Energy

America Wins Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2017

America Wins Act The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on the carbon dioxide content of coal, petroleum and petroleum products, and natural gas sold by the manufacturer, producer, or importer and require the revenues to be used for infrastructure and other purposes. Refunds or credits for the tax must be issued for carbon substances that are: (1) not emitted due to use as a feedstock or through carbon capture and sequestration, or (2) previously taxed carbon substances used to make another taxable carbon substance. The bill includes border adjustment provisions that require certain fees, credits, or refunds for carbon-intensive goods that are exported or imported. The bill also establishes a Build America Trust Fund and appropriates to the fund amounts equal to the increase in revenues attributable to the tax. Specified amounts of the funds must be used, without further appropriation, for infrastructure, including highways and transit; aviation; passenger rail; harbors, waterways, flood protection, and dams; clean water; Department of Agriculture water and waste disposal programs; and broadband deployment. Specified portions of the funds must also be used for: providing assistance to workers and communities reliant on industries that primarily produce taxable carbon substances or carbon-intensive goods, an energy refund program to provide payments to certain low-income households, and a refundable tax credit for households that meet specified income requirements.

American Taxpayer and Western Area Power Administration Customer Protection Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2017

American Taxpayer and Western Area Power Administration Customer Protection Act of 2017 This bill amends the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984 to repeal the Western Area Power Administration's borrowing authority. It does not apply to any projects in execution on or before October 30, 2017, or any projects approved before September 15, 2018.

Closing the Bump-Stock Loophole Act

United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2017

Closing the Bump-Stock Loophole Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to regulate a reciprocating stock, or any other device which is designed to accelerate substantially the rate of fire of a semiautomatic weapon (i.e., bump stocks) in the same manner as a machine gun. Any person possessing such a device when this bill is enacted must register the device with the ATF within one year of the enactment of this bill, and the registration must be included in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The bill defines a "semiautomatic weapon" as any repeating weapon that: (1) utilizes a portion of the energy of a firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge case and chamber the next round, and (2) requires a separate function of the trigger to fire each cartridge.

Rebuilding Resilient Energy Systems Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2017

Rebuilding Resilient Energy Systems Act of 2017 This bill permits amounts awarded under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for essential assistance, hazard mitigation, repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities, federal assistance to individuals and households, and public assistance program alternative procedures to be used to build, repair, restore, reconstruct, or replace an energy system or building as a result of a major disaster or emergency designated by the President during calendar year 2017 in a manner that: is more resilient and more efficient; provides continuous flow of power to facilities critical to public health, safety, and welfare; maximizes the use of clean energy resources and energy storage technologies; and promotes lower energy bills. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): (1) shall designate a representative to coordinate with private entities interested in donating energy system technologies and services for such purposes following a major disaster or emergency, (2) is encouraged to coordinate with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Homeland Security in designating such representative, and (3) is encouraged to consult with the Department of Defense (DOD) regarding DOD's experience in building resilient power systems. Each National Laboratory, in coordination with DOE programs that provide assistance to states and industry, must make technical assistance available to federal, state, and local agencies and private entities interested in: (1) developing plans or providing guidance on the design of a resilient and efficient energy system or building; and (2) building, repairing, restoring, reconstructing, or replacing an energy system or building following a major disaster or emergency.

Ceiling Fan Energy Conservation Harmonization Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2017

Ceiling Fan Energy Conservation Harmonization Act This bill makes January 21, 2020, the compliance date for the amended energy conservation standards for ceiling fan light kits, which is also the compliance date for ceiling fan standards. Currently, the compliance date for the ceiling fan light kits is January 7, 2019.

