I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6739 
To encourage stronger building energy efficiency codes, promote renewable 
energy technology deployment, and protect the United States from the 
effects of climate change, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2008 
Mr. INSLEE (for himself, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. BALD-
WIN, and Mr. WELCH of Vermont) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To encourage stronger building energy efficiency codes, pro-
mote renewable energy technology deployment, and pro-
tect the United States from the effects of climate change, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘United States Climate Action Now Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
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TITLE I—BUILDING CODES 
Sec. 101. Encouraging stronger building codes. 
TITLE II—TRANSMISSION 
Sec. 201. Findings. 
Sec. 202. National renewable energy zones. 
TITLE III—EXPEDITED INTERCONNECTION STANDARDS 
Sec. 301. Adoption of expedited interconnection standards for small generators. 
TITLE IV—BIOENERGY PARTNERSHIP 
Sec. 401. National Bioenergy Partnership. 
TITLE V—REDUCTION OF BLACK CARBON EMISSIONS TO 
PRESERVE THE ARCTIC 
Sec. 501. Findings. 
Sec. 502. Purposes. 
Sec. 503. Definitions. 
Sec. 504. Black carbon abatement study. 
Sec. 505. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE I—BUILDING CODES 
SEC. 101. ENCOURAGING STRONGER BUILDING CODES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 304 of the Energy Con-
servation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6833) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 304. UPDATING STATE BUILDING ENERGY EFFI-
CIENCY CODES. 
‘‘(a) UPDATING NATIONAL MODEL BUILDING EN-
ERGY CODES.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary shall support updating the 
national model building energy codes and standards 
at least every 3 years to achieve overall energy sav-
ings, compared to the 2006 IECC for residential 
buildings and ASHRAE Standard 90.1 2007 for 
commercial buildings, of at least— 
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‘‘(A) 30 percent in editions of each model 
code or standard released in or after 2010; 
‘‘(B) 50 percent in editions of each model 
code or standard released in or after 2020; and 
‘‘(C) targets for intermediate and subse-
quent years to be set by the Secretary at least 
3 years in advance of each target year, coordi-
nated with the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 
90.1 cycles, at the maximum level of energy ef-
ficiency that is technologically feasible and life- 
cycle cost effective. 
‘‘(2)(A) Whenever the provisions of the IECC 
or ASHRAE Standard 90.1 regarding building en-
ergy use are revised, the Secretary shall, not later 
than 12 months after the date of such revision, de-
termine— 
‘‘(i) whether such revision will improve en-
ergy efficiency in buildings; and 
‘‘(ii) whether such revision will meet the 
targets under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) If the Secretary makes a determination 
under subparagraph (A)(ii) that a code or standard 
does not meet the targets under paragraph (1), or 
if a national model code or standard is not updated 
for more than 3 years, then the Secretary shall with-
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in 12 months establish a modified code or standard 
that meets such targets. Any such modified code or 
standard— 
‘‘(i) shall achieve the maximum level of en-
ergy savings that are technically feasible and 
economically justified, incorporating available 
appliances, technologies, and construction prac-
tices; 
‘‘(ii) shall be achieved through amend-
ments or additions to the latest revision of the 
IECC or ASHRAE Standard 90.1 but may con-
sider other model codes or standards; and 
‘‘(iii) shall serve as the baseline for the 
next determination under subparagraph (A)(i). 
‘‘(C) The Secretary shall provide the oppor-
tunity for public comment on targets, determina-
tions, and modified codes and standards under this 
subsection, and shall publish notice of targets, deter-
minations, and modified codes and standards under 
this subsection in the Federal Register. 
‘‘(b) STATE CERTIFICATION OF BUILDING ENERGY 
CODE UPDATES.— 
‘‘(1) Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of the United States Climate Action Now 
Act, each State shall certify to the Secretary that it 
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has reviewed and updated the provisions of its resi-
dential and commercial building codes regarding en-
ergy efficiency. Such certification shall include a 
demonstration that such State’s code provisions 
meet or exceed the 2006 IECC for residential build-
ings and the ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2007 for 
commercial buildings, or achieve equivalent or great-
er energy savings. 
‘‘(2)(A) If the Secretary makes an affirmative 
determination under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) or es-
tablishes a modified code or standard under sub-
section (a)(2)(B), each State shall within 2 years 
certify that it has reviewed and updated the provi-
sions of its building code regarding energy efficiency. 
Such certification shall include a demonstration that 
such State’s code provisions meet or exceed the re-
vised code or standard, or achieve equivalent or 
greater energy savings. 
