§6342 Survey and Registry

Summary

Create a national inventory and public Registry of industrial and large commercial sites that produce waste heat or other recoverable energy. The EPA Administrator, working with the Energy Secretary and State energy offices, must run a continuing survey of major combustion sources and measure how much and what quality of waste energy they make. Within 270 days after December 19, 2007, the EPA must set rules saying which projects can be listed — projects must show a payback of invested costs within 5 years (counting incentives), not be built mainly to sell excess power, and there must be a way for States, utilities, or others to challenge listings. The Energy Secretary must give technical help and can pay up to half the cost of feasibility studies to check the 5-year payback. The EPA must create the Registry within 1 year after December 19, 2007, update it regularly, and post it on the EPA website. The EPA will total recoverable energy by State and nationally and publish those totals and possible emissions savings. Owners get notice before listing and can keep detailed site numbers private, but the State energy office and utilities helping recovery can see them. Projects are removed once they recover energy and then can get incentives, with limits if an owner has a pending incentive petition. The EPA must not list sources built after December 19, 2007 that were made mainly to sell excess power or that do not capture at least 60% of fuel energy (higher-heating-value basis). Owners or developers may self-certify sites, but EPA must review and approve. New facilities can be conditionally listed on request. The EPA will offer recovery method suggestions with DOE Clean Energy Application Centers when asked. State annual reports must include the survey results. Funding authorized: $1,000,000 per year to EPA for 2008–2012; $2,000,000 per year to the Energy Secretary for feasibility help for 2008–2012; and $5,000,000 to the Secretary for State energy office support.