Energy Supply and Distribution Act of 2015

To modernize Federal policies regarding the supply and distribution of energy in the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Energy Supply and Distribution Act of 2015 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to adopt certain recommendations of the Quadrennial Energy Review of 2015; (2) to enhance the integration of energy markets; (3) to improve the collection of energy data and analysis; and (4) to promote the production and distribution of energy in the United States. 3. Definitions In this Act: (a) Administrator The term Administrator (b) Secretary The term Secretary 4. Sense of Congress relating to domestic energy It is the sense of Congress that the production and distribution of energy in the United States requires access to infrastructure and markets. 5. Energy security (a) In general The Secretary— (1) shall collaborate with the heads of other Federal agencies to improve the conceptual development of energy security; and (2) may consult with allies and key trading partners of the United States with respect to energy security issues resulting from changes in the energy marketplace. (b) Considerations At a minimum, the Secretary shall ensure that, as part of the collaboration required under subsection (a)(1), the following are considered: (1) The development of flexible, transparent, and competitive energy markets, including natural gas and oil markets (2) The diversification of energy fuels, sources, and routes. (3) The encouragement of indigenous sources of energy supply. 6. Shared infrastructure The Secretary shall lead an interagency effort to improve and coordinate data collection and analytical and modeling capabilities for energy distribution on shared energy infrastructure. 7. Energy market integration The Secretary shall coordinate the training of, and enhanced dialogue among, technical staff in applicable Federal agencies that are responsible for evaluating and implementing cross-border energy projects. 8. Sense of Congress relating to hydrocarbon production It is the sense of Congress that, as stated in the Annual Energy Outlook of 2015 of the Energy Information Administration, growth in crude oil and dry natural gas production varies significantly across oil and natural gas supply regions— (1) forcing shifts in crude oil and natural gas flows between regions of the United States; and (2) requiring investment in or realignment of pipelines and other midstream infrastructure. 9. Energy data collaboration (a) In general The Administrator shall collaborate with the appropriate officials in Canada and Mexico, as determined by the Administrator, to improve— (1) the quality and transparency of North American energy data through reconciliation of data on energy trade flows among the United States, Canada, and Mexico; (2) the extension of energy mapping capabilities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; and (3) the development of common energy data terminology among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. (b) Periodic updates The Administrator shall periodically inform the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives regarding— (1) the extent to which energy data is being shared under subsection (a); and (2) whether forward-looking projections for regional energy flows are improving in accuracy as a result of the energy data sharing under that subsection. 10. Sense of Congress relating to processed condensate It is the sense of Congress that processed condensate is a petroleum product. 11. Development of definition of condensate (a) In general The Secretary shall— (1) develop a standard definition of the term condensate (2) advise relevant Federal agencies to adopt that definition for the purpose of clarifying energy policy in the United States. (b) Office of fossil energy assessment The Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy may assess the suitability of condensate separately from crude oil for use in strategic reserves, as determined necessary by the Secretary. (c) Energy information administration data collection The Administrator may collect data regarding condensate and crude oil production in the United States. 12. Department of interior assessments (a) In general The Secretary of the Interior shall direct the appropriate agencies within the Department of the Interior to assess condensate separately from crude oil, in accordance with this section. (b) Office of natural resources revenue The Director of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue may collect data regarding condensate separately from crude oil produced in the United States. (c) Bureau of ocean energy management The Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management may estimate condensate separately from crude oil as part of the resource assessments regarding geological formations in the United States. (d) United states geological survey The Director of the United States Geological Survey may include estimates of condensate separately from crude oil as part of the resource assessments regarding geological formations in the United States. 13. Access to markets (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to promote the efficient exploration, production, storage, supply, and distribution of energy resources, any domestic crude oil or condensate (other than crude oil stored in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) may be exported without a Federal license to countries not subject to sanctions by the United States. (b) Savings clause Nothing in this section limits the authority of the President under the Constitution, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 6271 et seq.

Summary: Energy Supply and Distribution Act of 2015 This bill declares that the production and distribution of energy in the United States requires access to infrastructure and markets. The Department of Energy (DOE) must collaborate with federal agencies to improve the conceptual development of energy security, considering at a minimum: (1) development of flexible, transparent, and competitive energy markets, including natural gas and oil; and (2) diversification of energy fuels, sources, and routes, and the encouragement of indigenous sources of energy supply. DOE must also coordinate interagency: (1) data collection for energy distribution on shared energy infrastructure, and (2) training to evaluate and implement cross-border energy projects. It is the sense of Congress that growth in crude oil and dry natural gas production varies significantly across oil and natural gas supply regions, thereby: (1) forcing shifts in crude oil and natural gas flows between regions of the United States, and (2) requiring investment or realignment of midstream infrastructure including pipelines. The Energy Information Administration must collaborate with officials in Canada and Mexico to reconcile data on energy trade flows, extend energy mapping capabilities, and develop common energy data terminology. Congress declares that processed condensate is a petroleum product. The DOE Office of Fossil Energy Assessment may assess the suitability of condensate separately from crude oil for use in strategic reserves, while certain agencies within the Department of the Interior must assess condensate separately from crude oil. The bill authorizes: (1) the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to estimate condensate separately from crude oil as part of the resource assessments regarding domestic geological formations, (2) the Office of Natural Resources Revenue to collect condensate data separately from crude oil, and (3) the United States Geological Survey to include estimates of condensate separately from crude oil as part of the resource assessments regarding domestic geological formations. Domestic crude oil or condensate (except crude oil stored in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) may be exported without a federal license to countries not subject to U.S. sanctions.