§ 13331 — Coal Research, Development, Demonstration, And Commercial Application Programs

(a) 13541 and 13542 of this title, conduct programs for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application on coal-based technologies. Such research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs shall include the programs established under this part, and shall have the goals and objectives of— (1) ensuring a reliable electricity supply; (2) complying with applicable environmental requirements; (3) achieving the control of sulfur oxides, oxides of nitrogen, air toxics, solid and liquid wastes, greenhouse gases, or other emissions resulting from coal use or conversion at levels of proficiency greater than or equal to applicable currently available commercial technology; (4) achieving the cost competitive conversion of coal into energy forms usable in the transportation sector; (5) demonstrating the conversion of coal to synthetic gaseous, liquid, and solid fuels; (6) demonstrating, in cooperation with other Federal and State agencies, the use of coal-derived fuels in mobile equipment, with opportunities for industrial cost sharing participation; (7) ensuring the timely commercial application of cost-effective technologies or energy production processes or systems utilizing coal which achieve— (A) greater efficiency in the conversion of coal to useful energy when compared to currently available commercial technology for the use of coal; and (B) the control of emissions from the utilization of coal; and (8) ensuring the availability for commercial use of such technologies by the year 2010. (1) In selecting either a demonstration project or a commercial application project for financial assistance under this part, the Secretary shall seek to ensure that, relative to otherwise comparable commercially available technologies or products, the selected project will meet one or more of the following criteria: (A) It will reduce environmental emissions to an extent greater than required by applicable provisions of law. (B) It will increase the overall efficiency of the utilization of coal, including energy conversion efficiency and, where applicable, production of products derived from coal. (C) It will be a more cost-effective technological alternative, based on life cycle capital and operating costs per unit of energy produced and, where applicable, costs per unit of product produced. (2) In administering demonstration and commercial application programs authorized by this part, the Secretary shall establish accounting and project management controls that will be adequate to control costs. (A) Not later than 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall establish procedures and criteria for the recoupment of the Federal share of each cost shared demonstration and commercial application project authorized pursuant to this part. Such recoupment shall occur within a reasonable period of time following the date of completion of such project, but not later than 20 years following such date, taking into account the effect of recoupment on— (i) the commercial competitiveness of the entity carrying out the project; (ii) the profitability of the project; and (iii) the commercial viability of the coal-based technology utilized. (B) The Secretary may at any time waive or defer all or some portion of the recoupment requirement as necessary for the commercial viability of the project. (4) Projects selected by the Secretary under this part for demonstration or commercial application of a technology shall, in the judgment of the Secretary, be capable of enhancing the state of the art for such technology. (c) Within 240 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report which shall include each of the following: (1) A detailed description of ongoing research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities regarding coal-based technologies undertaken by the Department of Energy, other Federal or State government departments or agencies and, to the extent such information is publicly available, other public or private organizations in the United States and other countries. (2) A listing and analysis of current Federal and State government regulatory and financial incentives that could further the goals of the programs established under this part. (3) Recommendations regarding the manner in which any ongoing coal-based demonstration and commercial application program might be modified and extended in order to ensure the timely demonstrations of advanced coal-based technologies so as to ensure that the goals established under this section are achieved and that such demonstrated technologies are available for commercial use by the year 2010. (4) Recommendations, if any, regarding the manner in which the cost sharing demonstrations conducted pursuant to the Clean Coal Program established by Public Law 98–473 might be modified and extended in order to ensure the timely demonstration of advanced coal-based technologies. (5) A detailed plan for conducting the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs to achieve the goals and objectives of subsection (a) of this section, which plan shall include a description of— (A) the program elements and management structure to be utilized; (B) the technical milestones to be achieved with respect to each of the advanced coal-based technologies included in the plan; and (C) the dates at which further deadlines for additional cost sharing demonstrations shall be established. (d) Within one year after transmittal of the report described in subsection (c), and every 2 years thereafter for a period of 6 years, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report that provides a detailed description of the status of development of the advanced coal-based technologies and the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities undertaken to carry out the programs required by this part. (e) In carrying out research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities under this part, the Secretary shall consult with the National Coal Council and other representatives of the public and private sectors as the Secretary considers appropriate.