Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 4.djvu/374

 104 STAT. 2690 PUBLIC LAW 101-549—NOV. 15, 1990 42 USC 7171 SEC. 808. RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY CONSERVATION INCEN- note. TIVES. (a) DEFINITION. —For purposes of this section, "renewable energy" means energy from photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind, geothermal, and biomass energy production technologies. (b) RATE INCENTIVES STUDY.—Within 18 months after enactment, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency, shall complete a study which calculates the net environmental benefits of renewable energy, compared to nonrenewable energy, and assigns numerical values to them. The study shall include, but not be limited to, environmental impacts on air, water, land use, water use, human health, and waste disposal. (c) MODEL REGULATIONS. — In conjunction with the study in subsection (b), the Commission shall propose one or more models for incorporating the net environmental benefits into the regulatory treatment of renewable energy in order to provide economic compensation for those benefits. (d) REPORT.— The Commission shall transmit the study and the model regulations to Congress, along with any recommendations on the best ways to reward renewable energy technologies for their environmental benefits, in a report no later than 24 months after enactment. SEC. 809. CLEAN AIR STUDY OF SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO. The Administrator shall conduct a study of the causes of degraded visibility in southwestern New Mexico. The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is encouraged to cooperate with the Government of Mexico, other Federal agencies, and any other appropriate organizations in conducting the study. Nothing in this section shall be construed as contravening or superseding the provisions of any international agreement in force for the United States as of the date of enactment of this section, or any relevant Federal statute. 42 USC 7401 SEC. 810. IMPACT ON SMALL COMMUNITIES. Before implementing a provision of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall consult with the Small Communities Coordinator of the Environmental Protection Agency to determine the impact of such provision on small communities, including the estimated cost of compliance with such provision. 42 USC 7612 SEC. 811. EQUIVALENT AIR QUALITY CONTROLS AMONG TRADING note. NATIONS. (a) FINDINGS. —The Congress finds that— (1) all nations have the responsibility to adopt and enforce effective air quality standards and requirements and the United States, in enacting this Act, is carrying out its responsibility in this regard; (2) as a result of complying with this Act, businesses in the United States will make significant capital investments and incur incremental costs in implementing control technology standards; (3) such compliance may impair the competitiveness of certain United States jobs, production, processes, and products if foreign goods are produced under less costly environmental standards and requirements than are United States goods; and

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