HR 5892 RFS 
(1) not later than 60 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, hold an initial workshop to so-
licit public comment and recommendations on how 
to implement a 2-year process; 
(2) develop criteria for identifying projects fea-
turing hydropower development at nonpowered dams 
and closed loop pumped storage projects that may be 
appropriate for licensing within a 2-year process; 
(3) not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, develop and implement pilot 
projects to test a 2-year process, if practicable; and 
(4) not later than 3 years after the date of im-
plementation of the final pilot project testing a 2- 
year process, hold a final workshop to solicit public 
comment on the effectiveness of each tested 2-year 
process. 
(c) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—The Com-
mission shall, to the extent practicable, enter into a memo-
randum of understanding with any applicable Federal or 
State agency to implement a pilot project described in sub-
section (b). 
(d) REPORTS.— 
(1) PILOT PROJECTS NOT IMPLEMENTED.—If 
the Commission determines that no pilot project de-
scribed in subsection (b) is practicable because no 2- 
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HR 5892 RFS 
year process is practicable, not later than 240 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commis-
sion shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate a report that— 
(A) describes the public comments received 
as part of the initial workshop held under sub-
section (b)(1); and 
(B) identifies the process, legal, environ-
mental, economic, and other issues that justify 
the determination of the Commission that no 2- 
year process is practicable, with recommenda-
tions on how Congress may address or remedy 
the identified issues. 
(2) PILOT
PROJECTS
IMPLEMENTED.—If the 
Commission develops and implements pilot projects 
involving a 2-year process, not later than 60 days 
after the date of completion of the final workshop 
held under subsection (b)(4), the Commission shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 
report that— 
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(A) describes the outcomes of the pilot 
projects; 
(B) describes the public comments from 
the final workshop on the effectiveness of each 
tested 2-year process; and 
(C)(i) outlines how the Commission will 
adopt policies under existing law (including reg-
ulations) that result in a 2-year process for ap-
propriate projects; 
(ii) outlines how the Commission will issue 
new regulations to adopt a 2-year process for 
appropriate projects; or 
(iii) identifies the process, legal, environ-
mental, economic, and other issues that justify 
a determination of the Commission that no 2- 
year process is practicable, with recommenda-
tions on how Congress may address or remedy 
the identified issues. 
SEC. 7. DOE STUDY OF PUMPED STORAGE AND POTENTIAL 
HYDROPOWER FROM CONDUITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall 
conduct a study— 
(1)(A) of the technical flexibility that existing 
pumped storage facilities can provide to support 
intermittent renewable electric energy generation, in-
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cluding the potential for such existing facilities to be 
upgraded or retrofitted with advanced commercially 
available technology; and 
(B) of the technical potential of existing 
pumped storage facilities and new advanced pumped 
storage facilities, to provide grid reliability benefits; 
and 
(2)(A) to identify the range of opportunities for 
hydropower that may be obtained from conduits (as 
defined by the Secretary) in the United States; and 
(B) through case studies, to assess amounts of 
potential energy generation from such conduit hy-
dropower projects. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that de-
scribes the results of the study conducted under subsection 
(a), including any recommendations. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 9, 2012. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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