Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 121.djvu/1706

 PUBLIC LAW 110–140—DEC. 19, 2007

121 STAT. 1685

the United States Agency for International Development) shall support international collaborative efforts to promote the research, development, and deployment of geothermal technologies used to develop hydrothermal and enhanced geothermal system resources, including as partners (as appropriate) the African Rift Geothermal Development Facility, Australia, China, France, the Republic of Iceland, India, Japan, and the United Kingdom. (b) UNITED STATES TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.—The Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency may— (1) encourage participation by United States firms in actions taken to carry out subsection (a); and (2) provide grants and other financial support for feasibility and resource assessment studies conducted in, or intended to benefit, less developed countries. (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. SEC. 625. HIGH COST REGION GEOTHERMAL ENERGY GRANT PROGRAM.

42 USC 17204.

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(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means— (A) a utility; (B) an electric cooperative; (C) a State; (D) a political subdivision of a State; (E) an Indian tribe; or (F) a Native corporation. (2) HIGH-COST REGION.—The term ‘‘high-cost region’’ means a region in which the average cost of electrical power exceeds 150 percent of the national average retail cost, as determined by the Secretary. (b) PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall use amounts made available to carry out this section to make grants to eligible entities for activities described in subsection (c). (c) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.—An eligible entity may use grant funds under this section, with respect to a geothermal energy project in a high-cost region, only— (1) to conduct a feasibility study, including a study of exploration, geochemical testing, geomagnetic surveys, geologic information gathering, baseline environmental studies, well drilling, resource characterization, permitting, and economic analysis; (2) for design and engineering costs, relating to the project; and (3) to demonstrate and promote commercial application of technologies related to geothermal energy as part of the project. (d) COST SHARING.—The cost-sharing requirements of section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352) shall apply to any project carried out under this section. (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

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