      ``development, operations, and maintenance of the reserve'';

       (B) by striking subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (h), 
     and (i), and redesignating subsections (f), (g), (j), (k), 
     and (l) as subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), 
     respectively;
       (C) by amending subsection (a) (as so redesignated by 
     subparagraph (B) of this paragraph) to read as follows:
       ``(a) In order to develop, operate, or maintain the 
     Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the Secretary may--
       ``(1) issue rules, regulations, or orders;
       ``(2) acquire by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, land 
     or interests in land for the location of storage and related 
     facilities;
       ``(3) construct, purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire 
     storage and related facilities;
       ``(4) use, lease, maintain, sell, or otherwise dispose of 
     storage and related facilities acquired under this part, 
     under such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers 
     necessary and appropriate;
       ``(5) acquire, subject to the provisions of section 160, by 
     purchase, exchange, or otherwise, petroleum products for 
     storage in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, including the 
     Regional Petroleum Reserve;
       ``(6) store petroleum products in storage facilities owned 
     and controlled by the United States or in storage facilities 
     owned by others if those facilities are subject to audit by 
     the United States;
       ``(7) execute any contracts necessary to develop, operate, 
     or maintain the Strategic Petroleum Reserve;
       ``(8) require an importer of petroleum products or refiner 
     to acquire and to store and maintain, in readily available 
     inventories, petroleum products in the Industrial Petroleum 
     Reserve, under section 156;
       ``(9) require the storage of petroleum products in the 
     Industrial Petroleum Reserve, under section 156, on such 
     reasonable terms as the Secretary may specify, in storage 
     facilities owned and controlled by the United States or in 
     storage facilities other than those owned by the United 
     States if those facilities are subject to audit by the United 
     States;
       ``(10) require the maintenance of the Industrial Petroleum 
     Reserve; and
       ``(11) bring an action, when the Secretary considers it 
     necessary, in any court having jurisdiction over the 
     proceedings, to acquire by condemnation any real or personal 
     property, including facilities, temporary use of facilities, 
     or other interests in land, together with any personal 
     property located on or used with the land.'';
       (D) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated by subparagraph 
     (B) of this paragraph)--
       (i) by striking ``implementation'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``development''; and
       (ii) by striking ``Plan'';
       (E) by amending subsection (c) (as so redesignated by 
     subparagraph (B) of this paragraph) to read as follows:
       ``(c) When the Secretary determines that a 750,000,000 
     barrel inventory can reasonably be expected to be reached in 
     the Reserve within 5 years, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Congress a plan for expansion of the Strategic Petroleum 
     Reserve to a capacity of 1,000,000,000 barrels.''; and
       (F) by amending subsection (e) (as so redesignated by 
     subparagraph (B) of this paragraph) to read as follows:
       ``(e) During any period in which drawdown and distribution 
     are being implemented, the Secretary may issue rules, 
     regulations, or orders to implement the drawdown and 
     distribution of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, without 
     regard to the requirements of section 553 of title 5, United 
     States Code, and section 501 of the Department of Energy 
     Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7191).'';
       (11) in section 160 (42 U.S.C. 6240)--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
     all that follows through ``transport, or exchange'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``For the purpose of implementing 
     the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the Secretary may acquire, 
     place in storage, transport, or exchange'';
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) by striking ``, including the Early Storage Reserve''; 
     and
       (ii) by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs 
     (3) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; 
     and
       (C) by striking subsections (c), (d), and (e) and 
     redesignating subsections (f), (g), and (h) as subsections 
     (c), (d), and (e), respectively;
       (12) in section 161 (42 U.S.C. 6241)--
       (A) by striking subsections (b) and (c) and redesignating 
     subsections (d) through (i) as subsections (b) through (g), 
     respectively;
       (B) by amending subsection (b)(1) (as so redesignated by 
     subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) to read as follows:
       ``(b)(1) No drawdown and distribution of the Strategic 
     Petroleum Reserve may be made unless the President has found 
     drawdown and distribution is required by a severe energy 
     supply interruption or by obligations of the United States 
     under the international energy program.'';
       (C) by amending subsection (c) (as so redesignated by 
     subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) to read as follows:
       ``(c)(1) The Secretary shall sell any petroleum product 
     withdrawn from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at public sale 
     to the highest qualified bidder in the amounts and for the 
     period the Secretary considers appropriate, and after a 
     notice of sale the Secretary considers appropriate.
       ``(2) The Secretary may cancel in whole or in part any 
     offer to sell petroleum products as part of any drawdown and 
     distribution under this section.''; and
       (D) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated by subparagraph 
     (A) of this paragraph)--
       (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Distribution Plan'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``distribution procedures'';
       (ii) by striking paragraphs (2) and (6) and redesignating 
     paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (2), 
     (3), (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and
       (iii) in subsection (f)(1)(A) (as so redesignated by 
     subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) by striking ``subsection 
     (d)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``subsection (b)'';
       (13) by striking section 164 (42 U.S.C. 6244);
       (14) by amending section 165 (42 U.S.C. 6245) to read as 
     follows:


