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H.R.1647
Electricity Emergency Relief Act (Introduced in House)
SEC. 205. PURPA
CONTRACTS.
(a) NONPAYMENT FOR POWER- Within 60 days after the enactment of this
subsection, the Commission shall revise the rules under section 210 of the
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to provide that if--
(1) the owner or operator of a qualifying small power production
facility, or qualifying cogeneration facility, as defined in the Public
Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 824a-3), has sold
electric energy pursuant to a contract under this section to an electric
utility, and
(2) such owner or operator has not been paid for such energy within the
payment period provided in the contract,
such owner or operator may suspend so much of the contract as requires the
power and energy from the facility to be sold to such electric utility. During
any such suspension, such owner or operator may sell the electric energy
covered by such contract to any other person or any other party designated to
receive such power or energy.
(b) TERMINATION- A suspension under this subsection shall terminate on the
first day of the contract month after which the utility pays for the electric
energy received from the qualifying small power production facility or
qualifying cogeneration facility concerned except as
otherwise provided in a judicial resolution of the contract dispute or in a
negotiated resolution between the parties.
(c) OTHER SERVICES- During any suspension under this subsection, the
electric utility shall provide such transmission, interconnection, and
distribution services as may be necessary to deliver electric energy from the
qualifying small power production facility, or qualifying cogeneration
facility, to the purchaser or to another transmission system from which the
purchaser may obtain delivery of the electric energy, subject to the
requirements of the Federal Power Act relating to transmission services.
(d) INTERCONNECTION- Nothing in this subsection shall affect the
obligation of an electric utility to interconnect with a qualifying small
power production facility or qualifying cogeneration facility or to provide
electric energy to such facility at rates that meet the requirements of
section 210(c) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 pursuant
to the rules of the Commission. Where a qualifying facility exercises its
rights under this section, the electric utility party to the power purchase
contract shall maintain interconnection services unimpeded and without
interruption.
(e) SUNSET- This section shall cease to apply on October 1, 2003.
TITLE III--FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE UPON A GOVERNOR'S
REQUEST
SEC. 301. HYDROELECTRIC POWER LICENSE CONDITIONS.
The Commission shall promulgate a standard article under section 10 of the
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 803) in order to permit increased generation at
licensed hydroelectric facilities to assist in alleviating any electric
supply, generating, or system reliability emergency that has been declared by
the Governor of the State in which such facilities are located. Any licensee
may include such article in a license issued under Part II of such Act,
including any license issued before the enactment of this Act. Such standard
article shall provide that, if the Governor submits a request for such action
to the licensee, upon notice to the Commission and after consultation with the
relevant resource agencies, the licensee may operate with a temporary
modification or suspension of any minimum flow requirement or other
operational requirement of the license during such emergency. Such temporary
modification or suspension shall not continue for more than 2 years.
SEC. 302. FEDERAL HYDROPOWER GENERATION.
(a) BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION- During any period (not in excess of 2
years) during which an electricity emergency is in effect in a State pursuant
to a declaration by the Governor of the State, if the governors of each State
within the Pacific Northwest (as defined in section 3(14) of the Pacific
Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Act) request the Administrator of
the Bonneville Power Administration to authorize hydropower facilities
providing electric power to the Administration to maximize electric generation
at such facilities, the Administrator may authorize such generation.
(b) BUREAU OF RECLAMATION- During any period (not in excess of 2 years)
during which an electricity emergency is in effect in a State pursuant to a
declaration by the Governor of the State, in order to provide electric power
generation, if the Governor of such State so requests, the Secretary of the
Interior, acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, may
authorize the maximum electric generation at hydroelectric facilities operated
by the Bureau.
(c) WAIVER- Whenever the Administrator of the Bonneville Power
Administration or the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation authorizes
maximum generation pursuant to this subsection at any facility, such
authorization shall waive the application of any restriction or constraint
under any Federal law, plan, rule, or order (including any court order issued
before the date of the enactment of this Act pursuant to any Federal law) that
would otherwise apply to the operation of the facility concerned, including
any dam, powerplant, or other facility under the administrative jurisdiction
of the Administrator or Commissioner, wherever located.
(d) NO JUDICIAL REVIEW- A waiver under this section shall not be subject
to judicial review.
SEC. 303. NOX PRECONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW GENERATION.
During any period (not in excess of 2 years) during which an electricity
emergency is in effect in a State pursuant to a declaration by the Governor of
the State, if the Governor submits a request for such action to the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Administrator may
waive, for not more than a one year period, for new electric generation units
located in that State, the requirements of section 111 of the Clean Air Act
relating to oxides of nitrogen and the preconstruction requirements relating
to oxides of nitrogen applicable to such units under applicable implementation
plan provisions in effect in that State. At the expiration of such waiver,
such units shall be required to meet all such requirements. Whenever the
Administrator receives a Governor's request for a waiver under this section,
the Administrator shall make a determination regarding such request within 45
days from the date on which such request is received.
SEC. 304. FEDERAL GENERATION DURING STATE EMERGENCIES.
