Text of S. 552 (113th): Quadrennial Energy Review Act of 2013 (Introduced version)

113th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 552

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 13, 2013

Mr. Pryor (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Begich, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Coons, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Tester, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to replace the current requirement for a biennial energy policy plan with a Quadrennial Energy Review, and for other purposes.

This Act may be cited as the Quadrennial Energy Review Act of 2013 .

Congress finds that—

(1)

the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology recommends that the United States develop a Government wide Federal energy policy and update the policy regularly with strategic Quadrennial Energy Reviews similar to the reviews conducted by the Department of Defense;

(2)

as the lead agency in support of energy science and technology innovation, the Department of Energy has conducted a Quadrennial Technology Review of the energy technology policies and programs of the Department;

(3)

the Quadrennial Technology Review of the Department of Energy serves as the basis for coordination with other agencies and on other programs for which the Department has a key role;

(4)

a Quadrennial Energy Review would—

(A)

establish integrated, Government wide national energy objectives in the context of economic, environmental, and security priorities;

(B)

coordinate actions across Federal agencies;

(C)

identify the resources needed for the invention, adoption, and diffusion of energy technologies; and

(D)

provide a strong analytical base for Federal energy policy decisions;

(5)

a Quadrennial Energy Review should be established taking into account estimated Federal budgetary resources;

(6)

the development of an energy policy resulting from a Quadrennial Energy Review would—

(A)

enhance the energy security of the United States;

(B)

create jobs; and

(C)

mitigate environmental harm; and

(7)

while a Quadrennial Energy Review will be a product of the executive branch, the review will have substantial input from—

(A)

Congress;

(B)

the energy industry;

(C)

academia;

(D)

nongovernmental organizations; and

(E)

the public.

Section 801 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7321) is amended to read as follows:

801.

(a)

In this section:

(1)

The term Director means the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy within the Executive Office of the President.

(2)

(A)

The term Federal Laboratory has the meaning given the term laboratory in section 12(d) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3710a(d) ).

(B)

The term Federal Laboratory includes a federally funded research and development center sponsored by a Federal agency.

(3)

The term interagency energy coordination council means a council established under subsection (b)(1).

(4)

The term Quadrennial Energy Review means a comprehensive multiyear review, coordinated across Federal agencies, that—

(A)

covers all energy programs and technologies;

(B)

establishes energy objectives across the Federal Government; and

(C)

covers each of the areas described in subsection (d)(2).

(b)

(1)

Beginning on October 1, 2013, and every 4 years thereafter, the President shall establish an interagency energy coordination council to coordinate the Quadrennial Energy Review.

(2)

The Secretary and the Director shall be co-chairpersons of the interagency energy coordination council.

(3)

The interagency energy coordination council shall be comprised of representatives at level I or II of the Executive Schedule of—

(A)

the Department of Commerce;

(B)

the Department of Defense;

(C)

the Department of State;

(D)

the Department of the Interior;

(E)

the Department of Agriculture;

(F)

the Department of the Treasury;

(G)

the Department of Transportation;

(H)

the Office of Management and Budget;

(I)

the National Science Foundation;

(J)

the Environmental Protection Agency; and

(K)

such other Federal organizations, departments, and agencies that the President considers to be appropriate.

(c)

Each Quadrennial Energy Review shall be conducted to provide an integrated view of national energy objectives and Federal energy policy, including the maximum practicable alignment of research programs, incentives, regulations, and partnerships.

(d)

(1)

Not later than August 1, 2015, and every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Director, shall publish and submit to Congress a report on the Quadrennial Energy Review.

(2)

The report described in paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum—

(A)

an integrated view of short-, intermediate-, and long-term objectives for Federal energy policy in the context of economic, environmental, and security priorities;

(B)

anticipated Federal actions (including programmatic, regulatory, and fiscal actions) and resource requirements—

(i)

to achieve the objectives described in subparagraph (A); and

(ii)

to be coordinated across multiple agencies;

(C)

an analysis of the prospective roles of parties (including academia, industry, consumers, the public, and Federal agencies) in achieving the objectives described in subparagraph (A), including—

(i)

an analysis, by energy use sector, including—

(I)

commercial and residential buildings;

(II)

the industrial sector;

(III)

transportation; and

(IV)

electric power;

(ii)

requirements for invention, adoption, development, and diffusion of energy technologies that are mapped onto each of the energy use sectors; and

(iii)

other research that inform strategies to incentivize desired actions;

(D)

an assessment of policy options to increase domestic energy supplies and energy efficiency;

(E)

an evaluation of energy storage, transmission, and distribution requirements, including requirements for renewable energy;

(F)

an integrated plan for the involvement of the Federal Laboratories in energy programs;

(G)

portfolio assessments that describe the optimal deployment of resources, including prioritizing financial resources for energy programs;

(H)

a mapping of the linkages among basic research and applied programs, demonstration programs, and other innovation mechanisms across the Federal agencies;

(I)

an identification of, and projections for, demonstration projects, including timeframes, milestones, sources of funding, and management;

(J)

an identification of public and private funding needs for various energy technologies, systems, and infrastructure, including consideration of public-private partnerships, loans, and loan guarantees;

(K)

an assessment of global competitors and an identification of programs that can be enhanced with international cooperation;

(L)

an identification of policy gaps that need to be filled to accelerate the adoption and diffusion of energy technologies, including consideration of—

(i)

Federal tax policies; and

(ii)

the role of Federal agencies as early adopters and purchasers of new energy technologies;

(M)

a priority list for implementation of objectives and actions taking into account estimated Federal budgetary resources;

(N)

an analysis of—

(i)

points of maximum leverage for policy intervention to achieve outcomes; and

(ii)

areas of energy policy that can be most effective in meeting national goals for the energy sector; and

(O)

recommendations for executive branch organization changes to facilitate the development and implementation of Federal energy policies.

(e)

(1)

The Secretary shall provide the Executive Secretariat with the necessary analytical, financial, and administrative support for the conduct of each Quadrennial Energy Review required under this section.

(2)

The heads of applicable Federal agencies shall cooperate with the Secretary and provide such assistance, information, and resources as the Secretary may require to assist in carrying out this section.

Nothing in the Act or an amendment made by this Act supersedes, modifies, amends, or repeals any provision of Federal law not expressly superseded, modified, amended, or repealed by this Act.