                               ``reports

       ``Sec. 165. The Secretary shall, not later than 6 months 
     after the date of enactment of the Energy Policy and 
     Conservation Act Amendments of 1994, and every 6 months 
     thereafter, transmit a report to the President and the 
     Congress on--
       ``(1) the status of the physical capacity of the Reserve 
     and the type and quantity of petroleum in the Reserve;
       ``(2) an estimate of the schedule and cost to complete 
     planned equipment upgrade or capital investment in the 
     Reserve, including those carried out as part of operational 
     maintenance or extension of life activities;
       ``(3) an identification of any life-limiting conditions or 
     operational problems at any Reserve facility, and proposed 
     remedial actions including an estimate of the schedule and 
     cost of implementing such remedial actions;
       ``(4) a description of current withdrawal and distribution 
     rates and capabilities, and an identification of any 
     operational or other limitations on such rates and 
     capabilities;
       ``(5) an identification of purchases of petroleum made in 
     the preceding 6 months and planned in the following 6 months, 
     including quantity, price, and type of petroleum;
       ``(6) a summary of the actions taken to develop, operate, 
     and maintain the Reserve;
       ``(7) a summary of the financial status and financial 
     transactions of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Strategic 
     Petroleum Reserve Petroleum Accounts for the preceding 6 
     months;
       ``(8) a summary of operating and capital expenses for the 
     preceding 6 months, and the number of Federal and contractor 
     employees;
       ``(9) the status of contracts for development, operation, 
     maintenance, distribution, and other activities related to 
     the implementation of this part; and
       ``(10) any recommendations for supplemental legislation or 
     policy or operational changes the Secretary considers 
     necessary and appropriate to implement this part.'';
       (15) by amending section 166 (42 U.S.C. 6246) to read as 
     follows:


                   ``authorization of appropriations

       ``Sec. 166. There are authorized to be appropriated such 
     sums as may be necessary to implement this part.'';
       (16) in section 167 (42 U.S.C. 6247)--
       (A) in subsection (b)--
       (i) by inserting ``test sales of petroleum products from 
     the Reserve,'' after ``Strategic Petroleum Reserve,'';
       (ii) by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs 
     (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively;
       (iii) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated by clause (ii) 
     of this subsection) by striking ``after fiscal year 1982''; 
     and
       (iv) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated by clause (ii) of 
     this subsection) by striking ``160(f)'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``160(c)'';
       (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``160(f)'' and inserting 
     in lieu thereof ``160(c)''; and
       (C) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
       ``(e) The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 681-
     688) shall apply to funds made available under subsection 
     (b).'';
       (17) in section 171(b)(2)(B) (42 U.S.C. 6249(b)(2)(B)) by 
     inserting ``, as such section was in effect before the date 
     of enactment of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act 
     Amendments of 1994,'' after ``section 154(e)'';
       (18) in section 172 (42 U.S.C. 6249a) by striking 
     subsections (a) and (b) and redesignating subsections (c) and 
     (d) as subsections (a) and (b), respectively; and
       (19) in section 181 (42 U.S.C. 6251) by striking ``1994'' 
     both places it appears and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``1999''.

