H.R. 5349 — Introduced in House

I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5349 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 26, 2016 Mr. Knight introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural 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 A BILL To reduce government-imposed obstacles to profitability and accessibility for new electric energy projects. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Energy Contracting Opportunities Act. 2. Extension of contract periods for energy Section 501(b)(1)(B) of title 40, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (B) Public utility contracts (i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), a contract for public utility services may be made for a period of not more than 10 years. (ii) Energy contracts A contract may be made for a period of not more than 30 years for the acquisition of renewable energy or energy from cogeneration facilities. . 3. Effect of energy projects on birds (a) Study The Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of the Interior shall establish, or designate and modify as necessary, an interagency working group to study the effects that the development of the various sectors of the energy industry has had on bird populations. Such study shall analyze— (1) baseline avian populations and mortality; and (2) the quantifiable impacts of energy projects on birds, relative to other threats to birds. (b) Public availability Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of the Interior shall make the results of such study publicly available on the websites of their respective Departments.