H.R. 6 would reduce our Nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources, promoting new emerging energy technologies, developing greater efficiency, and creating a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to invest in alternative energy.
Detailed Summary
Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 - Title I: Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation - Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act of 2007 - Subtitle A: Renewable Fuel Standard - (Sec. 111) Directs the President to promulgate regulations to ensure that motor vehicle fuel and home heating oil sold or introduced into commerce in the United States on an annual average basis, contains the applicable volume of renewable fuel determined in accordance with a specified calendar year schedule for 2008-2022.
Requires the President also to: (1) implement a credit program to manage the renewable fuel requirement; and (2) establish criteria for a system of voluntary labeling of renewable fuels based on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions. Requires the Secretary of Energy to arrange with the National Academy of Sciences to assess for Congress the impact of the renewable fuel standard.
Directs the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration to study renewable fuel blending to determine where there are excessive seasonal variations in the use of renewable fuel. Requires the President, if such study finds a certain deficiency in the quantity of renewable fuel necessary to meet renewable fuel program requirements, to promulgate regulations to ensure that 25% or more of such quantity is used during each of the two periods: (1) of April through September; and (2) of January through March and October through December.
(Sec. 112) Directs the President to provide a credit to the owner of a facility that uses renewable energy to displace more than 90 % of the fossil fuel normally used in the production of renewable fuel.
(Sec. 113) Expresses the sense of Congress that it is the goal of the United States that the agricultural, forestry, and working land of the United States should by January 1, 2025: (1) provide from renewable resources at least 25 % of the total energy consumed in the United States; and (2) continue to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fiber.
Subtitle B: Renewable Fuels Infrastructure - (Sec. 121) Instructs the Secretary to establish a competitive grant pilot program to establish refueling infrastructure corridors for gasoline blends containing specified ratios of renewable fuel or diesel fuel.
(Sec. 122) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to: (1) increase funding for bioenergy research and development; (2) direct the Secretary to establish bioresearch centers that target biofuels; and (3) authorize loan guarantees for renewable fuel facilities.
(Sec. 125) Directs the Secretary to provide grants to: (1) eligible entities to research, develop, and implement renewable fuel production technologies in states with low rates of ethanol (including cellulosic biomass ethanol) production; and (2) Indian tribal and local governments and other eligible entities to promote the development of infrastructure to support the separation, production, processing, and transportation of biomass to local biorefineries, including by portable processing equipment.
(Sec. 127) Directs the Secretary to establish a biorefinery information center.
(Sec. 128) Directs the Secretary and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology jointly to establish and make available to the public: (1) a database that describes the physical properties of different types of alternative fuel; and (2) standard reference materials for different types of alternative fuel.
(Sec. 129) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to require clear labeling of the fuel tank cap of each U.S.-manufactured alternative fueled vehicle stating that such vehicle can operate on alternative fuel, beginning with model year 2010.
(Sec. 130) Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on any research and development challenges inherent in increasing to 5% the proportion of diesel fuel sold in the United States that is biodiesel.
Requires the President to promulgate regulations: (1) providing for the uniform labeling of biodiesel blends certified to meet applicable standards published by the American Society for Testing and Materials; and (2) ensuring that each diesel-equivalent fuel derived from renewable biomass and introduced into interstate commerce is tested and certified to comply with such standards.
(Sec. 131) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make transitional assistance payments to an agricultural producer during the first year in which the producer devotes land to the production of a qualified cellulosic crop.
(Sec. 132) Instructs the President to establish a grants program for low-carbon fuel research. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013.
Subtitle C: Studies - (Sec. 141) Requires studies regarding advanced biofuels technologies, including: (1) increased consumption of ethanol-blended gasoline with higher levels of ethanol; (2) feasibility of the construction of dedicated ethanol pipelines; (3) flexible fueled vehicles to operate using E-85 fuel; (4) the feasibility of issuing credits to electric vehicles powered by electricity produced from renewable energy sources; (5) the effects of the use of biodiesel on engine durability; (6) financial incentives for the biofuels industry; (7) streamlined lifecycle analysis tools for the evaluation of renewable carbon content of biofuels; (8) the effects of ethanol-blended gasoline on off-road vehicles and recreational boats; and (9) offshore wind resources.
(Sec. 150) Authorizes appropriations for the offshore wind resources study.
Subtitle D: Environmental Safeguards - (Sec. 161) Directs the Secretary to establish a grant program to encourage advanced biofuels production. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2015.