‘‘(B) If the Secretary fails to make a deter-
mination under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) by the date 
specified in subsection (a)(2), or makes a negative 
determination, each State shall within 2 years after 
the specified date or the date of the determination, 
certify that it has reviewed the revised code or 
standard, and updated the provisions of its building 
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code regarding energy efficiency to meet or exceed 
any provisions found to improve energy efficiency in 
buildings, or to achieve equivalent or greater energy 
savings in other ways. 
‘‘(c) STATE CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH 
BUILDING CODES.—(1) Each State shall, not later than 
3 years after a certification under subsection (b), certify 
that it has achieved compliance with the certified building 
energy code. Such certification shall include documenta-
tion of the rate of compliance based on independent in-
spections of a random sample of the new and renovated 
buildings covered by the code in the preceding year. 
‘‘(2) A State shall be considered to achieve compli-
ance under paragraph (1) if— 
‘‘(A) at least 90 percent of new and renovated 
buildings covered by the code in the preceding year 
substantially meet all the requirements of the code; 
or 
‘‘(B) the estimated excess energy use of new 
and renovated buildings that did not meet the code 
in the preceding year, compared to a baseline of 
comparable buildings that meet the code, is not more 
than 10 percent of the estimated energy use of all 
new and renovated buildings covered by the code in 
the preceding year. 
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‘‘(d) FAILURE TO MEET DEADLINES.— 
‘‘(1) A State that has not made a certification 
required under subsection (b) or (c) by the applica-
ble deadline shall submit to the Secretary a report 
on— 
‘‘(A) the status of the State with respect 
to meeting the requirements and submitting the 
certification; and 
‘‘(B) a plan for meeting and requirements 
and submitting the certification. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall permit extensions of 
the deadlines for the certification requirements 
under subsections (b) and (c) of this section for up 
to 1 year if a State demonstrates in the report 
under paragraph (1) that it has made a good faith 
effort to comply with such requirements and that it 
has made significant progress in doing so, including 
by developing and implementing a plan under para-
graph (1)(B). 
‘‘(3) Any State for which the Secretary has not 
accepted a certification by a deadline under sub-
section (b) or (c) of this section, with any extension 
granted under paragraph (2), is out of compliance 
with this section. 
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‘‘(4) In any State that is out of compliance with 
this section, a local government may be in compli-
ance with this section by meeting the certification 
requirements under subsections (b) and (c) of this 
section. 
‘‘(5) The Secretary shall annually submit to 
Congress, and publish in the Federal Register, a re-
port on the status of national model building energy 
codes and standards, the status of code adoption 
and compliance in the States, and implementation of 
this section. The report shall include estimates of 
impacts of past action under this section and poten-
tial impacts of further action on lifetime energy use 
by buildings and resulting energy costs to individuals 
and businesses. 
‘‘(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary shall on a timely basis pro-
vide technical assistance to model code-setting and 
standard development organizations. This assistance 
shall include technical assistance as requested by the 
organizations in evaluating code or standards pro-
posals or revisions, building energy analysis and de-
sign tools, building demonstrations, and design as-
sistance and training. The Secretary shall submit 
code and standard amendment proposals, with sup-
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porting evidence, sufficient to enable the national 
model building energy codes and standards to meet 
the targets in subsection (a)(1). 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall provide technical as-
sistance to States to implement the requirements of 
this section, including procedures for States to dem-
onstrate that their code provisions achieve equivalent 
or greater energy savings than the national model 
codes and standards, and to improve and implement 
State residential and commercial building energy ef-
ficiency codes or to otherwise promote the design 
and construction of energy efficient buildings. 
‘‘(f) AVAILABILITY OF INCENTIVE FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary shall provide incentive fund-
ing to States to implement the requirements of this 
section, and to improve and implement State resi-
dential and commercial building energy efficiency 
codes, including increasing and verifying compliance 
with such codes. In determining whether, and in 
what amount, to provide incentive funding under 
this subsection, the Secretary shall consider the ac-
tions proposed by the State to implement the re-
quirements of this section, to improve and imple-
ment residential and commercial building energy ef-
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ficiency codes, and to promote building energy effi-
ciency through the use of such codes. 