ADVANCED CYBER TECHNOLOGIES THAT COULD BE USED TO HELP PROTECT ELECTRIC GRIDS AND OTHER ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FROM CYBERATTACKS

United States · United States Senate · 26 October 2017

STREET Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2017

Smart Technology for Resilient, Efficient, Economic and Reliable Transportation in Cities and Communities Act or the STREET Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Department of Energy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Science Foundation, to create, publish, and maintain a resource guide to assist states, communities, and cities in developing and implementing smart city or community programs. Transportation shall develop and implement an additional round to the Smart Cities Challenge, under which it shall provide competitive grants to small- and medium-sized communities to implement smart transportation proposals. The Government Accountability Office shall conduct a study on innovative financing and procurement for funding smart cities or community activities and associated demonstration projects. The National Institute of Standards and Technology shall carry out specified activities to promote innovation and economic competitiveness and to achieve interoperability of smart city or community devices and systems, while strengthening the approach to private sector-led standardization activities and the participation of certain federal representatives.

Grid Cybersecurity Research and Development Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Grid Cybersecurity Research and Development Act This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop an initiative to mitigate the consequences on the electric grid from the results of cyberattacks by increasing cybersecurity capabilities of the electricity sector. Additionally, DOE must collaborate with other federal agencies, state agencies, and the private sector to develop guidance for research and demonstration activities to improve cybersecurity capabilities of the electricity sector. The National Institute of Standards and Technology must develop voluntary cybersecurity training standards that minimize duplication and maintain a public database of cybersecurity training programs. The Energy Sector Government Coordinating Council must develop a coordinated interagency strategic plan to advance cybersecurity capabilities in the electricity sector.

Transparency in Energy Production Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Transparency in Energy Production Act of 201 7 This bill requires the Department of the Interior to publicly disclose the amounts of fossil fuel production, including amounts of gas released (as by flaring), and renewable energy production on public lands. The data shall present amounts of greenhouse gas emissions using the 20- and 100-year Global Warming Potential-weighted emission values and, for renewable energy production, compare fossil fuel-generated emissions resulting from the same amount of energy. As determined necessary to implement this bill, Interior shall promulgate regulations regarding accurate measurement and reporting of methane emissions.

Renewable Electricity Tax Credit Equalization Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Renewable Electricity Tax Credit Equalization Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credits for investments in energy property and for electricity produced from certain renewable resources, to extend both credits for the following facilities placed in service after 2008 with construction that begins before January 1, 2022: closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, geothermal, landfill gas, trash facilities, qualified hydropower facilities, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities. The bill also includes a phase-out schedule that reduces the amounts of the credits by specified amounts that increase for facilities that are constructed or placed in service later.

Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships as corporations, to expand the definition of "qualifying income" for such partnerships (known as master limited partnerships) to include income and gains from renewable and alternative energy generation projects (in addition to fossil fuel-based energy generation projects) and related infrastructure for transportation or storage, including energy derived from thermal resources, waste, renewable fuels and chemicals, energy efficient buildings, gasification, and carbon capture in secure geological storage.

Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships as corporations, to expand the definition of "qualifying income" for such partnerships (known as master limited partnerships) to include income and gains from renewable and alternative energy generation projects (in addition to fossil fuel-based energy generation projects) and related infrastructure for transportation or storage, including energy derived from thermal resources, waste, renewable fuels and chemicals, energy efficient buildings, gasification, and carbon capture in secure geological storage.

HOARD Act

United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2017

Having Open Access to Relevant Data Act or the HOARD Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to submit to Congress a report on the number and age of unused approved oil and gas drilling permits and the average cost to the Bureau of Land Management of approving such permits. Applicants who have received more than 100 approved drilling permits and have not begun drilling are not eligible for five fiscal years to participate in the competitive and noncompetitive bidding processes for oil and gas exploration and production.

Electing a Member to a certain standing committee of the House of Representatives.

United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2017

Elects a specified Member to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Carbon Capture Prize Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2017

Carbon Capture Prize Act The bill directs the Department of Energy to carry out a competition to award prizes for technology that reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, including through emissions reductions or capturing or sequestering carbon dioxide. Any competition must comply with the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980.