(Sec. 162) Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) offer to enter into arrangements with an independent research institute to conduct studies on the effects of increased domestic use of renewable fuels under this Act; and (2) complete a study to determine whether the renewable fuel volumes required by EPA will adversely impact air quality as a result of changes in vehicle and engine emissions of air pollutants.
Title II: Energy Efficiency Promotion - Energy Efficiency Promotion Act of 2007 - Subtitle A: Promoting Advanced Lighting Technologies - (Sec. 211) Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to require all general purpose lighting in federal buildings by the end of FTY2013 to be Energy Star products or products designated under the Federal Energy Management Program.
(Sec. 212) Exempts from current standards certain incandescent reflector lamps.
(Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary to establish and award Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prizes for solid state lighting. Establishes a Bright Light Tomorrow permanent fund to award such prizes. Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 214) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Senate should: (1) pass a set of mandatory, technology-neutral standards to establish firm energy efficiency performance targets for lighting products; (2) ensure that the standards become effective within the next 10 years; (3) establish efficiency requirements to ensure that replacement lamps will provide consumers with the same quantity of light while using significantly less energy; (4) ensure that consumers will continue to have multiple product choices; and (5) work with industry and key stakeholders on measures that can assist consumers and businesses in making the important transition to more efficient lighting.
(Sec. 215) Instructs the Secretary to use appropriations under this Act to make grants to implement renewable energy projects. Authorizes appropriations.
Subtitle B: Expediting New Energy Efficiency Standards - (Sec. 222) Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to prescribe or revise standards affecting: (1) regional efficiency for heating and cooling products; (2) procedures for new or amended standards; (3) energy conservation; (4) energy efficiency labeling for consumer electronic products; (5) residential boiler efficiency; (6) electric motor efficiency; and (7) home appliances.
(Sec. 223) Requires the Secretary to publish a final rule on the annual fuel utilization efficiency of furnace fans by December 31, 2014.
(Sec. 225) Requires the Secretary to review test procedures for all covered products at least once every seven years.
(Sec. 231) Requires research into technologies to improve the energy efficiency of appliances and mechanical systems for buildings in cold climates.
(Sec. 232) Directs the Secretary to: (1) award, competitively, financial incentives for the manufacture of high-efficiency consumer products; and (2) establish a program to support, develop, and promote the use of new materials manufacturing and industrial and commercial processes, technologies, and techniques to optimize energy efficiency. Authorizes appropriations for the latter program.
Subtitle C: Promoting High Efficiency Vehicles, Advanced Batteries, and Energy Storage - (Sec. 241) Directs the Secretary to establish a research and development (R&D) program to determine ways to reduce: (1) the weight of vehicles to improve fuel efficiency without compromising passenger safety; and (2) the cost of lightweight materials (such as steel alloys, fiberglass, and carbon composites) required for the construction of lighter-weight vehicles.
(Sec. 242) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide grants and loan guarantees to automobile manufacturers and suppliers.
(Sec. 243) Directs the Secretary to provide facility funding awards to automobile manufacturers and component suppliers to pay not more than 30% of the cost of: (1) reequipping, expanding, or establishing a manufacturing facility in the United States to produce advanced technology vehicles or qualifying components; and (2) engineering integration performed in the United States of qualifying vehicles and qualifying components.
(Sec. 244) United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 - Instructs the Secretary to: (1) implement an R&D and demonstration program for energy storage systems for motor transportation and electricity transmission and distribution; and (2) establish an Energy Storage Advisory Council and up to four Energy Storage Research Centers.
Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2017.
(Sec. 245) Instructs the Secretary to establish a grants program for: (1) demonstrations of plug-in electric drive vehicles; (2) qualified electric drive transportation deployment projects; and (3) programs or activities to encourage owners of electrice drive transportation technoligies to use off-peak electricty or to have the load managed by the grant-receiving public or private utility. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2013.
(Sec. 246) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to extend its coverage to specified electric vehicles entitled to credits for alternative fuel usage. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2013.
(247) Directs the Secretary, if specified conditions are met, to establish a commercial advanced insulation demonstration program.
Subtitle D: Setting Energy Efficiency Goals - (Sec. 251) Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to publish an oil savings target and action plan.
(Sec. 252) Declares national energy efficiency improvement goals. Requires the Secretary to develop a strategic plan and conduct a national media campaign. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.
(Sec. 253) Directs the Secretary, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and other appropriate federal agencies to support the use, development, and demonstration of advanced transmission and distribution technologies as part of a program to modernize the electricity grid system.
