Bill Number: H. R. 6
Related Bills: H.R. 189, H.R. 1337, H.R. 1338, H.R. 1644, S. 14, S. 1005
Short Title: Energy Omnibus Bill
Introduced: April 7, 2003
Sponsor: Representative W.J. (Billy) Tauzin (R-LA)

Purpose: To enhance energy conservation and research and development, to provide for security and diversity in the energy supply for the American people, and for other purposes.

Summary: Energy Policy Act of 2003 - Amends Federal energy law with respect to specified areas of Federal energy policy. Provides for private development of energy resources on previously proscribed Federal lands.

Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act with respect to energy conservation, energy assistance, and energy efficiency programs, including the Energy Star programs.

Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act of 2003 - Sets forth a statutory framework for the expedited approval, construction, and operation of an Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Project as an alternative to the framework provided in the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976.

Instructs the President to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to full capacity.

Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to repeal the temporary funding and exercise of authorities governing the SPR (thus making permanent the authority to operate the SPR and other energy programs).

Prescribes guidelines for the Secretary of Energy to implement a program for the recovery of unproven oil and natural gas reserves.

Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 2003 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to extend to August 1, 2017, the authority to indemnify Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensees, Department of Energy (DOE) contractors, and nonprofit educational institutions.

Amends the Federal Power Act to set forth implementation guidelines for: (1) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) establishment of incentive-based transmission rate treatments to promote capital investment in electric energy transmission facilities in interstate commerce; (2) the siting of interstate electrical transmission facilities; and (3) open access transmission by unregulated transmitting utilities.

Creates a statutory mechanism for electric reliability standards incorporating Electric Reliability Organizations to establish and enforce reliability standards for the bulk-power system, subject to FERC review.

Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2003 - Repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act.

Amends the Federal Power Act to: (1) direct FERC to promulgate market transparency rules governing sales of electric energy at wholesale in interstate commerce, or transmission services in interstate commerce; (2) prohibit round trip trading; and (3) extend FERC jurisdiction to certain interstate sales of electric energy that violate FERC rules.

Requires the Federal Trade Commission to issue rules that prohibit in the absence of consumer consent: (1) the change of selection of an electric utility ("slamming"); and (2) the sale of goods and services to an electric consumer ("cramming").

Establishes a safe harbor for renewable fuels containing methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) that is used for or intended as a motor vehicle fuel.

Instructs the Secretary of Energy to establish a loan guarantee program for private sector construction of facilities to process and convert municipal solid waste into fuel ethanol and other commercial byproducts.

Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct energy research and development programs concerning: (1) energy efficiency; (2) distributed energy and electric energy systems; and (3) renewable, fossil, and nuclear energy.

Targets the following areas for program implementation: (1) bioenergy programs; (2) renewable energy in public buildings; (3) nuclear energy research programs; (4) advanced fuel recycling technology; (5) university nuclear science and engineering support; (6) fossil energy research, including coal mining technologies; and (7) technologies for ultra-deepwater and unconventional natural gas and other petroleum resources.

Provides loan guarantees for: (1) a certain coal gasification project that produces power in deregulated energy generation markets; (2) a petroleum coke gasification polygeneration project; and (3) the owner of a specified experimental plant on such terms and conditions as the Secretary of Energy determines, including interest rates and upfront payments.

Outer Continental Shelf Shallow Water Deep Gas Royalty Relief Act - Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to suspend royalties under existing leases for natural gas produced from deep wells on oil and gas lease tracts in shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to: (1) mandate that a specified statutory bidding system be used on certain prospective oil or gas lease sales located on tracts within certain Planning Areas in the Gulf of Mexico and all tracts in a frontier area offshore Alaska; and (2) extend the royalty-suspension authority of the Secretary of the Interior to the planning areas offshore Alaska.

National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program Act of 2003 - Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to implement a National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program.

Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, and the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980 to permit easements for specified activities not otherwise authorized when such activities: (1) support exploration, development, production, transportation, or storage of oil, natural gas, or other minerals; or (2) produce or support production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources other than oil and gas.

Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act of 2003 - Sets forth an oil and gas leasing program for lands within the Coastal Plain. Repeals the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980.

Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 2003 - Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to repeal the 160-acre limitation for coal leases; (2) authorize further extension of the diligent development period formining plans beyond the statutory forty-year maximum; and (3) prohibit requirement of financial assurance for certain coal leases.

Prescribes implementation guidelines for: (1) corridor designations needed or useful for oil and gas pipelines and electricity transmission and facilities on Federal lands in specified Western States; (2) electricity transmission rights-of-way through a specified National Forest and other public lands; and (3) wind energy development projects on public lands.

