§3505 Federal Power Marketing Administrations

Summary

Each Administrator must encourage Indian tribal energy development and take actions they think are appropriate, including running programs to help tribes. "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration and the Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration. "Power marketing administration" means the Bonneville Power Administration, the Western Area Power Administration, and any other power administration whose power allocation is used by or for the benefit of an Indian tribe in its service area. The Administrators must consider the special relationship between the United States and Indian tribes. Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) power allocations can be used to meet firming and reserve needs of Indian-owned projects on Indian land, and WAPA may buy non-federal power from tribes for those needs. Administrators must not pay more than the prevailing market price for energy products or accept less than prevailing market terms and conditions. An Administrator may give technical help to tribes who want to use the high-voltage transmission system. That help can be paid for either by the Secretary of Energy using non-reimbursable funds appropriated for that purpose, or by the tribe. Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005, the Secretary of Energy must send Congress a report describing how tribes use Federal power allocations or power sold by the Southwestern Power Administration for tribes in the administrations' service areas. The report must list how much power WAPA allocated to or used for tribes, how much other administrations sold to tribes, and the barriers that keep tribes from getting and using Federal power, plus ways to remove those barriers. Up to $750,000, non-reimbursable, is authorized to carry out these actions and remains available until spent.