‘‘(2) Additional funding shall be provided under 
this subsection for implementation of a plan to 
achieve and document at least a 90 percent rate of 
compliance with residential and commercial building 
energy efficiency codes, based on energy perform-
ance— 
‘‘(A) to a State that has adopted and is 
implementing, on a Statewide basis— 
‘‘(i) a residential building energy effi-
ciency code that meets or exceeds the re-
quirements of the 2006 IECC, or any suc-
ceeding version of that code that has re-
ceived an affirmative determination from 
the 
Secretary 
under 
subsection 
(a)(2)(A)(i); and 
‘‘(ii) a commercial building energy ef-
ficiency code that meets or exceeds the re-
quirements of the ASHRAE Standard 
90.1–2007, or any succeeding version of 
that standard that has received an affirma-
tive determination from the Secretary 
under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i); or 
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‘‘(B) in a State in which there is no State-
wide energy code either for residential buildings 
or for commercial buildings, or where State 
codes fail to comply with subparagraph (A), to 
a local government that has adopted and is im-
plementing residential and commercial building 
energy efficiency codes, as described in subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(3) Of the amounts made available under this 
subsection, the Secretary may use amounts required, 
not exceeding $500,000 for each State, to train 
State and local officials to implement codes de-
scribed in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(4)(A) There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this subsection— 
‘‘(i) $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2009 through 2013; and 
‘‘(ii) such sums as are necessary for fiscal 
year 2013 and each fiscal year thereafter. 
‘‘(B) Funding provided to States under para-
graph (2) for each fiscal year shall not exceed one- 
half of the excess of funding under this subsection 
over $5,000,000 for the fiscal year.’’. 
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(b) DEFINITION.—Section 303 of the Energy Con-
servation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6832) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(17) The term ‘IECC’ means the International 
Energy Conservation Code.’’. 
TITLE II—TRANSMISSION 
SEC. 201. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) electricity produced from renewable re-
sources helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 
and limits emissions of other pollutants regulated 
pursuant to the Clean Air Act, enhances national en-
ergy security, and provides substantial economic 
benefits; 
(2) the potential exists for a far greater per-
centage of electric production in the United States 
to be generated through the use of renewable re-
sources than current levels; 
(3) many of the best potential renewable energy 
resources are located in rural areas far from popu-
lation centers; 
(4) the lack of adequate electric transmission 
capacity is one of the primary obstacles to the devel-
opment of electric generation facilities fueled by re-
newable energy resources; 
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(5) the economies of many rural areas would 
substantially benefit from the increased development 
of electric generation facilities fueled by renewable 
energy resources; and 
(6) it is in the national interest for the Federal 
Government to implement policies that will enhance 
the amount of electric transmission capacity avail-
able to take full advantage of renewable energy re-
sources to generate electricity. 
SEC. 202. NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONES. 
Title II of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824 
et seq.) is amended as follows: 
(1) By inserting before the section heading of 
section 201 (16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.) the following: 
‘‘Subtitle A—Regulation of Electric 
Utility Companies’’. 
(2) By adding at the end the following: 
‘‘Subtitle B—National Renewable 
Energy Zones 
‘‘SEC. 231. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this subtitle: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘Commission’ means the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘electricity from renewable en-
ergy’ means electric energy generated from— 
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‘‘(A) solar, wind, geothermal, or marine 
and hydrokinetic renewable energy; 
‘‘(B) biomass (as defined in section 203(b) 
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005); 
‘‘(C) landfill gas; or 
‘‘(D) qualified hydropower. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘marine and hydrokinetic renew-
able energy’ means energy derived from— 
‘‘(A) waves, tides, and currents in oceans, 
estuaries, and tidal areas; 
‘‘(B) free flowing water in rivers, lakes, 
and streams; 
‘‘(C) free flowing water in an irrigation 
system, canal, or other man-made channel, in-
cluding projects that utilize nonmechanical 
structures to accelerate the flow of water for 
electric power production purposes; or 
‘‘(D) differentials in ocean temperature 
(ocean thermal energy conversion). 
‘‘(4) The term ‘geothermal energy’ means en-
ergy derived from a geothermal deposit (within the 
meaning of section 613(e)(2) of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986). 