     SEC. 4. TITLE II AMENDMENTS.

       Title II of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking part A (42 U.S.C. 6261 through 6264);
       (2) in section 251(e)(1) (42 U.S.C. 6271(e)(1)) by striking 
     ``252(l)(1)'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``252(k)(1)'';
       (3) in section 252 (42 U.S.C. 6272)--
       (A) in subsections (a)(1) and (b), by striking ``allocation 
     and information provisions of the international energy 
     program'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``international 
     emergency response provisions'';
       (B) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ``known 
     circumstances'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``circumstances 
     known at the time of approval'';
       (C) in subsection (f)(2) by inserting ``voluntary agreement 
     or'' after ``approved'';
       (D) in subsection (i) by inserting ``annually, and at 
     least'' after ``least'' and by inserting ``during an 
     international energy supply emergency'' after ``months'';
       (E) in subsection (k) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
     follows:
       ``(2) The term `international emergency response 
     provisions' means--
       ``(A) the provisions of the international energy program 
     which relate to international allocation of petroleum 
     products and to the information system provided in the 
     program; and
       ``(B) the emergency response measures adopted by the 
     Governing Board of the International Energy Agency (including 
     the July 11, 1984, decision by the Governing Board on `Stocks 
     and Supply Disruptions') for--
       ``(i) the coordinated drawdown of stocks of petroleum 
     products held or controlled by governments; and
       ``(ii) complementary actions taken by governments,
     during an existing or impending international oil supply 
     disruption.''; and
       (F) by amending subsection (l) to read as follows:
       ``(l) The antitrust defense under subsection (f) shall not 
     extend to the international allocation of petroleum products 
     unless allocation is required by chapters III and IV of the 
     international energy program during an international energy 
     supply emergency.'';
       (4) by adding at the end of section 256(h) (42 U.S.C. 
     6276(h)) ``There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
     years 1996 through 1999 such sums as may be necessary to 
     carry out this part.'';
       (5) by striking part C (42 U.S.C. 6281 through 6282); and
       (6) in section 281 (42 U.S.C. 6285), by striking ``1994'' 
     each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``1999''.

     SEC. 5. MISCELLANEOUS ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 365(f) (42 U.S.C. 6325(f)) by amending 
     paragraph (1) to read as follows:
       ``(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for the purpose 
     of carrying out this part, there are authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal years 1995 through 1999 such sums as 
     may be necessary.''; and
       (2) by amending section 397 (42 U.S.C. 6371f) to read as 
     follows:


                   ``authorization of appropriations

       ``Sec. 397. For the purpose of carrying out this part, 
     there are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 1995 
     through 1999 such sums as may be necessary.''.
       (b) Section 507 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 6385) is amended by striking ``, which was 
     collected'' and all that follows through ``Information 
     Administration''.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 6(d) of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 
     Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 12005(d)) 
     is amended by striking ``fiscal year 1994'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``the period encompassing fiscal years 1996, 
     1997, and 1998''.

     SEC. 7. ELWHA RIVER ECOSYSTEM AND FISHERIES RESTORATION 
                   EXPENDITURES.

       Section 9 of the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries 
     Restoration Act (Public Law 102-495; 106 Stat. 3178) is 
     amended by striking ``for expenditure through the Assistant 
     Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks''.

     SEC. 8. SIZE LIMITATIONS OF ELIGIBLE FACILITIES UNDER PURPA.