Small Scale LNG Access Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2017

Small Scale LNG Access Act of 2017 This bill amends the Natural Gas Act to state that an application under the Natural Gas Act for the exportation of natural gas that does not exceed 51.1 billion cubic feet per year shall be deemed to be consistent with the public interest and granted without modification or delay.

A bill to improve the monitoring and reporting of propane stocks and days of supply by the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration with regard to propane export volumes, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2017

This bill requires the Energy Information Administration to include propane export information in certain data published relating to propane inventories.

A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027.

United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2017

Establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and sets forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027. Recommends levels and amounts for FY2018-FY2027 in both houses of Congress for: federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits, public debt, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. Recommends levels and amounts for FY2018-FY2027 in the Senate for Social Security and Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses. Includes reconciliation instructions directing: the Senate Finance Committee to submit to the Senate Budget Committee legislation increasing the deficit by no more than $1.5 trillion over FY2018-FY2027, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to submit to the Senate Budget Committee legislation reducing the deficit by at least $1 billion over FY2018-FY2027, the House Ways and Means Committee to submit to the House Budget Committee legislation increasing the deficit by no more than $1.5 trillion over FY2018-FY2027, and the House Natural Resources Committee to submit to the House Budget Committee legislation reducing the deficit by at least $1 billion over FY2018-FY2027. (Under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) Establishes reserve funds that provide flexibility in applying budget enforcement rules to legislation addressing a wide range of specified issues across the federal budget. Sets forth budget enforcement procedures for legislation considered in the Senate.

An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027.

United States · United States Congress · 13 October 2017

Establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and sets forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027. Recommends levels and amounts for FY2018-FY2027 in both houses of Congress for: federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits, public debt, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. Recommends levels and amounts for FY2018-FY2027 in the Senate for Social Security and Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses. Includes reconciliation instructions directing: the Senate Finance Committee to submit to the Senate Budget Committee legislation increasing the deficit by no more than $1.5 trillion over FY2018-FY2027, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to submit to the Senate Budget Committee legislation reducing the deficit by at least $1 billion over FY2018-FY2027, the House Ways and Means Committee to submit to the House Budget Committee legislation increasing the deficit by no more than $1.5 trillion over FY2018-FY2027, and the House Natural Resources Committee to submit to the House Budget Committee legislation reducing the deficit by at least $1 billion over FY2018-FY2027. (Under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) Establishes reserve funds that provide flexibility in applying budget enforcement rules to legislation addressing a wide range of specified issues across the federal budget. Sets forth budget enforcement procedures for legislation considered in the Senate.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND MISSION PRIORITIES

United States · United States House of Representatives · 12 October 2017

Vehicle Innovation Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2017

Vehicle Innovation Act of 2017 This bill authorizes appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for research, development, engineering, demonstration, and commercial application of vehicles and related technologies for FY2018-FY2022. The bill requires DOE to: conduct a program of research, development, engineering, demonstration, and commercial application activities (R&D activities) on materials, technologies, and processes with the potential to substantially reduce or eliminate petroleum use and the emissions of U.S. passenger and commercial vehicles; ensure that it continues to support R&D activities and maintains competency in mid- to long-term transformational vehicle technologies with potential to achieve reductions in emissions; carry out a research, development, and demonstration program on the secondary uses of electric vehicle batteries and develop guidelines for projects that demonstrate the secondary uses and innovative recycling of such batteries; carry out a program of R&D activities on advanced vehicle manufacturing technologies and practices; carry out a program of cooperative research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities on advanced technologies for medium- to heavy-duty commercial, vocational, recreational, and transit vehicles; conduct a competitive grant program to demonstrate the integration of multiple advanced technologies on Class 8 (heavy-duty) truck and trailer platforms; develop standard testing procedures and technologies for evaluating the performance of advanced heavy vehicle technologies under a range of representative duty cycles and operating conditions and evaluate heavy vehicle performance using work performance-based metrics other than those based on miles per gallon and appropriate metrics based on the work performed by nonroad systems; and undertake a pilot program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial applications of technologies to improve total machine or system efficiency for nonroad mobile equipment and seek opportunities to transfer relevant research findings and technologies between the nonroad and on-highway equipment and vehicle sectors. DOE may construct heavy-duty truck and bus testing facilities.

