§3505 Federal power marketing administrations

Summary

Each Administrator must encourage Indian tribal energy development and run programs to help make that happen. Administrator means the heads of the Bonneville Power Administration and the Western Area Power Administration. Power marketing administration means the Bonneville Power Administration, the Western Area Power Administration, and any other similar administration that uses power allocations for the benefit of an Indian tribe in its service area. The Administrators must respect the special relationship between the United States and Indian tribes. Western Area Power Administration power can be used to meet firming and reserve needs of Indian-owned projects on Indian land, and that Administrator may buy non‑federal power from tribes for those needs. Administrators must not pay more than the prevailing market price or accept less than prevailing market terms. Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005, the Secretary of Energy must send Congress a report describing how tribes used Federal power allocations or power sold by the Southwestern Power Administration, showing (A) the quantity allocated to or used for tribes by the Western Area Power Administration, (B) the quantity sold to tribes by other power marketing administrations, and (C) barriers that make it hard for tribes to access Federal power and ways to remove those barriers. Up to $750,000 in non‑reimbursable funds are authorized to carry out this work and remain available until spent. Technical help to use high‑voltage transmission may be provided and paid for by the Secretary of Energy with non‑reimbursable appropriations for that purpose or by the tribe.