ETHANOL PIPELINE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

SEC. 243. ETHANOL PIPELINE FEASIBILITY STUDY.(a) In General.—The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation, shall conduct a study of the feasibility of the construction of pipelines dedicated to the transportation of ethanol.(b) Factors for Consideration.—In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into consideration—121 STAT. 1541(1) the quantity of ethanol production that would make dedicated pipelines economically viable;(2) existing or potential barriers to the construction of pipelines dedicated to the transportation of ethanol, including technical, siting, financing, and regulatory barriers;(3) market risk (including throughput risk) and means of mitigating the risk;(4) regulatory, financing, and siting options that would mitigate the risk and help ensure the construction of 1 or more pipelines dedicated to the transportation of ethanol;(5) financial incentives that may be necessary for the construction of pipelines dedicated to the transportation of ethanol, including the return on equity that sponsors of the initial dedicated ethanol pipelines will require to invest in the pipelines;(6) technical factors that may compromise the safe transportation of ethanol in pipelines, including identification of remedial and preventive measures to ensure pipeline integrity; and(7) such other factors as the Secretary considers to be appropriate.(c) Report.—Not later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the study conducted under this section.(d) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009, to remain available until expended.