DOE Loan Guarantee Program Repeal Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2017

DOE Loan Guarantee Program Repeal Act This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal the authority of the Department of Energy (DOE) to issue loan guarantees for innovative energy projects. The bill rescinds funds that are not required to pay possible claims on outstanding loan guarantees.

POWER Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2017

Power Outage for Weather Emergency Repair Act or the POWER Act This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to maintain a database of information on electricity outages that is publicly accessible and includes the specific cause and impact of the outages. DOE shall promulgate a rule to require each electric utility to report to the Energy Information Administration information on electricity outages that interrupt service resulting in a loss of more than 300 megawatts or affecting at least 50,000 electric customers.

EFFICIENT APPROACHES TO REDUCING INDUSTRIAL ENERGY COSTS

United States · United States Senate · 6 October 2017

Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017

Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to repeal certain regulations regarding particulate matter emissions standards for nonemergency stationary diesel engines in remote areas of Alaska. Any revision of regulations applicable to stationary diesel engines in remote areas of Alaska that requires emission control devices must occur in consultation with the Department of Energy and may not negatively affect energy reliability in remote areas of Alaska.

STRANDED Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017

Sensible, Timely Relief for America's Nuclear Districts' Economic Development Act of 2017 or the STRANDED Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to enter into an arrangement under which the National Academy of Sciences must conduct a study to determine whether opportunities exist for affected communities to consider alternatives to nuclear facilities, generating sites, and waste sites. DOE must also: (1) establish the Stranded Nuclear Waste Task Force to study existing public and private resources and funding for affected communities, and (2) establish a grant program to assist localities near nuclear power plants to offset the impacts of stranded nuclear waste in affected communities. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for tax incentives for investment in nuclear affected communities.

TRASH Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017

Trash Reduction and Sensible Handling Act of 2017 or the TRASH Act This bill amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize state solid waste management plans to restrict the importation of out-of-state waste at the state and local level by requiring out-of-state waste to be from states with waste handling and reduction standards that are equivalent to or more stringent than the standards of the state receiving the waste. Those plans may impose a community benefit fee on out-of-state waste, which may be higher than, or in addition to, the fees for in-state waste. States may provide those fees to affected communities and may differentiate community benefit fees based on whether the imported waste was disposed of at a landfill, an incinerator, a resource recovery facility, a waste-to-energy facility, or other waste handling facility.

Florida Gasoline Supply Reserve Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017

Florida Gasoline Supply Reserve Act This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish, maintain, and operate a Florida Gasoline Supply Reserve as part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The reserve must contain a minimum of 1 million barrels of refined petroleum products. The bill authorizes DOE to sell refined petroleum products from the reserve in the event of a regional gasoline supply interruption.

A resolution designating October 5, 2017, as "Energy Efficiency Day" in celebration of the economic and environmental benefits that have been driven by private sector innovation and Federal energy efficiency policies put in place over the past 4 decades.

United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017

Designates October 5, 2017, as Energy Efficiency Day.

A resolution designating October 8, 2017, as "National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day".

United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017

Designates October 8, 2017, as National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.

Securing Energy Infrastructure Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2017

Securing Energy Infrastructure Act of 2017 This bill establishes a two-year pilot program within the Department of Energy's (DOE) national laboratories to (1) identify the security vulnerabilities of certain entities in the energy sector; and (2) research, develop, test, and implement technology that can be used to isolate the most critical systems of such entities from cyberattacks. The bill also directs the Director of Intelligence and Counterintelligence of DOE to establish a working group to evaluate the technology solutions proposed by the national laboratories and to develop a national strategy to isolate the energy grid from attacks.