(Sec. 255) Requires the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress concerning the status of smart grid deployments nationwide and any regulatory or government barriers to continued deployment; and (2) implement smart grid technology R&D program, including power grid digital information technology and a smart grid regional demonstration initiative.
(Sec. 257) Directs FERC to coordinate with smart grid stakeholders to develop protocols to establish a flexible framework for the connection of smart grid devices and systems to enable all electric resources, including demand-side resources, to contribute to an efficient, reliable electricity network.
(Sec. 258) Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require states to consider requiring that, before undertaking investments in nonadvanced grid technologies, a state electric utility demonstrate that it has considered an investment in a qualified smart grid system.
(Sec. 259) Declares it is U.S. policy to provide support for projects and activities to facilitate the energy independence of the United States so as to ensure that all but 10% of U.S. energy needs are supplied by domestic energy sources.
(Sec. 260) Establishes the National Commission on Energy Independence to conduct a comprehensive review of U.S. energy policy and to report to Congress and the President on the progress of United States in meeting its long-term goal of energy independence.
Subtitle E: Promoting Federal Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - (Sec. 261) Amends EPCA to set forth federal fleet conservation requirements, including a mandatory reduction in petroleum consumption that achieves: (1) by October 1, 2015, at least a 20% reduction in petroleum consumption by each federal agency; and (2) increased alternative fuel consumption by 10% annually by each federal agency.
(Sec. 262) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to revise the federal requirement to purchase electricity generated by renewable energy.
(Sec. 263) Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to repeal: (1) mandatory availability of certain energy and water cost savings for agency expenditure for additional energy efficiency measures; and (2) the sunset of (thus making permanent) federal agency authority to enter into energy savings performance contracts.
Instructs the Secretaries of Energy and of Defense to report to Congress and the President on the potential of energy savings performance contracts to reduce energy consumption and provide energy and cost savings in nonbuilding applications.
(Sec. 264) Increases the energy performance requirements for federal buildings.
(Sec. 265) Instructs the Secretary to identify federal sites that could achieve significant cost-effective energy savings through the use of combined heat and power or district energy installations.
Permits such energy savings to be applied to meet agency energy performance requirements.
(Sec. 266) Amends ECPA to set forth a schedule for reduced consumption of fossil fuel-generated energy by federal buildings.
(Sec. 267) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to modify the application of international energy conservation code to public and assisted housing.
(Sec. 268) Instructs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a consortium of business, academic, and governmental entities to implement an Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Initiative to: (1) reduce the quantity of energy consumed by commercial buildings in the United States; and (2) achieve the development of energy efficient commercial buildings. Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 269) Amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Secretary to designate as a national interest electric transmission corridor any geographic area experiencing electric energy transmission capacity constraints or congestion that adversely affects consumers.
(Sec. 270) Prescribes product requirements for any federal agency purchasing a commercially available, off-the-shelf product using external standby power devices or containing an internal standby power function (eligible product) that is also listed in a Department of Energy (DOE) compilation.
(Sec. 270A) Amends ECPA to require that, if life-cycle cost-effective, at least 30% of the hot water demand for each new or substantially modified federal building be met through the installation and use of solar hot water heaters.
(Sec. 270B) Directs the Secretary to implement a Renewable Energy Innovation Manufacturing Partnership Program to make assistance awards to eligible entities for R&D relating to the manufacturing of renewable energy technologies. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2013.
(Sec. 270C) Amends the Small Business Act to provide for express loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
(Sec. 270D) Instructs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) promulgate final rules that ensure compliance with a statutory small business education and assistance program; (2) publish a detailed plan regarding how the Administrator will assist small business concerns in becoming more energy efficient; and (3) build on the Energy Star for Small Business Program of DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Establishes an Assistant Administrator for Small Business Energy Policy to: (1) administer the Energy Star for Small Business Program; and (2) promote energy efficiency efforts for small business concerns and reduce their energy costs.
Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish a Small Business Energy Efficiency Pilot Program to provide energy efficiency assistance to small business concerns through small business development centers; and (2) select small business development center programs from designated states.
Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate and report to certain congressional committees on the Efficiency Pilot Program. Authorizes appropriations.
Requires the Administrator to conduct a pilot program to provide information regarding telecommuting to small business concerns, especially those owned by or employing individuals with disabilities, particularly veterans. Authorizes appropriations.
Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator to ensure that certain federal agencies give high priority to small business concerns that participate in or conduct energy efficiency or renewable energy system R&D projects.
