S. 689 | U.S. Senate Bill | Energy Security Act of 2011

S 689

112th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. 689

To promote the oil independence of the United States, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 30, 2011

Mr. MERKLEY (for himself and Ms. SNOWE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To promote the oil independence of the United States, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Energy Security Act of 2011'.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) ADMINISTRATOR- The term `Administrator' means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

(2) COUNCIL- The term `Council' means the National Energy Security Council established by section 4.

(3) NATIONAL ENERGY SECURITY PROGRAM- The term `national energy security program' means the national energy security program established by section 3.

(4) NATIONAL OIL INDEPENDENCE GOAL- The term `national oil independence goal' means the national oil independence goal established under section 3(c).

(5) NATIONAL OIL INDEPENDENCE PLAN- The term `national oil independence plan' means the national oil independence plan established under section 3(d).

SEC. 3. NATIONAL ENERGY SECURITY PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment- There is established in the Executive Office of the President the national energy security program.

(b) Mission- The mission of the national energy security program shall be to coordinate the activities and policies of the Federal Government to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the United States meets--

(1) goals for reducing oil dependence, oil imports, and oil consumption; and

(2) other energy policy goals, including goals for--

(A) enhancing the competitiveness of the United States in clean energy technology;

(B) strengthening clean energy technology manufacturing in the United States;

(D) reducing hazardous pollutants.

(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraph (2), it is the goal of the United States to reduce oil consumption by the quantity that is equal to or greater than the quantity of oil imported by the United States from outside of North America by calendar year 2030 (as compared to the rate of oil consumption projected for calendar year 2030 as of the date of enactment of this Act).

(2) ADJUSTMENTS- The President, in consultation with the Council--

(A) may adjust the numeric goal for calendar year 2030 established under paragraph (1);

(B) shall ensure that any new goal established under subparagraph (A) represents the maximum practicable oil savings achievable, taking into account other benefits of reducing oil consumption (including economic, security, and environmental benefits) and costs or other economic effects; and

(C) if any new goal established under subparagraph (A) is lower than the goal established under paragraph (1), shall establish an additional goal for reducing oil consumption in the United Sates by a quantity that is equal to or greater than the quantity of oil imported by the United States from outside of North America on the fastest timeline practicable, taking into account other benefits of reducing oil consumption (including economic, security, and environmental benefits) and costs or other economic effects.

(d) National Oil Independence Plan-

(1) IN GENERAL- The President, in coordination with the Council and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall--

(A) develop a national oil independence plan that describes programs and activities that will be implemented to meet or exceed the national oil independence goal and other goals established pursuant to subsection (c);

(B) submit the national oil independence plan to Congress not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act; and

(2) REVIEW OF FEDERAL POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND AUTHORITIES- Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President, in coordination with the Council and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall review existing programs and authorities of the Federal Government and other applicable policies (including tax policies) to determine--

(A)(i) which programs, authorities, or policies could be used to accelerate reductions in oil dependence; and

(ii) any means by which the programs, authorities, or policies--

(I) could be used to maximize reductions in oil dependence; or

(II) would require modification in order to be used to maximize reductions in oil dependence; and

(B)(i) which programs, authorities, or policies have the effect of increasing oil consumption and oil dependence or otherwise create barriers to reducing oil consumption and oil dependence; and

(ii) the manner by which the programs, authorities, or policies--

(I) have the effect of encouraging oil consumption or oil dependence or otherwise create barriers to reducing oil consumption and oil dependence; and

(II) could be modified or eliminated to help meet the goal of reducing oil consumption and oil dependence.

(3) CONTENTS- At a minimum, the national oil independence plan shall--

(A) describe the results and conclusions of the review conducted under paragraph (2);

(B) as appropriate, include--

(i) the use of programs, authorities, or policies described in paragraph (2)(A); and

(ii) if existing authority allows, proposals to modify or eliminate programs, authorities, or policies described in paragraph (2)(B);

(i) promote reductions in oil consumption and oil dependence;

(ii) reduce barriers to reducing oil consumption and oil dependence; and

(iii) help meet the energy policy goals of the United States;

(D) include a timetable for achieving the national oil independence goal, including interim targets on not less than a biennial basis;

(E) a plan for coordinating actions across the Federal Government to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the national oil independence goal is met; and

(F) a timeline for issuing rules, Executive orders, or other policy instruments that will implement the recommendations contained the national oil independence plan.

(e) Annual Requests to Congress- When submitting annual budget requests to Congress, the President shall include--

(1)(A) requests for sufficient funding for such programs the President considers appropriate to implement the national oil independence plan; and

(B) if the amount of funding is not sufficient to meet the national oil independence goal, a description of the amount of funding that would be necessary to meet the goal;

(2)(A) requests for such additional authorities or changes to existing laws or authorities as the President considers appropriate in order to implement the national oil independence plan; and

(B) if the amount of funding is not sufficient to meet the national oil independence goal, a description of such additional authority or changes to existing laws or authorities as would be necessary to meet the goal; and

(3) a report on the oil consumption and imports of the United States relative to the national oil independence goal and the interim targets and timelines established in the national oil independence plan.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL ENERGY SECURITY COUNCIL.

(a) Establishment- There is established in the Executive Office of the President a National Energy Security Council.

(b) Mission- The mission of the Council shall be to assist and advise the President in--

(1) establishing the national oil independence goal in numeric terms of barrels per day of oil consumption, based on the most recent consumption estimates by the Energy Information Administration;

(2) meeting the national oil independence goal;

(3) developing the national oil independence plan and the requests described in section 3(e);

(4) coordinating the policies, programs, and activities of the national energy security program in order to implement the national oil independence plan and meet the national oil independence goal; and

(5) ensuring that policy decisions and programs are consistent with the energy policy goals of the United States.

(1) the Secretary of Energy;

(2) the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs;

(3) the Secretary of Transportation;

(4) the Administrator;

(5) the Secretary of the Treasury;

(6) the Director of the National Economic Council;

(7) the Secretary of Agriculture;

(8) the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality;

(9) the Secretary of State; and

(10) the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

(d) Chair- The President shall act as Chair of the Council.

(e) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary.

END