EXAMINING THE STATUS OF ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES, REVIEWING TODAY'S TECHNOLOGIES AND UNDERSTANDING INNOVATION IN TOMORROW'S TECHNOLOGIES

United States · United States Senate · 3 October 2017

Stranded Nuclear Waste Accountability Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2017

Stranded Nuclear Waste Accountability Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program to provide compensation to communities in which a nuclear waste storage facility is located. DOE must provide payments equal to $15 per kilogram of spent nuclear fuel stored at the nuclear waste facility. Each local government having a nuclear waste facility within its jurisdictional boundaries must submit an annual application to DOE for compensation.

Smart Cities and Communities Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2017

Smart Cities and Communities Act of 2017 This bill establishes programs for the implementation and use of smart technologies and systems in communities of various sizes. A “smart city or community” is one in which innovative, advanced, and trustworthy information, communication, and energy technologies are applied to: (1) improve the health and quality of life of residents; (2) increase efficiency of operations and services; (3) promote economic growth; and (4) improve safety, security, sustainability, resiliency, livability, and work life. The Department of Commerce shall establish a regional demonstration grant program focused on facilitating adoption, and allowing measurement and validation of performance, of advanced smart city or community technologies and systems. Commerce shall also convene a working group to develop tools for evaluating the cybersecurity of smart city or community technologies. The Department of Labor shall establish a pilot program to furnish competitive grants for technology-based job training and education programs that provide industry-recognized credentials. The bill requires strong federal encouragement and support for private sector-led standards development activities. The bill requires the establishment of a strategic international smart cities and communities trade program that includes trade missions to promote and assist smart-community activities, as by leveraging expertise in infrastructure development.

Smart Cities and Communities Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2017

Smart Cities and Communities Act of 2017 This bill establishes programs for the implementation and use of smart technologies and systems in communities of various sizes. A “smart city or community” is one in which innovative, advanced, and trustworthy information, communication, and energy technologies are applied to: (1) improve the health and quality of life of residents; (2) increase efficiency of operations and services; (3) promote economic growth; and (4) improve safety, security, sustainability, resiliency, livability, and work life. The Department of Commerce shall establish a regional demonstration grant program focused on facilitating adoption, and allowing measurement and validation of performance, of advanced smart city or community technologies and systems. Commerce shall also convene a working group to develop tools for evaluating the cybersecurity of smart city or community technologies. The Department of Labor shall establish a pilot program to furnish competitive grants for technology-based job training and education programs that provide industry-recognized credentials. The bill requires strong federal encouragement and support for private sector-led standards development activities. The bill requires the establishment of a strategic international smart cities and communities trade program that includes trade missions to promote and assist smart-community activities, as by leveraging expertise in infrastructure development.

STRANDED Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2017

Sensible, Timely Relief for America's Nuclear Districts' Economic Development Act of 2017 or the STRANDED Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to enter into an arrangement under which the National Academy of Sciences must conduct a study to determine whether opportunities exist for affected communities to consider alternatives to nuclear facilities, generating sites, and waste sites. DOE must also: (1) establish the Stranded Nuclear Waste Task Force to study existing public and private resources and funding for affected communities, and (2) establish a grant program to assist localities near nuclear power plants to offset the impacts of stranded nuclear waste in affected communities. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for tax incentives for investment in nuclear affected communities.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY PROGRAMS: PERSPECTIVES FOR THE 2018 FARM BILL

United States · United States Senate · 28 September 2017

To reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Gibson Dam.

United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2017

This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon request, to extend for up to six years the time period during which construction must commence on the Gibson Dam Hydroelectric Project located on the Sun River in Lewis, Clark, and Teton Counties, Montana. Additionally, FERC may reinstate the construction license if it is expired.

Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2017

Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2017 This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to address the flexibility, reliability, resilience, affordability, efficiency, and security of the electric grid. Specifically, FERC and DOE must: (1) access the technical and economic potential of distributed energy resources, and (2) establish an online clearinghouse of data relating to distributed energy resources. A distributed energy resource means an electric device that can produce or consume energy that is located on the grid distribution system or on the customer side of the electric grid (e.g., solar roofs). DOE must also: provide technical assistance, an action plan, tools, and information relating to the deployment of distributed energy resources and grid-scale energy storage; research and develop the electrification of transportation, heating, and other technologies; develop model standards to assist states, electric cooperatives, and publicly owned electric utilities in the voluntary updating of standards for resource and energy assurance planning, ensuring distribution-grid reliability from natural disasters, and improving security; evaluate whether new performance standards and testing procedures are needed to ensure the resilience of electrical equipment to security threats or natural disasters; develop guidelines for calculating the costs and benefits of investments in resilience and security solutions for the electric grid; provide related workforce training; and establish the Flexible Grid Challenge 2022, a grant program that helps states enhance the peak load management and flexibility of the electric grid.

POWER Counties Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2017

Providing Opportunity with Energy Revenues in Counties Act or the POWER Counties Act This bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to: (1) change from 40% to 20% the percentage of money received from sales, bonuses, royalties including interest charges collected under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 that is to be paid into the reclamation fund created by the Reclamation Act; and (2) require 20% of such money to be paid to the county within the boundaries of which the leased lands or deposits are or were located and may be used by such county for its schools and roads.

Reducing the Cost of Energy Storage Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2017

Reducing the Cost of Energy Storage Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to research and develop ways to reduce the cost of energy storage, including by (1) facilitating innovation in the manner in which energy storage systems are conceived, designed, manufactured, installed, and used for various energy services; and (2) identifying, addressing, and reducing market barriers that limit energy storage adoption. As part of its research and development, DOE must pay special attention to energy storage needs and opportunities that are relatively underdeveloped and potentially transformative for the electric grid.

Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Economic and Energy Conversion Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2017

Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Economic and Energy Conversion Act of 2017 This bill requires the U.S. government: (1) to provide leadership to negotiate and enter into a multilateral treaty or other international agreement that provides for the dismantlement and elimination of all nuclear weapons in every country by 2024; (2) once the President certifies that all countries have eliminated such weapons or begun such elimination under established legal requirements, to redirect resources that are being used for nuclear weapons programs to addressing human and infrastructure needs and to converting nuclear weapons industry employees, processes, plants, and programs to constructive, ecologically beneficial peacetime activities; (3) to undertake efforts to eliminate war, armed conflict, and all military operations; and (4) to promote policies to induce all other countries to join in such commitments.

Distributed Energy Demonstration Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2017

Distributed Energy Demonstration Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish grant programs for: (1) advancing the integration and optimization of distributed energy resources (i.e., smaller power sources that can be aggregated to provide power, such as rooftop solar panels) into the electric energy grid; (2) designing and producing an energy storage demonstration program using household hot water heaters; (3) advancing electric vehicles technologies; and (4) supporting the voluntary deployment of granular electricity pricing that is based upon the electricity's value at the time and location of the production or consumption of the electricity. In addition, the bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reauthorize through FY2025 and revise DOE's grant program for smart grid investments. The bill prohibits federal entities from requesting the creation, recording, or collection of sensitive personal data as a result of this bill's requirements.

Promoting United States national security and foreign policy objectives through consolidation and strengthening of the rule of law and respect for human rights in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2017

Affirms the importance of the U.S. partnership with the government of Azerbaijan in the areas of international security, European energy security, and economic development. Calls on the U.S. government: in its diplomatic engagement and delivery of bilateral assistance, to prioritize as a matter of strategic importance its response to Azerbaijan's violations of universally recognized human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law to ensure the long-term sustainability of the U.S.-Azerbaijani bilateral partnership; to closely evaluate reporting to identify and impose travel and financial restrictions on Azerbaijan officials responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act; and to closely evaluate reporting to identify and impose travel restrictions on Azerbaijan officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom, pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Calls on the government of Azerbaijan to release all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, rehabilitate their records, lift travel bans, and cease harassment, intimidation, and mistreatment of citizens engaged in political speech, independent journalism, and other forms of advocacy on behalf of government accountability, democratic values, and universally recognized human rights. Supports the peaceful efforts of the people of Azerbaijan ito achieve democratic reform and exercise their fundamental freedoms.

