Bill Summary & Status for the 107th Congress

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H.R.1647
Title: To provide for electricity emergencies.
Sponsor: Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] (introduced 5/1/2001)      Cosponsors: (none)
Latest Major Action: 5/9/2001 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
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TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions)
5/1/2001:
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
5/1/2001:
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
5/1/2001:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
5/1/2001:
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
5/3/2001:
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
5/3/2001:
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
5/1/2001:
Referred to House Resources
5/9/2001:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
5/9/2001:
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
5/9/2001:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
5/9/2001:
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
COMMITTEE(S):
RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

COSPONSOR(S):

***NONE***

SUMMARY AS OF:
5/1/2001--Introduced.

Electricity Emergency Relief Act - Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to: (1) establish a clearinghouse system to facilitate agreements between wholesale sellers of electric energy and wholesale purchasers willing to forego temporarily electric energy purchases to which they are entitled; (2) implement a program that authorizes any electric consumer of any electric utility within the Western Systems to sell at market prices an amount of electric load the consumer is willing to forego; (3) study electric power transmission congestion jointly with the Secretary of Energy; and (4) develop a plan to relieve constraints that reduce the efficiency of electric power transmission, including Canadian and Mexican electric transmission systems.

Authorizes the Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration System to expand its transmission system to remove the PATH 15 constraint.

Establishes an Office of Tribal Energy within the Department of Energy.

Sets guidelines for either a qualifying small power production facility or cogeneration facility suspension of electric energy due to nonpayment.

Instructs FERC to promulgate a standard article to permit increased generation at licensed hydroelectric facilities.

Permits, upon request of certain State Governors: (1) the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration to authorize maximized electric generation at hydropower facilities providing power to the Administration; (2) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to waive Clean Air Act requirements pertaining to oxides of nitrogen for new generation units; and (3) the Secretary to authorize a qualified Federal electric generation facility to generate electric energy for consumption or for sales for local State distribution.

Authorizes a State Governor, on any high electricity emergency day, to waive Clean Air Act emission limitations.

Provides for a regional transmission organization for the region covered by the Western Systems Coordinating Council.