Subtitle F: Assisting State and Local Governments in Energy Efficiency - (Sec 271) Amends ECPA to: (1) increase funding for weatherization assistance for low-income persons; and (2) extend through FY2012 the authorization of appropriations for such assistance as well as for the State Energy Conservation Plan program.
(Sec. 273) Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require each electric utility to: (1) integrate energy efficiency resources into utility, state, and regional plans; and (2) adopt policies establishing cost-effective energy efficiency as a priority resource.
Requires each natural gas utility to: (1) integrate energy efficiency resources into its plans and planning processes; and (2) adopt policies that establish energy efficiency as a priority resource in its plans and planning processes.
(Sec. 274) Instructs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to state energy offices, public utility regulatory commissions, and nonregulated utilities regarding the energy efficiency and demand response programs.
(Sec. 275) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to direct the Secretary to provide: (1) block grants to state, Indian tribal, and local governments to implement environmentally beneficial energy strategies; and (2) a supplemental grant to pay the federal share of costs of any activity relating to implementation of such a strategy. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.
(Sec. 276) Amends EPCA to direct the Secretary to award grants to institutions of higher education (including those with small endowments) to: (1) implement improved energy efficiency on the institution grounds and facilities; and (2) engage in innovative energy sustainability projects.
(Sec. 277) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to instruct the Secretary of Labor to establish an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program that includes: (1) assistance to support national research to develop labor market data and to track future workforce trends resulting from energy-related initiatives; (2) National Energy Training Partnerships Grants to develop an energy efficiency and renewable energy industries workforce; (3) grants for states to administer labor market and labor exchange informational programs; and (4) grants for states administer renewable energy and energy efficiency workforce development programs.
(Sec. 278) States that Congress encourages each local educational agency receiving federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to develop a policy to reduce the incidence of school bus idling at schools while picking up and unloading students. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.
(Sec. 279) Amends ECPA to extend weatherization assistance for low-income persons to Puerto Rico.
(Sec. 280) Instructs the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration to: (1) review and analyze information on planned refinery outages to determine whether scheduling of a planned refinery outage may nationally or regionally affect the price or supply of any refined petroleum product; and (2) report biannually to the Secretary of Energy.
Requires the Secretary, upon receipt of the report, to make such information available to refinery operators to encourage reductions of the quantity of refinery capacity that is out of service at any time.
(Sec. 281) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to revise the technical criteria for the year 2020 governing gasification projects for the clean coal power initiative.
(Sec. 282) Amends the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act to set forth requirements for personnel administration by the Federal Coordinator without regard to federal civil service requirements for appointments in the competitive service.
(Sec. 283) Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to revamp the criteria upon which a lease, easement, or right-of-way will be issued on a noncompetitive basis.
Subtitle G: Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion - (Sec. 292) Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) a marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy research program; (2) national ocean energy research centers at institutions of higher education. Authorizes appropriations: (1) for FY2008-FY2012 for the former program; and (2) indefinitely for the latter.
Title III: Carbon Capture and Storage Research, Development, and Demonstration - Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act of 2007 - (Sec. 302) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish an R&D program for carbon capture and storage. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.
(Sec. 303) Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) complete a national assessment of capacity for carbon dioxide; (2) enter into partnerships to collect and integrate data from other drilling programs relevant to carbon dioxide storage in geologic formations.
Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.
(Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary of Energy to implement a program to demonstrate technologies for the large-scale capture of carbon dioxide from industrial sources of carbon dioxide. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012.
(Sec. 305) Instructs the Architect of the Capitol to evaluate methods to establish a competitive grant demonstration program for the capture and storage or use of carbon dioxide emitted from the Capitol power plant as a result of burning coal. Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 306) Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a national assessment of: (1) the quantity of carbon stored in and released from terrestrial ecosystems, including from man-caused and natural fires; and (2) the annual flux of covered greenhouse gases in and out of terrestrial ecosystems. Prescribes methodology and implementation procedures. Requires development of adaptation or mitigation strategies employable to enhance sequestration of carbon in each terrestrial ecosystem, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and adapt to climate change.
(Sec. 307) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a research program on abrupt climate change.
Title IV: Cost-Effective and Environmentally Sustainable Public Buildings - Subtitle A: Public Buildings Cost Reduction - Public Buildings Cost Reduction Act of 2007 - (Sec. 402) Instructs the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to establish a program to accelerate the use of more cost-effective technologies and practices and geothermal heat pumps at GSA facilities. Prescribes procedures for GSA facility technologies and practices.