PARs Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2017

Parity Across Reviews Act or the PARs Act This bill amends the Federal Power Act with respect to the prohibition regarding mergers or consolidations by a public utility. Any merger or consolidation of a public utility whose value exceeds $10 million must first be authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In addition, FERC is required to promulgate a rule within 180 days that mandates any public utility seeking to merge or consolidate to notify FERC, within 30 days of transaction consummation, if the value of such merger or consolidation exceeds $1 million but is less than $10 million.

TUFGRID Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2017

The Uniform Federal Grants for Resilient Infrastructure and Design Act of 2017 or the TUFGRID Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish and carry out a program to provide grants to states, local governments, and electric utilities to make electric infrastructure more resilient to hurricanes, tornadoes, and other major weather-related events. DOE must give priority in awarding grants to governments and electric utilities that serve areas historically prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, or other major weather-related events. The federal share of the costs of a project or activity carried out using a grant under the program may not exceed 50%.

Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2017

Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 201 7 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits for: (1) energy storage technologies, and (2) battery storage technology. The bill expands the tax credit for investments in energy property to include equipment that: (1) receives, stores, and delivers energy using batteries, compressed air, pumped hydropower, hydrogen storage (including hydrolysis), thermal energy storage, regenerative fuel cells, flywheels, capacitors, superconducting magnets, or other technologies identified by the Internal Revenue Service; and (2) has a capacity of at least five kilowatt hours. The bill also expands the tax credit for residential energy efficient property to include expenditures for battery storage technology that: (1) is installed on or in connection with a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, and (2) has a capacity of at least three kilowatt hours.

Advancing Grid Storage Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2017

Advancing Grid Storage Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish certain energy programs, including an energy storage research program and a technical assistance and grant program.

Texas Flood Accountability Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2017

Texas Flood Accountability Act of 2017 This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to submit to Congress and make publicly available a report with respect to dams, reservoirs, lakes, and other water retention facilities in Texas. The report shall include: for each such facility, the maximum water capacity that would necessitate an unplanned release of water, the water level at which the facility and each spillway of the facility will overflow, and plans to notify first responders, local officials, and communities of flood emergencies and the projected water levels during such emergencies; a description of steps taken by the Corps of Engineers to limit or prevent unplanned releases of water or overflows from such facilities; recommendations of the Corps for infrastructure improvements and dredging of existing facilities needed to limit or prevent such releases or overflows; plans to coordinate among such facilities during a flood emergency; and a list identifying the such facilities under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's jurisdiction, which shall include a description of the process for lowering water levels at each facility. The Corps may exclude information from the report for national security purposes. Upon the Corps' request, a non-federal entity that owns, operates, or has jurisdiction over a covered facility shall provide the maximum water capacity that would necessitate an unplanned release of water, the water level at which the facility and each spillway of the facility will overflow, and plans to notify first responders, local officials, and communities of flood emergencies and the projected water levels during such emergencies. An entity shall not be eligible for federal financial assistance until it complies with such request.

Commission to Verify Iranian Nuclear Compliance Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2017

Commission to Verify Iranian Nuclear Compliance Act This bill establishes in the legislative branch the Commission to Verify Iranian Nuclear Compliance which shall: (1) continually verify that the Islamic Republic of Iran is complying with its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA); (2) continually assess the adequacy of JCPOA safeguards to ensure that Iran's permitted activities are not being used to further nuclear-related military or nuclear explosive purpose; (3) continually assess the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) capability to implement the JCPOA verification regime, including whether the IAEA has sufficient access to investigate suspicious sites or allegations of covert nuclear-related activities and whether it has the required funding, manpower, and authority to administer such verification regime; and (4) report to Congress on the matters covered by this bill. "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action" means the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna July 14, 2015, by Iran and China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and all implementing materials and agreements related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.