S.Amdt. 1503

SA 1503. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 6, to reduce our Nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources, promoting new emerging energy technologies, developing greater efficiency, and creating a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to invest in alternative energy, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle E of title II, add the following:

SEC. 269. GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL BUILDINGS.

(a) Definition of LEED Silver Standard.--In this section, the term “LEED silver standard” means the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating standard identified as silver by the United States Green Building Council.

(b) Green Building Standards for Federal Buildings.--

(1) Requirement.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a Federal building for which the design phase for construction or major renovation is begun after the date of enactment of this Act shall be designed, constructed, and certified to meet, at a minimum, the LEED silver standard.

(2) Determination of impracticability.--

(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (C)(ii), the requirement under paragraph (1) shall not apply to a Federal building if the head of the Federal agency with jurisdiction over the Federal building, in accordance with the factors described in subparagraph (B), determines that compliance with the requirement under paragraph (1) would be impracticable.

(B) Factors for determination.--In determining whether compliance with the requirement under paragraph (1) would be impracticable, the head of the Federal agency with jurisdiction over the Federal building shall determine--

(i) the quantity of energy required by each activity carried out in the Federal building; and

(ii) whether the Federal building is used to carry out an activity relating to national security.

(C) Report.--

(i) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the head of each Federal agency shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a report that includes a description of each Federal building for which the head of the Agency with jurisdiction over the Federal building determined that compliance with the requirement under paragraph (1) would be impracticable.

(ii) Review by secretary.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a report from a head of a Federal agency under clause (i), the Secretary shall review the report and notify the head of the Federal agency on whether any Federal building described in the report submitted by the head of the Federal agency shall be required to comply with the requirement under paragraph (1).

(D) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this paragraph.

(3) Study.--

(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress the results of a study comparing--

(i) the expected energy savings resulting from the implementation of this section; with

(ii) energy savings under all other Federal energy savings requirements.

(B) Inclusion.--The Secretary shall include in the report any recommendations for changes to Federal law necessary to reduce or eliminate duplicative or inconsistent Federal energy savings requirements.