Regulatory Activity Funding for Autos The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced it will provide $50 million in funding for its FY 14 Vehicle Technologies Program to help “make plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) more affordable and convenient…within the next 10 years.” The funding will be dedicated to target areas including: advanced light-weighting, advanced battery development, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House-Passed Budget Agreement Includes Energy Policy Provisions Last Thursday, December 12, members of the U.S. House voted 332-94 to pass the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, a budget resolution offered as an amendment to H.J. Res. 59 that sets short-term funding caps for the FY 2014 and FY 2015 years and longer-term projections … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Nominations for U.S. Department of the Interior and EPA On Tuesday, December 17, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will meet to consider the nomination of Neil Kornze to become the Director of the Bureau of Land Management at the Department of the Interior. The Committee will also consider at that time … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Natural Resources Committee Approves Mountaintop Mining Lesiglation On Thursday, November 14, the House Natural Resources Committee voted to favorably report H.R. 2824, the “Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America” Act, introduced by Rep. Bill Johnson, by a margin of 24-14. The legislation would prevent the Department of Interior … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on Energy Infrastructure Legislation Last Tuesday, October 29, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing to review the North American Energy Infrastructure Act (H.R. 3301), legislation that seeks to eliminate the State Department’s authority to approve an energy infrastructure project and delegate that responsibility to the Federal Energy … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Rep. Upton and Rep. Green Introduce Energy Infrastructure Project Reform Legislation Last Tuesday, October 22, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), along with a bipartisan group of original cosponsors, introduced the North American Energy Infrastructure Act (H.R. 3301). The legislation would eliminate the State Department’s … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Passes Water Resources Reform and Development Act Last week, the House passed its Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which provides federal funding for water and water-related infrastructure projects. The Senate passed its Water Resources and Development Act legislation in March. A conference committee will now be appointed to work out … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Flood Repairs in Colorado The short-term continuing resolution (CR) passed by Congress will allow “the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to use up to $450 million of funds previously appropriated to the Highway Emergency Relief program to pay for repairs after recent flooding in the State of Colorado.” The provision does not, however, provide … Continue Reading
Executive Branch Activity Climate Change Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, Heather Zichal, has announced she will leave the White House in the next few weeks. Ms. Zichal had been responsible for coordinating the administration’s energy and climate policy from within the U.S. Domestic Policy Council. Legislative Activity Energy Efficiency Chairman … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate Energy Committee Hearing on Hydrocarbon Agreement The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on Tuesday, October 1 to consider two bills that would implement the Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement between the United States and Mexico. The hearing produced a bipartisan result, as Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) expressed support … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, September 24: The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, will hold a hearing to examine black carbon as a global health problem and to determine low-cost solutions. Tuesday, September 24: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Energy Efficiency Legislation Today, the Senate is scheduled to resume consideration of S. 1392, energy efficiency legislation introduced by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH). The Senate began to consider the legislation last Wednesday, September 11, but disagreements regarding non-germane amendments related to the Keystone XL Pipeline and implementation of … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Upcoming Hearings: Tuesday, September 10: The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing titled “Implementing the Nuclear Waste Policy Act – Next Steps.” The hearing will be convened by the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy. Wednesday, September 18: The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing titled “The … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Energy Efficiency The “Shaheen-Portman” bill (S. 761) is expected to be considered on the Senate floor this week. Senate leaders are working to reach an agreement on amendments, some of which would be controversial (e.g., expedited approval of the Keystone XL pipeline). Natural Gas Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ron Wyden … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, June 25: A Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee will consider pending energy efficiency legislation. Wednesday, June 26: A House Natural Resources Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “The Power Marketing Administrations: A Ratepayer Perspective.” Regulatory Activity Hydraulic Fracturing According to a senior EPA official, the federal research study … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, June 18: The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation, will hold an oversight hearing titled “Citizen and Agency Perspectives on the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.” Tuesday, June 18: The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a full committee hearing concerning the … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, June 4: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will explore ways to improve federal wildland fire management. Thursday, June 6: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will review the programs and activities of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). Thursday, June 6: The House Natural Resources … Continue Reading