       (a) Extension.--Section 3(17)(E) of the Federal Power Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 791a and following) is amended as follows:
       (1) By striking ``1994'' and inserting ``1996''.
       (2) By striking ``1999'' and inserting ``2001''.
       (b) Study.--Before January 1, 1996, the Secretary of 
     Energy, in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory 
     Commission, shall conduct a study to review the current 
     implementation of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act 
     of 1978 and submit a report to Congress containing the 
     results of such study. Such report shall include an 
     examination of the mandatory purchase requirements under such 
     Act, the implementation of avoided cost requirements by 
     various State public service commissions and ownership 
     restrictions imposed under such Act. In conducting the study, 
     the Secretary shall consult with State public service 
     commissions and other State regulatory authorities with 
     jurisdiction over electric power sales.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana [Mr. Sharp] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Sharp].
  Mr. SHARP. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 4752 is bipartisan, consensus legislation that 
extends key energy security programs needed for a possible future oil 
crisis, continues important energy conservation programs, and maintains 
renewable domestic energy to our citizens.
  The bill's two energy security programs--
  Extend through 1999 the President's authority to use our 590 million 
barrel Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the SPR, in a future oil crisis;
  Extend through 1999 laws backing up U.S. participation in the 
International Energy Agency, a group of over 20 mostly western nations 
formed after the 1973 oil embargo to seek joint solutions to their 
energy security problems.
  The bill's conservation provisions reauthorize appropriations for the 
Council on Energy Efficiency, Commerce, and Trade [COEECT]; the State 
Energy Conservation Program under EPCA; and the Institutional 
Conservation Program under EPCA.
  The bill's renewable energy provisions:
  Reauthorize appropriations for the Council on Renewable Energy, 
Commerce, and Trade [CORECT];
  Reauthorize appropriations for renewable energy demonstration and 
commercial application projects under REEETCA, the Renewable Energy and 
Energy Efficiency Techonolgy Competitiveness Act of 1989; and
  Extend for 2 years the incentives under PURPA, the Public Utility 
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, for solar, wind, waste, and geothermal 
powerplants of any size.
  Mr. Speaker, the administration supports this legislation. Our 
minority has worked closedly with us on it, and supports it.
  If you're worried about rising oil imports and an unstable Persian 
Gulf, vote for this bill. If you want to expand U.S. exports of 
renewable energy technologies and more energy efficient equipment, vote 
for this bill.
  If you agree that energy conservation is one of our biggest domestic 
supply sources, vote for this bill. Finally, if you want to maintain 
incentives for the clean, renewable electric power techonogies of the 
future, vote for this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I commend my colleagues for their wisdom and 
cooperation on these matters, especially Messrs. Moorhead, Synar, 
Bilirakis, Tauzin, and Lehman. I urge an ``aye'' vote.
  Madam Speaker, let me detail the provisions of this legislation, 
which amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act [EPCA] to reflect 
both global changes in the oil market and budget realities here in 
Congress.
  The strategic petroleum reserve [SPR] serves as our Nation's only 
insurance policy against the disastrous consequences of oil supply and 
price disruptions. Lack of money has limited our original goal of 
building and filling a 1 billion barrel SPR. The SPR now holds 590 
million barrels, which is a considerable tool in the event of a 
disruption, but we simply don't have the $10 billion needed to get to 1 
billion barrel goal. Many of us in Congress, on a bipartisan basis, 
understand the importance of a large and usable SPR, but the will has 
simply not been there--given our deficit and other, more pressing 
spending priorities--to find the money to continue the SPR fill.
  I regret that too few have recognized the importance of a larger 
SPR--especially after we failed to use SPR early in the 1990 Iraqi 
crisis, and especially in view of our ever rising dependence on oil 
imports.
  But we also face costly difficulties in keeping our existing SPR in 
working order. These difficulties, such as wornout pumps and hot and 
gassy oil, are limiting the availability of the 590 million barrels of 
oil we do have. At a minimum, we should keep the SPR in good shape with 
the limited funds we have. And the Department of Energy has said it 
intends to do just that.
  The bill keeps several critical SPR policies in place: The goal of a 
1 billion barrel reserve is maintained, and the President's authority 
to use the SPR in a crisis is unchanged.
  The bill also moves the International Energy Agency [IEA] away from 
its focus on the outdated oil sharing program, to the more effective 
crisis strategy of joint use of IEA nations' strategic oil stocks. 
These stocks--our SPR and similar stocks of other countries--hardly 
existed in 1974, and that's why the IEA was forced to draw up an 
emergency oil allocation plan as a second best solution. But now we can 
replace a shortage, instead of merely sharing it. Accordingly, the bill 
updates the IEA provisions of EPCA.
  State energy conservation programs are also in EPCA. The bill 
reauthorizes appropriations for two very successful State programs, the 
State Energy Conservation Program [SECP] and the Institutional 
Conservation Program [ICP]. The SECP funds State energy offices which 
develop State energy plans and assist in directing State efforts to 
conserve energy. The ICP provides funds on a matching basis for energy 
efficiency investments at hospitals and schools.