Energy Tax Policy Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to credits and deductions pertaining to energy conservation, distribution, and production.

Prescribes tax treatment of corporate expatriation.

Amends specified statutes relating to Federal housing mortgage insurance to increase mortgage insurance incentives for energy efficient housing.

Bill Number: H. R. 103
Short Title: LIHEAP Equity Act of 2002
Introduced: January 7, 2003
Sponsor: Congressman Gene Green (D-TX)

Purpose: To provide that no more than 50 percent of funding made available under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 for any fiscal year be provided for home heating purposes.

Summary: Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 with respect to State allotments under the low-income energy assistance program to state that not more than 50 percent of amounts appropriated for program implementation shall be earmarked for home heating purposes.

Bill Number: H. R. 106
Short Title: Open Competition and Fairness Act of 2003
Introduced: January 7, 2003
Sponsor: Representative J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)

Purpose: To prohibit discrimination in contracting on federally funded projects on the basis of certain labor policies of potential contractors.

Summary: Open Competition and Fairness Act of 2003 - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to prohibit discrimination against any bidder on a prime contract for a federally funded project on the basis of a requirement that such person enter into or adhere to a collective bargaining agreement or any similar agreement as a condition of performing work under the contract.

Bill Number: H. R. 330
Short Title: Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 2003
Introduced: January 8, 2003
Sponsor: Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM)

Purpose: To extend indemnification authority under section 170 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, and for other purposes.

Summary: Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to extend from August 1, 2002 to August 1, 2017 the indemnification authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) with respect to certain licensees, Department of Energy (DOE) contractors, and nonprofit educational institutions, respectively. Increases the maximum amount of standard deferred premium that may be assessed a licensee following a nuclear incident. Specifies $10 billion as the aggregate amount by which the Secretary must indemnify DOE contractors above the amount of the financial protection required for each nuclear incident. Increases from $100 million to $500 million the indemnification limits for incidents outside the United States. Mandates an indemnification inflation adjustment at least once every five years. Instructs the NRC to consider a combination of modular reactors at a single site. Repeals the requirement that the Secretary determine by rule whether nonprofit educational institutions should receive automatic remissions of civil monetary penalties for violations of DOE regulations. Limits the civil liability incurred by not-for-profit contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to the total amount of fees paid within any one-year period under the contract to which the violation occurs.

Bill Number: H. R. 653
Short Title: Environmental Priorities Act of 2003
Introduced: February 7, 2003
Sponsor: Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ)

Purpose: To establish a Fund for Environmental Priorities to be funded by a portion of the consumer savings resulting from retail electricity choice, and for other purposes.

Summary: Requires providers of retail electric services to contribute to the fiscal agent for the Environmental Priorities Board (established by this Act) ten percent of the total consumer savings for the consumer sector for that calendar year. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a National Environmental Priorities Board to establish regulations governing creation of an Environmental Priorities Program. Authorizes States in which retail electric service choice has been established for any consumer sector to establish public purpose programs and apply for matching funding to support environmental priorities programs.

Bill Number: H. R. 999
Related Bill: S. 485
Short Title: Clear Skies Act of 2003
Introduced: February 27, 2003
Sponsor: Representative Joe Barton (R-TX)

Purpose: To amend the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution through expansion of cap and trade programs, to provide alternative regulatory classification for units subject to the cap and trade program, and for other purposes.

Summary: Clear Skies Act of 2003 - Amends the acid deposition control provisions of the Clean Air Act with respect to emissions limitations and allowances programs for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury by: (1) revising the allowance system and associated transfer, tracking, permit, compliance plan, and penalty requirements, including those for auctions; and (2) establishing new emissions limitations and trading programs (including implementation of a separate sulfur dioxide scheme for States in the Western Regional Air Partnership).

Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) promulgate performance standards (limiting emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and mercury) for new boilers, integrated gasification combined cycle plants, and combustion turbines; and (2) conduct a comprehensive research and environmental assessment program to enhance understanding of health and environmental effects of particulate matter and mercury and to demonstrate the efficacy of emission reductions under this Act.

Excludes the following units from consideration as major emitting facilities or major stationary sources (or parts thereof) for purposes of compliance with provisions concerning prevention of significant deterioration of air quality and plan requirements for nonattainment areas: (1) those that are subject to the performance standards of this Act; or (2) those with properly operated and maintained equipment to limit particulate matter emissions or subject to a permit under an applicable implementation plan that provides a specified particulate matter emissions limitation and that use good combustion practices to minimize carbon monoxide emissions.