‘‘(5) The term ‘qualified hydropower’ means— 
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‘‘(A) incremental hydropower generation 
that is achieved from increased efficiency or ad-
ditions of capacity made on or after the earlier 
of January 1, 2001, or the effective date of an 
existing applicable State renewable portfolio 
standard program at a hydroelectric facility 
that was placed in service before that date; or 
‘‘(B) additions of capacity made on or 
after the earlier of January 1, 2001, or the ef-
fective date of an existing applicable State re-
newable portfolio standard program at an exist-
ing nonhydroelectric dam, provided that— 
‘‘(i) the hydroelectric project installed 
on the nonhydroelectric dam is licensed by 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commis-
sion and meets all other applicable environ-
mental, licensing, and regulatory require-
ments, including applicable fish passage re-
quirements; 
‘‘(ii) the nonhydroelectric dam was 
placed in service before the date of the en-
actment of this paragraph and operated 
for flood control, navigation, or water sup-
ply purposes and did not produce hydro-
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electric power on the date of the enactment 
of this paragraph; and 
‘‘(iii) the hydroelectric project is oper-
ated so that the water surface elevation at 
any given location and time that would 
have occurred in the absence of the hydro-
electric project is maintained, subject to 
any license requirements imposed under 
applicable law that change the water sur-
face elevation for the purpose of improving 
the environmental quality of the affected 
waterway. 
‘‘SEC. 232. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL RENEWABLE EN-
ERGY ZONES. 
‘‘(a) REPORT.—Within 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this subtitle, the President shall report to Con-
gress on the barriers to constructing new transmission 
lines that would increase renewable electric power genera-
tion capacity in the United States. 
‘‘(b) DESIGNATION.—Within 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this subtitle, the President shall des-
ignate as a National Renewable Energy Zone each area 
that meets each of the following conditions: 
‘‘(1) The potential to generate in excess of 1 
gigawatt of electric power from renewable energy if 
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there were a sufficient level of electric transmission 
capacity without having a material detrimental im-
pact on reliability. 
‘‘(2) An insufficient level of electric trans-
mission capacity to enable one or more load centers 
to access the potential renewable electric power gen-
eration capacity identified pursuant to paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(3) Substantial demand in one or more load 
centers for renewable energy that would be gen-
erated in the National Renewable Energy Zone if 
there were a sufficient level of transmission capacity. 
‘‘(c) FACTORS.—In making the designations required 
by subsection (b), the President shall take into account 
each of the following: 
‘‘(1) Federal and State requirements for utili-
ties to incorporate renewable energy as part of the 
load of electric generating facilities. 
‘‘(2) Compatibility with State and regional 
transmission plans. 
‘‘(d) ADDITIONAL FACILITIES.—Within 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this subtitle, the President shall 
identify, and provide public notice of, specific new trans-
mission facilities that, if constructed, could substantially 
increase the generation of electricity from renewable en-
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tifying such facilities, the President shall take into account 
the ability of the facility to provide transmission capacity 
from the National Renewable Energy Zone to multiple 
load centers. 
‘‘(e) EXCLUSIONS.—The President shall not include 
in any National Renewable Energy Zone designated under 
subsection (b), or identify facilities under subsection (d) 
on, any Federal land that is designated as a wilderness 
study area, Wilderness Area, unit of the National Park 
System, national monument, national wildlife refuge, unit 
of the National Landscape Conservation System, Inven-
toried Roadless Area within the National Forest System, 
Wild and Scenic River, National Marine Sanctuary, or 
unit of the National System of Trails. 
‘‘(f) PUBLIC VIEWS AND CONSULTATION.—Before 
making any designation under subsection (b) or identi-
fying facilities under subsection (d), the President shall 
consult with— 
‘‘(1) the Governors of affected States; 
‘‘(2) the public; 
‘‘(3) electric utilities and owners and operators 
of transmission facilities; 
‘‘(4) public utilities commissions and regional 
electricity planning organizations; 
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‘‘(5) Federal and State land management and 
energy and environmental agencies; 
‘‘(6) renewable energy companies; 
‘‘(7) local government officials; 
‘‘(8) renewable energy and energy efficiency in-
terest groups; 
‘‘(9) Indian tribes; and 
‘‘(10) environmental protection and land, water, 
and wildlife conservation groups. 
‘‘(g) EXPANSION.—The President shall, every 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this subtitle, consider 
whether to expand an existing National Renewable Energy 
Zone or designate a new National Renewable Energy Zone 
pursuant to the criteria set forth in subsection (b). 
‘‘(h) DELISTING.—The President, after opportunity 
for public comment, shall every 9 years review the Na-
tional Renewable Energy Zones designated pursuant to 
subsection (b) and delist those Zones that no longer meet 
the criteria specified in that subsection. 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2009 
through 2012 such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out this section.’’. 
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TITLE III—EXPEDITED 
INTERCONNECTION STANDARDS 
SEC. 301. ADOPTION OF EXPEDITED INTERCONNECTION 
STANDARDS FOR SMALL GENERATORS. 