  The bill authorizes appropriations for two EPCA programs which help 
our domestic industries promote energy efficient equipment and 
renewable technologies exports overseas, the Council on Renewable 
Energy, Commerce and Trade [CORECT] and the Council on Energy 
Efficiency, Commerce and Trade [COEECT]. The global energy efficiency 
market is estimated at $60 to $90 billion annually. We have an edge in 
this area. Exploiting it means more U.S. jobs and less energy pollution 
worldwide. The programs leverage very small expenditures into very 
large purchases of U.S. technologies. In a recent case, a $30,000 
expenditure resulted in $20 million in contracts with Thai utilities 
and equipment manufacturers. These programs stand to bring a dramatic 
return on the investment of Federal dollars.
  H.R. 4752 reauthorizes appropriations for renewable energy projects 
under the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficenty Technology 
Competitiveness Act of 1989 [REEETC]. REEETC authorizes Federal 
assistance to selected demonstration and commercial application 
projects for renewable energy power plants, such as biomass energy, 
photovoltaics, fuel cells, wind and geothermal power.
  Projects must undergo a merit selection process under the direction 
of the Secretary of Energy, and must meet 50 percent cost sharing 
requirements to leverage taxpayer funds.
  The bill makes no changes to this program. It simply reauthorizes 
appropriations in the same amount--$50 million--which Congress approved 
for these projects in 1992. This amount can be spent over the 3-year 
period starting in fiscal year 1996 and ending in fiscal year 1998.
  Elwha: Section 7 of this bill is a technical amendment to the Elwah 
River Ecosystem and Fish Restoration Act [EREFRA]. The amendment 
strikes the reference in section 9 of EREFRA to the Assistant Interior 
Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. With this change, the 
Secretary of the Interior would administer the EREFRA funds, as is 
usually the case. The amendment makes no other changes to the program. 
The program will continue to be operated through the Assistant 
Secretary of the Interior.
  Finally, H.R. 4752 extends incentives for renewable energy 
powerplants set by PURPA, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 
1978. For several years, these incentives--hook-up requirements, 
wheeling rights, and power purchases at avoided cost rates--have been 
available to solar, wind, waste, and geothermal powerplants of any 
size. Unless we act now, that will stop at year's end, and only small 
generators under 80 megawatts will get these incentives.
  My colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee, who unanimously 
reported this measure last week, agree that we want more clean 
renewable energy, not less. A size restriction at years's end will give 
us less economical electricity, because small powerplants lose some 
economies of scale, and will discourage the cleanest of electricity 
generation technologies.
  Accordingly, the bill retains the status quo, and maintains the PURPA 
incentives for small and large renewable powerplants for 2 more years.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill to reauthorize the programs under 
the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The conservation and efficiency 
programs of EPCA help us to use less energy, which results in decreased 
dependence on imported energy sources. Without this reauthorization, 
these programs will expire this year.
  EPCA contains a number of programs which play an important role in 
assuring U.S. energy security and helping to reduce U.S. vulnerability 
to potential shut-offs of our imported oil supply. First, the Strategic 
Petroleum Reserve Program is vital in protecting us from world 
petroleum supply shortages. In addition, our participation in the 
international energy program provides us with important foreign 
cooperation when oil supplies are short.
  Second, EPCA programs provide money to states to assist in funding 
energy efficiency and conservation programs at schools and hospitals. 
It also funds State energy conservation programs which promote energy 
efficiency, the adoption of renewable energy measures, and increased 
use of alternative fuels.
  Third, this bill reauthorizes the councils on Renewable Energy 