Requires States to ensure in implementation plans that: (1) in an attainment or unclassifiable area, any emissions increase from the construction or modification of an affected unit will not result in exceeding a national ambient air quality standard; and (2) in a nonattainment area, the emissions increase will not interfere with a program to assure the achievement of such a standard. Provides for designation of transitional areas under implementation plans and states requirements for emissions inventories, the attainment of standards by the end of 2015, and penalties for not meeting the eight-hour ozone or fine particles standard.

Bill Number: H. R. 1254
Short Title: Truth in Electricity Trading Act of 2003
Introduced: March 12, 2003
Sponsor: Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR)

Purpose: To amend the Federal Power Act to provide for market transparency in wholesale sales of electric energy, to prohibit round trip trading of electricity, and for other purposes.

Summary: No Summary Available.

Bill Number: H. R. 1271
Related Bill: S. 507
Short Title: Efficient Energy Through Certified Technologies (EFFECT) Act of 2003)
Introduced: March 13, 2003
Sponsor: Representative Randy (Duke) Cunningham (R-CA)

Purpose: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives to introduce new technologies to reduce energy consumption in buildings.

Summary: Efficient Energy through Certified Technologies (EFFECT) Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to energy use in buildings, to establish: (1) a deduction for certain energy efficient property used in business; (2) a credit for the construction of a new energy efficient home; and (3) a credit for certain nonbusiness energy property.

Bill Number: H. R. 1272
Short Title: Energy Markets Fraud Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2003
Introduced: March 12, 2003
Sponsor: Congressman John Dingell (D-MI)

Purpose: To prohibit fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive acts in electric and natural gas markets, to provide for audit trails and transparency in those markets, to increase penalities for illegal acts under the Federal Power Act and Natural Gas Act, to reexamine certain exemptions under the Federal Power Act and the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, to expand the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to order refunds of unjust and discriminatory rates, and for other purposes.

Summary: No Summary Available.

Bill Number: H. R. 1294
Short Title: No Short Title Available
Introduced: March 13, 2003
Sponsor: Congressman Tom Udall (D-NM)

Purpose: To amend title VI of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a Federal renewable energy portfolio standard for certain retail electric utilities, and for other purposes.

Summary: No Summary Available.

Bill Number: H. R. 1341
Short Title: Ratepayer Protection Act
Introduced: March 13, 2003
Sponsor: Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-FL)

Purpose: To prospectively repeal section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, and for other purposes.

Summary: No Summary Available.

Bill Number: H.R. 1370
Short Title: Interstate Transmission Act
Introduced: March 19, 2003
Sponsor: Representative Albert Russell Wynn (D-MD)

Purpose: To provide for expansion of electricity transmission networks in order to support competitive electricity markets, to ensure reliability of electric service, to modernize regulation and for other purposes.

Summary: No Summary Available.

Bill Number: H. R. 1423
Short Title: Preserving Our World's Energy and Resources Act of 2003
Introduced: March 25, 2003
Sponsor: Representative Eliot L. Engel (D-NY)

Purpose: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the energy credit to include investment in property which produces energy from certain renewable sources and expenditures for cool roofing, and for other purposes.

Summary: Preserving Our World's Energy and Resources Act of 2003 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include as energy property for purposes of claiming the energy (investment) credit equipment which uses wind to generate electricity and cool roof property.

Allows a nonrefundable personal credit for qualified renewable resource property (solar, wind, and geothermal) and qualified cool roof property.

Amends the Federal Power Act to require retail electric suppliers to comply with specified requirements concerning net metering.

Bill Number: H.R. 2313
Short Title: No Short Title Available
Introduced: June 3, 2003
Sponsor: Representative John M. Spratt Jr. D-SC

Purpose: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow an additional advance refunding of tax-exempt bonds issued for the purchase or maintenance of electric generation, transmission, or distribution assets.

Summary: (No Summary Available)

Bill Number: H.R. 2754
Short Title: Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act 2004
Related Bill: S. 1424
Introduced: June 16, 2003
Sponsor: Representative David L. Hobson R-OH

Purpose: Making appropriations for energy and water development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, and for other purposes.

Summary: No Summary Available

Bill Number: H.R. 2772
Short Title: John Rishel Geothermal Steam Act Amendments of 2003
Introduced: July 17, 2003
Sponsor: Representative Jim Gibbons R-NV

Purpose: To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to promote the development and use of geothermal resources in the United States

Summary: (No Summary Available)