(a) INTERCONNECTION FOR UTILITIES NOT SUB-
JECT TO FEDERAL POWER ACT JURISDICTION.—Section 
113(b) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 2623(b)) is amended by adding the following 
at the end thereof: 
‘‘(6) INTERCONNECTION STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Each electric utility 
shall provide interconnection service to devices 
used for the production of electricity having a 
capacity of no more than 20 megawatts. Such 
interconnection shall be consistent with the 
standards promulgated by the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission through Order Number 
2006. 
‘‘(B) PURPOSES
OF
STANDARDS.—The 
standard adopted under this paragraph shall be 
designed to— 
‘‘(i) encourage the use of distributed 
renewable and combined heat and power 
electricity generation; and 
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‘‘(ii) ensure the safety and reliability 
of devices used for the production of elec-
tricity and the local distribution systems 
interconnected with devices used for the 
production of electricity. 
‘‘(C) 
EXPEDITED
PROCEDURES.—Each 
standard under this section shall include sepa-
rate expedited procedures for interconnecting 
devices used for the production of electricity 
having a capacity of up to at least 10 kilowatts 
and a separate standard that expedites inter-
connection for devices used for the production 
of electricity having a capacity of no more than 
2000 kilowatts. In designing such expedited 
procedures, each State regulatory authority 
(with respect to each electric utility for which it 
has ratemaking authority) and each nonregu-
lated utility shall consider model interconnec-
tion rules published by the Interstate Renew-
able Energy Council. 
‘‘(D) SAFETY, 
RELIABILITY, 
PERFORM-
ANCE, AND COST.—Each standard under this 
section shall establish those measures for the 
safety and reliability of the affected equipment 
and transmission systems as may be appro-
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priate. Such standards shall be consistent with 
the reliability standards under section 215 of 
the Federal Power Act and all applicable safety 
and performance standards established by the 
National Electrical Code, the Institute of Elec-
trical and Electronics Engineers, Underwriters 
Laboratories, or the American National Stand-
ards Institute, and the North American Electric 
Reliability Corporation, yet constitute the min-
imum cost and technical burdens to the inter-
connecting devices used for the production of 
electricity. 
‘‘(E) ADDITIONAL CHARGES.—The stand-
ards under this section shall prohibit the impo-
sition of additional charges by the owners or 
operators of electric utilities for equipment or 
services for interconnection that are additional 
to those necessary to achieve the objectives of 
this paragraph. 
‘‘(F) EXEMPTIONS.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of this section, any State regu-
latory authority or electric utility that adopted 
standards consistent with this paragraph before 
the enactment of this paragraph shall not be re-
quired to take any additional action under this 
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paragraph. Such an exemption shall be effective 
upon the issuance by the State regulatory au-
thority (or the electric utility, in the case of a 
nonregulated electric utility) within 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this paragraph 
of a public notice demonstrating that such 
interconnection standards have been adopted.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 113(a) of 
the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 2623(a)) is amended by adding the following at 
the end thereof: ‘‘For the purpose of applying this sub-
section to the standard under paragraph (6) of subsection 
(b), the date of the enactment of such paragraph (6) shall 
be substituted for the date of the enactment of this Act.’’. 
TITLE IV—BIOENERGY 
PARTNERSHIP 
SEC. 401. NATIONAL BIOENERGY PARTNERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall es-
tablish a National Bioenergy Partnership to provide co-
ordination among programs of State governments, the 
Federal Government, and the private sector that support 
the institutional and physical infrastructure necessary to 
promote the deployment of sustainable biomass fuels and 
bioenergy technologies for the United States. 
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(b) PROGRAM.—The National Bioenergy Partnership 
shall consist of five regions, to be administered by the 
CONEG Policy Research Center, the Council of Great 
Lakes Governors, the Southern States Energy Board, the 
Western Governors Association, and the Pacific Regional 
Biomass Energy Partnership led by the Washington State 
University Energy Program. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 
2009 through 2013 to carry out this section— 
(1) $20,000,000, to be allocated among the five 
regions described in subsection (b) on the basis of 
the number of States in each region, for distribution 
among the member States of that region based on 
procedures developed by the member States of the 
region; and 
(2) $5,000,000, to be allocated equally among 
the five regions described in subsection (b) for re-
gionwide activities, including technical assistance 
and regional studies and coordination. 
