Detailed Summary

American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009 - Establishes: (1) the Clean Energy Investment Fund, a revolving fund to develop clean energy technology; (2) the Clean Energy Deployment Administration in the Department of Energy (DOE) to provide financial support for deploying clean energy technologies; (3) the National Commission on Nuclear Waste to study issues concerning waste management, disposal, storage, and chemical reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; (4) a Working Group on Energy Markets; and (5) a standard that requires utilities to obtain an increasing percentage of their base quantity of electricity that they sell to consumers from renewable energy or energy efficiency (3% in 2011-2013, 6% in 2014-2016, 9% in 2017-2018, 12% in 2019-2020, and 15% in 2021-2039).

Requires DOE to: (1) establish a renewable energy credit trading program and an energy efficiency credit trading program, under which utilities will submit credits to comply with such standard; (2) conduct various studies and programs concerning clean energy, water use and energy savings, and energy efficiency in vehicles; (3) support manufacturers' use of clean energy and energy efficiency measures, including implementing the State Partnership Industrial Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Program and a sustainable manufacturing initiative; (4) implement a program to demonstrate the commercial application of integrated systems for the capture, injection, monitoring, and storage of carbon dioxide from industrial sources; (5) support programs to expand the domestic production of low-Btu gas and helium resources; (6) conduct a marine-based energy device verification program; (7) implement a grant program to develop and evaluate marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy; and (8) establish a task force to report on climate change in China and India.

Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to: (1) develop an interconnection-wide transmission plan for the electric grid; (2) require electric utilities to make available interconnection service to consumers with respect to facilities that generate up to 15 kilowatts; and (3) establish a model standard for the interconnection of certain small power production facilities. Provides for the protection of critical electric infrastructure from cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Gives the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing authority under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 over facilities that use an advanced fuel recycling process. Requires NRC and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish standards regarding protection against radiation and radioactive material from facilities that use such a process.

Sets forth provisions to: (1) establish energy efficiency standards for lights, appliances, and buildings and revise the Energy Star program; (2) require the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to include at least 30 million barrels of refined petroleum products; (3) provide for the production of geothermal energy on land with oil and gas leases; (4) repeal royalty relief for production from certain ultra deep gas wells in shallow water and oil and gas production sites in the Gulf of Mexico; (5) increase a federal loan guarantee for developing an Alaska natural gas pipeline; (6) prioritize and provide assistance for renewable energy development on brownfield sites; (7) authorize and extend appropriations for specified energy programs; (8) provide for the development of energy education and workforce training; and (9) establish requirements for the Energy Information Administration, including creating a Financial Market Analysis Office.

Requires the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) develop a facility to operate the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility; (2) designate Bureau of Land Management (BLM) field offices in specified states to serve as Renewable Energy Permit Coordination Offices; (3) prepare a seismic inventory of oil and natural gas and a summary of such information for waters in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); (4) establish a wind and solar leasing program; (5) conduct assessments of helium gas and potash; (6) establish a regional joint OCS lease and permit processing office for Alaska; and (7) allow oil and gas leasing in specified areas of the Gulf of Mexico that are beyond 45 statute miles (current law limits such activity to areas beyond 125 miles) off the coastline of Florida.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 7/16/2009: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 110.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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