(Sec. 403) Instructs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a demonstration grant program for local governments to: (1) deploy cost-effective technologies and practices; and (2) achieve operational cost savings, through the application of cost-effective technologies and practices.
Requires a final report that summarizes total cost savings achieved, and recommendations for further action.
Subtitle B: Installation of Photovoltaic System at Department of Energy Headquarters Building (Sec. 411) Directs GSA to install a photovoltaic system at department of energy headquarters building ( Forrestal Building).
Subtitle C: High-Performance Green Buildings - High-Performance Green Buildings Act of 2007 - Part I: Office of High-performance Green Buildings (Sec. 432) Instructs the GSA Administrator to establish the Office of High-Performance Green Buildings managed by a Director in the career-reserved Senior Executive service.
Requires such Director to: (1) submit biennially to Congress a status report on the green building initiatives; (2) establish the Green Building Advisory Committee; (3) maintain a national high-performance green building information clearinghouse; (4) develop a high-performance green building research plan; (5) implement a federal facilities indoor air quality program to ensure occupant safety; and (6) analyze budget and contracting practices that affect high-performance green buildings, including barriers to green building life-cycle costing and budgetary issues.
Part II: Healthy High-Performance Schools (Sec. 442) Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Administrator) to provide grants to state agencies to implement EPA programs that target environmental quality of school buildings.
(Sec. 443) Requires the EPA Administrator to develop voluntary school site selection guidelines regarding: (1) special vulnerability of children to hazardous substances or pollution where potential school site contamination exists; (2) modes of transportation available to students and staff; (3) efficient use of energy; (4) potential use of a school as an emergency shelter; and (5) state implementation of school environmental health program.
Part III: Strengthening Federal Leadership (Sec. 451) Requires the Director of the Office of High-Performance Green Buildings (Director) to identify incentives to encourage the use of green buildings and related technology in the operations of the federal government.
(Sec. 452) Requires the Director of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to issue guidance to federal procurement executives providing direction and the option to renegotiate the design of proposed facilities, renovations for existing facilities, and leased facilities to incorporate improvements consistent with this Act.
(Sec. 453) Instructs the Comptroller General to report to Congress and selected officials on the results of an audit of the implementation of this Act governing high-performance green buildings.
(Sec. 454) Prescribes storm water runoff requirements for federal development projects.
Part IV: Demonstration Project (Sec. 461)Instructs the Director to establish guidelines to implement a demonstration project to contribute to the research goals of the Office.
Title V: Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (Sec. 501) Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act -Amends federal transportation law to instruct the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe average fuel economy standards for automobiles, commercial medium-duty or heavy-duty on-highway vehicles for model years 2011 - 2020.
(Sec. 503) Revises fuel economy standards governing: (1) feasibility criteria governing maximum average fuel economy; and (2) alternative standards.
(Sec. 505) Requires such Secretary to issue a motor vehicle safety standard that addresses management of crash forces in multiple vehicle frontal and side impact crashes between different types, sizes, and weights of automobiles.
(Sec. 506) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a corporate average fuel economy credit trading program to allow manufacturers whose automobiles exceed prescribed average fuel economy standards to earn credits to be sold to manufacturers whose automobiles fail to achieve such standards.
(Sec. 507) Revises fuel economy labeling information to include: (1) fuel economy and greenhouse gas and other emissions consequences of operation; (2) a green label program; and (3) a fuelstar program.
(Sec. 509) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to execute an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to develop a report evaluating vehicle fuel economy standards.
(Sec. 510) Modifies standards governing executive agency automobiles to require the head of an Executive agency to ensure that each new automobile procured by the agency is as fuel efficient as practicable.
(Sec. 511) Instructs the Secretary of Energy to prescribe regulations that require the manufacturer of automobiles for sale in the United States to: (1) prominently display on each automobile that it is capable of operating on alternative fuel.
(Sec. 512) Requires the EPA Administrator to review periodically the accuracy of fuel economy labeling procedures and report thereon to certain congressional committees.
(Sec. 513) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) promulgate rules establishing a national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program for tires designed for use on motor vehicles; and (2) report thereon to certain congressional committees.
(Sec. 514) Instructs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) implement an Advanced Battery Initiative to support R&D of battery technologies through competitively-awarded grants; and (2) select an Industry Alliance to represent private, for-profit firms whose primary business is battery manufacture.