Commerce and Trade and Energy Efficiency Commerce and Trade. These 
programs provide domestic energy efficiency and renewable energy 
industries with marketing information and financing opportunities 
overseas; increasing their ability to expand exports of these types of 
technologies to foreign countries.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, we support the measures contained in the 
chairman's amendment to EPCA. These amendments would reauthorize the 
Renewable Energy and Efficiency Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 
for another 3 years, make a technical change to the Elwah River 
Ecosystem and Fish Restoration Act, and maintain, for another 2 years, 
the existing exemption from the size limitation on renewable 
powerplants to qualify under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies 
Act.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I think each of the programs which we reauthorize 
today make important contributions in guaranteeing our energy security 
and I urge my fellow Members to support this bill.
  Mr. SHARP. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Washington [Mr. Dicks].
  (Mr. DICKS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of the 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bill under suspension, 
H.R. 4752, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act Amendments. H.R. 4752 
contains a small provision which will amend Public Law 102-495, the 
Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act, to allow the 
Secretary of the Interior flexibility in determining where funding will 
be dispersed for purposes of implementing the Elwha project.
  Let me express my great appreciation to Chairman Dingell and his 
staff for working with myself and others in the Washington State 
congressional delegation on this important issue. I would also like to 
express my appreciation to the chairman of the Natural Resources 
Committee, Mr. Miller, the chairman of the Merchant Marine and 
Fisheries Committee, Mr. Studds, the ranking minority on the full 
Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Young, and the ranking minority on the 
Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Mr. 
Smith of Oregon, all of which have been supportive of having the Elwha 
provision included in this bill, H.R. 4752.
  We are at a critical stage in the implementation of activities 
associated with the restoration of the Elwha River. An Environmental 
Impact Statement [EIS] has been initiated by the Interior Department, 
which should be completed in a year, and as early as the next fiscal 
budgetary cycle the Secretary will be ready to initiate the acquisition 
of the two dams involved, the Elwha and Glines Canyon.
  The Elwha dams project is an extremely high priority for Secretary 
Babbitt and the administration, and it is important that the Secretary 
has the full range of flexibility in funding the implementation of the 
Elwha legislation.
  The Elwha provision included in the Energy Policy and Conservation 
Act amendments, will help provide more predictability and certainty as 
the Elwha project moves forward. The greater certainty will help 
interested parties such as the Daishowa Co., which has a mill employing 
600 workers in the city of Port Angeles.
  The provision will also be welcomed by the city of Port Angeles, 
whose water supply will be affected by the project, and the Lower Elwha 
Tribe, which has much at stake for its future in the outcome of this 
process. Finally, this provision is strongly supported by the 
administration, which welcomes the opportunity to proceed with the 
implementation of the Elwha statute.
  Again, let me thank the chairman and those who helped craft this 
legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 4752.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHARP. Mr. Speaker, I, too, have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Frank of Massachusetts). The question is 
on the motion offered by the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Sharp] that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4752, as amended.
  The question was taken; and two-thirds having voted in favor thereof, 
the rules were suspended, and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________