TITLE V—REDUCTION OF BLACK 
CARBON EMISSIONS TO PRE-
SERVE THE ARCTIC 
SEC. 501. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Black carbon is a largely unregulated green-
house particulate pollutant that contributes signifi-
cantly to overall greenhouse pollution by attracting 
the sun’s heat and has a particularly detrimental ef-
fect when it falls onto the Arctic and other ice be-
cause it increases the absorption of solar radiation, 
reducing the albedo effect, and leads to faster ice 
heating and melting. The atmospheric residence of 
black carbon is less than 2 weeks, making this pol-
lutant a candidate for immediate greenhouse-effect 
amelioration. 
(2) Through various clean air programs, the 
United States has reduced much of its black carbon 
pollution, though some industries (e.g., commercial 
shipping and certain other diesel-engine powered 
machines) could improve and help spur technological 
innovation in other countries where major black car-
bon pollution still occurs through industrial activi-
ties, agriculture and forestry practices, and residen-
tial cooking with dirty fuels. 
(3) The Committee on Oversight and Govern-
ment Reform of the House of Representatives re-
ceived testimony establishing that black carbon is a 
serious threat to health and that reductions in black 
carbon will produce immediate health improvements. 
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(4) Black carbon is not explicitly regulated by 
the United Nations Framework Convention on Cli-
mate Change, other international instruments, or by 
present United States Federal law. 
(5) The United States foreign policies and as-
sistance programs, as well as directions to multilat-
eral lending organizations such as the World Bank, 
possess the potential to significantly reduce black 
carbon pollution globally. 
(6) Taking immediate cost-effective and techno-
logically feasible action to protect the Arctic, espe-
cially by significantly reducing black carbon pollu-
tion, will protect an ecosystem under imminent 
threat due to global warming and will establish a 
strong foundation for further United States leader-
ship in combating global warming. 
SEC. 502. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this title are— 
(1) to immediately identify ways to reduce black 
carbon emissions and pollution, both in the United 
States and world-wide at low cost, to stem and re-
verse the melting of Arctic Sea ice, as well as con-
tribute to reduction of overall global warming; and 
(2) to establish the United States as a leader 
in protecting the Arctic environment. 
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SEC. 503. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this title: 
(1) The term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the head 
of the Environmental Protection Agency, or that 
person’s designee. 
(2) The term ‘‘black carbon’’ means the soot- 
based 
absorbing 
component 
of 
carbonaceous 
aerosols, known to attract the sun’s rays and in-
crease global warming, and includes black carbon 
and organic carbon complexes that induce net global 
warming. 
(3) The term ‘‘person’’ means any individual, 
corporation, partnership, trust, association, or any 
other private entity, or any officer, employee, agent, 
department, or instrumentality of the Federal Gov-
ernment or of any State, municipality, or political 
subdivision of a State, or of any foreign government, 
any State, municipality, or political subdivision of a 
State, or any other entity subject to the jurisdiction 
of the United States. 
(4) The term ‘‘soot’’ means the carbonaceous 
aerosol product of incomplete combustion, including 
both black carbon and organic carbon. 
(5) The term ‘‘technologically feasible’’ means 
practices and technology that have been experi-
mentally demonstrated to reduce greenhouse gas 
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emissions. The term includes promising new tech-
nology that has not yet been implemented by any 
person. 
SEC. 504. BLACK CARBON ABATEMENT STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator shall conduct a 
study of black carbon emissions in consultation with the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
Agency for International Development, the Department of 
the Interior, and other agencies. The study shall include 
each of the following: 
(1) An identification of— 
(A) the latest scientific data relevant to the 
climate-related impacts of black carbon emis-
sions from diesel engines and other sources; 
(B) the major sources of black carbon 
emissions in the United States and worldwide, 
and an estimate of black carbon emissions from 
those sources; 
(C) the diesel and other direct emission 
control technologies, operations, or strategies to 
remove or reduce emissions of black carbon, in-
cluding estimates of the costs and effectiveness 
of the measures; 
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(D) the entire lifecycle and net climate im-
pacts of installation of diesel particulate filters 
on existing heavy-duty diesel engines; and 
(E) control technologies, operations, or 
strategies for black carbon emissions from resi-
dential cookstoves, forest burning, and other 
agriculture-based burning, including estimates 
of the costs and effectiveness of the measures. 
(2) Recommendations of the Administrator re-
garding— 
(A) areas of focus for additional research 
for technologies, operations, and strategies with 
the highest potential to reduce emissions of 
black carbon; and 
(B) actions the Federal Government could 
carry out to encourage or require additional 
black carbon emission reductions. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to Congress a report describing the results of the study. 
SEC. 505. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 
to carry out this title. 
Æ 
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