Federal Energy Legislation Monitor

HR 1520 | Greg Stanton (D-AZ-4)

USCM Policy: In Support of Multiyear Reauthorization and Robust Annual Funding of the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), Columbus, OH 2023

• Amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reauthorize the EECBG
• Authorizes spending $3.5 billion each year from 2024 to 2028
• Adds distributed resources, district heating/cooling and infrastructure delivering alternative fuels to eligible Use of Funds number 9 – deployment of energy technologies
• Would limit DOE Administrative costs to 1 percent of allocations.

• Introduced 3/9/23
  Referred to House Energy and Commerce;
• 3/17/23
• Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security
• 6 Cosponsors
• Bipartisan

HR 1797 – S1008 | Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15)

USCM Policy:
In Support of Bringing an End to Fires Involving Lithium-Ion Batteries,
Columbus, OH 2023

S1008 Companion Bill
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY

Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act

180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall promulgate, under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, a final consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility devices within the jurisdiction of the Commission, including electric bicycles and electric scooters, to protect against the risk of fires caused by such batteries.

Establish a consumer product safety rule promulgated under section 9 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2058)

• Introduced 3/31/23
  Referred to – House Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.
• 13 cosponsors
• Mildly bipartisan

HR Appropriations | Kay Granger, Chair

USCM Policy:
Evergreen policy supporting renewable energy investment with federal financial assistance.

In Support of Funding for Department of Energy Hydroelectric Infrastructure Modernization and Improvement Programs, Columbus, OH 2023

Appropriations for the Department of Energy 

• Provides $48.879 billion for the Department of Energy, which is $133.2 million above the FY23 enacted program level and $3.693 billion below the President’s Budget Request.
• $2.99 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
• NO FUNDING FOR EECBG
• Claw-backs of Prior Appropriations
• Would rescind $5.58 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act and cut more than $180 million for the Justice40 initiative.

• House Appropriations:
• Subcommittee mark 7/13/23
• Full Committee mark 7/19/23

HR 3938 | Jason Smith (R-MO-8)

USCM Policy:
Support of tax incentives for clean energy investment in the IIJA and the IRA.

Build It in America Act

• Title III would repeal ITC’s and PTC’s for clean electricity investments, modify the clean vehicle credit and repeal credits for previously-owned and commercial vehicles.
• Would modify current IRA clean vehicle tax credits and eliminate used EV tax credits

• Introduced 6/30/23
• Referred to House Ways and Means
• Mark up 6/13/23
• Zero cosponsors

HR Appropriations | Kay Granger, Chair

USCM Policy:
Evergreen support for funding local government investments in water and wastewater infrastructure.

Appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for FY24

• Funding for critical programs:
  Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
• EPA FY24 budget contains SRF and other water-wastewater provisions, and adds IIJA money to the SRF for FY24

HR 1335 | Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4)

USCM Policy:
Resolution Supporting Efficient Siting and Permitting to
Ensure Electric Grid Reliability for a Clean Energy Future, Columbus, OH 2023

Transparency, Accountability, Permitting, and Production of American Resources Act

Permitting for onshore and offshore leases, permitting for mining, and streamlining the permit process to reduce time of review, and shield permit approvals from judicial review.

• Introduced 3/3/23
  Discharged from several Committees.
• 3/23/23 Placed on the Union Calendar

HR 4167 | Richard Hudson (R-NC-9)

USCM Policy:
Supporting Federal Action to Address Electric Distribution Transformer
Supply Chain Challenges
-and-
Supporting Federal Actions to Address the Transformer Crisis, Columbus, OH 2023

• Introduced 6/15/23
• Referred to House Energy and Commerce

SENATE Appropriations | Patty Murray, (D-WA), Chair (no number or name yet)

USCM Policy:
Evergreen policy supporting renewable energy investment with federal financial assistance.

In Support of Funding for Department of Energy Hydroelectric Infrastructure Modernization and Improvement Programs, Columbus, OH 2023

• The bill provides $17.3 billion for the Department of Energy’s non-defense programs.
• The bill provides $3.686 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, $227 million above fiscal year 2023.
• Provides $200 million for Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response
• $290 million for the Office of Electricity
• $60 million for the Grid Deployment Office to help deploy transmission for the buildout of clean energy.