(Sec. 515) Requires the EPA Administrator to promulgate regulations to ensure that diesel-equivalent fuels derived from renewable biomass that are introduced into interstate commerce are tested and certified to comply with American Society for Testing and Materials standards.
(Sec. 516) Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Secretary of Transportation and to the Energy Security Fund those civil penalties obtained from legal actions to enforce this Act.
(Sec. 517) Establishes the Energy Security Fund to implement the Alternative Fuels Grant Program implemented by the Secretary of Energy to expand availability of alternative fuels to consumers.
(Sec. 519) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to implement an action plan to ensure that, beginning with model year 2015, the percentage of new alternative fuel automobiles for sale in the United States is not less than 50%.
(Sec. 521) Directs the Secretaries of Transportation and of Energy to study and report to Congress on the adequacy of transportation of domestically-produced renewable fuels by railroad and other modes.
Title VI: Price Gouging - Petroleum Consumer Price Gouging Protection Act (Sec. 603) - Prohibits the sale of crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates at unconscionably excessive price by a supplier during any period declared to be an energy emergency by the President.
(Sec. 604) Prohibits: (1) market manipulation or market deception in connection with the purchase or sale of crude oil gasoline or petroleum distillates at wholesale; (2) reporting false information regarding such products.
(Sec. 606) Sets forth conditions of supply shortages under which the President is authorized to declare that a federal energy emergency exists.
(Sec. 607) Provides for: (1) Federal Trade Commission enforcement of this Act; and (2) state Attorneys General enforcement of this Act.
(Sec. 609) Subjects violators to civil and criminal penalties.
Title VII: Energy Diplomacy and Security - Energy Diplomacy and Security Act of 2007 (Sec. 703) Expresses the sense of Congress regarding national energy security and implementation of United States international energy policy among the relevant federal agencies engaged in relevant agreements and activities, including: (1) there should be established within the Office of the Secretary of State a Coordinator for International Energy Affairs; and (2) there should be established within the Department of Energy an Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Security.
(Sec. 704) Authorizes the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy to: (1) expand strategic energy partnerships with foreign governments and submit annual progress reports thereon to Congress; and (2) establish petroleum crisis response mechanisms with the Governments of China and India; and (3) establish a Western Hemisphere energy crisis response mechanism.
Directs the President should place on the agenda for discussion at the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency, the merits of establishing an international energy program application procedure.
Requires the following reports to be submitted to congressional committees regarding: (1) coordination of the domestic strategic petroleum reserve and the international petroleum reserve; (2) establishment of the international petroleum crisis response mechanisms; and (3) actions in connection with the emergency application procedure.
(Sec. 706) Instructs the Secretary of State to establish the Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum to implement: (1) an Energy Crisis Initiative that will establish measures to respond to temporary energy supply disruptions; (2) an Energy Sustainability Initiative to foster reliable supply sources of fuels; and (3) an Energy for Development Initiative to promote energy access for underdeveloped areas.
Authorizes the Secretary of State to seek cooperation with other governments in the Western Hemisphere in establishing a Hemisphere Energy Industry Group, and to report thereon to certain congressional committees.
(Sec. 707) Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to add the Secretary of Energy as member of the National Security Council.
(Sec. 708) Requires the President to report annually to Congress on the national energy security of the United States.
(Sec. 710) No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007, or `NOPEC', Amends the Sherman Act [sic] to prohibit any foreign state, or entity from taking specified actions in restraint of trade (including setting prices) when such action, has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or other petroleum product in the United States.
Empowers the Attorney General to enforce this Act.
(Sec. 711) Provides a statutory mechanism to allocate the contingent costs associated with participation by the United States in the international nuclear liability compensation system established by the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (Convention).
Declares that: (1) funds made available under certain indemnification provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 shall be used to cover the contingent cost resulting from any Price-Anderson incident; and (2) funds made available to the United States under the Convention with respect to a Price-Anderson incident shall be used to satisfy public liability resulting from the Price-Anderson incident.
Requires each nuclear supplier to participate in a retrospective risk pooling program to cover the contingent cost resulting from a covered incident outside the United States that is not a Price-Anderson incident.
Requires the Secretary of Energy to make available to nuclear suppliers, and insurers of nuclear suppliers, information to support the voluntary establishment and maintenance of private insurance against any risk for which nuclear suppliers may be required to pay deferred payments under this Act.
Title VIII: Miscellaneous (Sec. 801) Instructs Secretary to study and report to Congress on the laws affecting the siting of privately owned electric distribution wires on and across public rights-of-way.
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