(a) DEFINITION- For purposes of this section, the term `qualified Federal
electric generation facility' means any electric generation facility (other
than a hydroelectric power generation facility) owned or operated by a
department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States and located in a
State in which an electricity emergency has been declared as provided in this
section. Such term includes backup generators and portable generators.
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF GENERATION- During any period (not in excess of 2
years) during which an electricity emergency is in effect in a State pursuant
to a declaration by the Governor of the State, if the Governor submits a
request for such action to the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary may
authorize any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States that
owns or operates a qualified Federal electric generation facility, to generate
electric energy for consumption by such department, agency, or instrumentality
or for sales to such State for local distribution in the State to assist in
relieving emergency electric power shortages if reimbursement is assured by
the recipient of such power or by a State government.
SEC. 305. EMERGENCY GENERATION.
(a) DEFINITION- The term `high electricity emergency day' means, for any
State, a day on which a State agency determines that rolling electric
blackouts are imminent and--
(1) in the case of California, during which a Stage III Emergency has
been declared by the California Independent System Operator; or
(2) in the case of any other State, a similar emergency has been
declared by an appropriate State agency in such other State.
(b) EXPEDITED APPROVAL FOR EMERGENCY GENERATION PROVISIONS- The
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall expedite the
consideration and approval of State implementation plan amendments submitted
to the Administrator by a State under the Clean Air Act to provide the
emergency generation authority described in subsection (c) or (d) of this
section. Whenever the Administrator receives a proposed plan amendment under
this section, the Administrator shall make a determination regarding such
amendment within 45 days from the date on which such amendment is received.
(c) NOX WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR NATURAL GAS-FIRED GENERATION--Any
State in which high electricity emergency days may occur may submit a State
implementation plan amendment to the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act pursuant to this subsection. Under
such amendment, the Governor of the State may temporarily waive all emission
limitations in effect under such plan, including any limitations set forth in
a permit, regarding emissions of oxides of nitrogen from natural gas fired
electric power generation facilities in that State to permit additional
generation on any high electricity emergency day or any portion of such a day.
Such waiver may be issued only during a period (not in excess of 2 years)
during which an electricity emergency is in effect in a State pursuant to a
declaration by the Governor of the State. Such temporary waiver shall not
authorize any emission source to disconnect or cease using any emission
control device used to control emissions of oxides of nitrogen. No such
temporary waiver may remain in effect for a period longer than 6 consecutive
months.
(d) EMERGENCY GENERATION FOR PRIVATE USE- Any State in which high
electricity emergency days may occur may submit a State implementation plan
amendment to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under
the Clean Air Act pursuant to this subsection. Under such amendment, if the
Governor of the State has declared an electricity emergency in the State, the
Governor may issue an order waiving, during any high electricity emergency day
or portion thereof, any otherwise applicable requirements of the plan that
would have the effect or prohibiting or limiting the operation by any person
or entity or class or category thereof in such State of any type of electric
energy generation, using any type of fuel available, if such electric energy
is consumed only by the person or entity generating it. Such waiver shall not
authorize any emission source to disconnect or cease using any emission
control device used to control emissions of any air pollutant (within the
meaning of the Clean Air Act). Each such order shall expire 6 months after the
date of issuance.
(e) EFFECT ON AIR QUALITY- The Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency may approve a plan amendment described in subsection (c) or
(d) of this section only if the Administrator determines that such amendment
will not increase the net emissions of any air pollutant in any affected air
quality region and that the amendment otherwise meets the requirements of the
Clean Air Act.
(f) STAY OR INJUNCTIONS PROHIBITED- No stay or injunction may be issued by
any court under section 304 of the Clean Air Act against the Administrator of
a State regarding the submission or approval of a plan amendment referred to
in this section.
SEC. 306. REGIONAL TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION IN WESTERN REGION.
(a) IN GENERAL- After notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission shall establish a regional transmission
organization for the region covered by the Western Systems Coordinating
Council if 10 or more of the Governors of the 14 States covered in whole or in
part by the Western Systems Coordinating Council sign a petition submitted by
one or more of such Governors requesting the Commission to establish such
organization.
(b) FEDERAL TRANSMISSION FACILITIES- The Bonneville Power Administration
and the Western Area Power Administration are each authorized and required to
participate in a regional transmission organization established under this
section. Each other entity (including municipally owned entities and
cooperatives) owning or operating transmission facilities within the region
covered by the Western Systems Coordinating Council shall participate in any
such organization. Notwithstanding any other law, participation may include
delegation of operation and control of the transmission system concerned to a
regional transmission organization or other method of participation, under
terms and conditions the power marketing administration concerned determines
necessary or appropriate, including being bound by operational and other
orders of the regional transmission organization and by the results of
arbitration of disputes with the organization or with other participants.
(c) STATE AUTHORITY NOT AFFECTED- Nothing in this section affects the
authority of States to regulate transmission facility maintenance, planning,
siting, and other utility functions.
(d) SUNSET- No regional transmission authority established under this
section shall be required to continue to operate after the date 3 years after
the regional transmission organization is established.
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