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coal and the development of Federal and non-Fed-
eral coalbed methane in the Powder River Basin in 
Wyoming and Montana; and 
(2) not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, report to Congress on alter-
natives to resolve these conflicts and identification of 
a preferred alternative with specific legislative lan-
guage, if any, required to implement the preferred 
alternative. 
SEC. 1605. STUDY OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS. 
The Secretary of Energy shall contract with the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences for a study, to be completed 
within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, to 
examine whether the goals of energy efficiency standards 
are best served by measurement of energy consumed, and 
efficiency improvements, at the actual site of energy con-
sumption, or through the full fuel cycle, beginning at the 
source of energy production. The Secretary shall submit 
the report to Congress. 
SEC. 1606. TELECOMMUTING STUDY. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Commission, the Director of the Office of 
Personnel Management, the Administrator of General 
Services, and the Administrator of NTIA, shall conduct 
a study of the energy conservation implications of the
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widespread adoption of telecommuting by Federal employ-
ees in the United States. 
(b) REQUIRED SUBJECTS OF STUDY.—The study re-
quired by subsection (a) shall analyze the following sub-
jects in relation to the energy saving potential of telecom-
muting by Federal employees: 
(1) Reductions of energy use and energy costs 
in commuting and regular office heating, cooling, 
and other operations. 
(2) Other energy reductions accomplished by 
telecommuting. 
(3) Existing regulatory barriers that hamper 
telecommuting, including barriers to broadband tele-
communications services deployment. 
(4) Collateral benefits to the environment, fam-
ily life, and other values. 
(c) REPORT REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall submit 
to the President and Congress a report on the study re-
quired by this section not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act. Such report shall include 
a description of the results of the analysis of each of the 
subject described in subsection (b). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section: 
(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy.
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(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Communications Commission. 
(3) NTIA.—The term ‘‘NTIA’’ means the Na-
tional Telecommunications and Information Admin-
istration of the Department of Commerce. 
(4) TELECOMMUTING.—The term ‘‘telecom-
muting’’ means the performance of work functions 
using communications technologies, thereby elimi-
nating or substantially reducing the need to com-
mute to and from traditional worksites. 
(5) FEDERAL EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘‘Federal 
employee’’ has the meaning provided the term ‘‘em-
ployee’’ by section 2105 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 1607. LIHEAP REPORT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall transmit to Congress a report on how the Low-In-
come Home Energy Assistance Program could be used 
more effectively to prevent loss of life from extreme tem-
peratures. In preparing such report, the Secretary shall 
consult with appropriate officials in all 50 States and the 
District of Columbia.
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SEC. 1608. OIL BYPASS FILTRATION TECHNOLOGY. 
The Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency shall— 
(1) conduct a joint study of the benefits of oil 
bypass filtration technology in reducing demand for 
oil and protecting the environment; 
(2) examine the feasibility of using oil bypass 
filtration technology in Federal motor vehicle fleets; 
and 
(3) include in such study, prior to any deter-
mination of the feasibility of using oil bypass filtra-
tion technology, the evaluation of products and var-
ious manufacturers. 
SEC. 1609. TOTAL INTEGRATED THERMAL SYSTEMS. 
The Secretary of Energy shall— 
(1) conduct a study of the benefits of total inte-
grated thermal systems in reducing demand for oil 
and protecting the environment; and 
(2) examine the feasibility of using total inte-
grated thermal systems in Department of Defense 
and other Federal motor vehicle fleets. 
SEC. 1610. UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall transmit to Con-
gress a report that examines the feasibility of promoting 
collaborations between large institutions of higher edu-
1142 
cation and small institutions of higher education through 
grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements made by the 
Secretary for energy projects. The Secretary shall also 
consider providing incentives for the inclusion of small in-
stitutions of higher education, including minority-serving 
institutions, in energy research grants, contracts, and co-
operative agreements. 
SEC. 1611. RELIABILITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION AS-
SESSMENT. 
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and each 5 years thereafter, the Federal En-
ergy Regulatory Commission shall assess the effects of the 
exemption of electric cooperatives and government-owned 
utilities from Commission regulation under section 201(f) 
of the Federal Power Act. The assessment shall include 
any effects on— 
(1) reliability of interstate electric transmission 
networks; 
(2) benefit to consumers, and efficiency, of 
competitive wholesale electricity markets; 
(3) just and reasonable rates for electricity con-
sumers; and 
(4) the ability of the Commission to protect 
electricity consumers.
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If the Commission finds that the 201(f) exemption results 
in adverse effects on consumers or electric reliability, the 
Commission shall make appropriate recommendations to 
Congress pursuant to section 311 of the Federal Power 
Act. 
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