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151 records in US in 2020
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 2020
This bill reauthorizes the Navajo Electrification Demonstration Program, under which the Department of Energy must provide implementation grants to the Navajo Nation for bringing electricity to Navajo households.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 2020
Pipeline Fairness, Transparency, and Responsible Development Act of 2020 This bill addresses provisions related to natural gas pipeline projects, including provisions related to the permitting process, eminent domain, environmental reviews, and the visual impacts of such projects on national scenic trails.
United States · United States Senate · 5 August 2020
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2020
Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020 This bill addresses wildfire preparedness and response. Among other things, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to select three forest landscapes on which to conduct projects to reduce the risk of wildfire, restore ecological health, or adapt to the increased risk of wildfire due to climate change. USDA and the Department of the Interior shall expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment in areas at risk of wildfire, expedite related permitting, expand the use of satellite data to assist wildfire response, and establish a center to train individuals in methods to mitigate wildfire risk. The bill excludes certain forest management activities from environmental review requirements. Interior may make a determination that an emergency situation exists regarding National Forest System land and authorize specified emergency actions. Such a determination and such actions are not subject to administrative review. Interior shall provide grants, loans, and loan guarantees to support biomass conversion facilities. The bill allows the export of unprocessed timber of dead and dying trees from federal land in California. Interior shall establish a grant program to assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development in the forest sector, raise public awareness about the forest sector, and connect individuals to careers in the forest sector. The Department of Energy shall provide support to improve the energy resilience, power needs, and energy efficiency of critical facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2020
Energy Innovation Corps This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to carry out the Energy Innovation Corps Program. Under the program, DOE must help participants of the program develop skills and accelerate the commercial application of clean energy technologies and other technologies related to DOE's mission. Employees at DOE's national laboratories as well as researchers, students, and clean energy entrepreneurs may participate in the program.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2020
Critical Infrastructure Employee Protection Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Transportation to support state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions in providing (1) priority COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) testing for essential critical infrastructure employees; and (2) priority access to personal protective equipment, sanitizers, face coverings, and health-related or protective supplies necessary to safely perform essential critical infrastructure work. ( Essential critical infrastructure employees include, but are not limited to, medical and health care, telecommunications, information technology systems, defense, food and agriculture, transportation and logistics, energy, water and wastewater, law enforcement, and public works.)
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2020
Scenic Trail Viewshed Protection Act This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a natural gas pipeline project that crosses or impacts the view from a national scenic trail under certain conditions. Specifically, FERC may issue such certificate only if it determines that the pipeline is the only alternative to meet an overriding public need; the applicant considered alternatives in order to result in no, or minimal, adverse effect to the trail; minimal road construction will be required to construct and operate the pipeline; construction of the pipeline will use the best available technology in order to minimize the potential for leakage; the pipeline will intersect the trail at a point that already has significant infrastructure crossing and only crosses the trail once; the pipeline will not affect the viewshed of a trail in an area of high conservation, recreational, or scenic value, a protected wilderness area, an old-growth forest or alpine area, or the designated location for a shelter or campsite; construction techniques for the pipeline will produce a minimal disturbance to the trail and surrounding conserved lands; plans for the ongoing maintenance and operation of the pipeline ensure that it is done in a way that minimizes impact on the trail; and the applicant acknowledges that it has a duty to protect the trail and ensure the health and safety of the public who use such trail and the surrounding environment.
United States · United States Senate · 29 July 2020
United States · United States Senate · 29 July 2020
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Renewable Energy Jobs Act This bill directs the Department of Labor to establish a pilot program to award competitive grants to certain eligible entities (i.e., renewable energy and energy efficiency employers and workforce development boards as primary entities and institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and labor organizations as secondary entities) to train individuals for careers in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Toxic Exposure Safety Act of 2020 This bill expands an existing program to provide compensation to Department of Energy (DOE) employees and contractors for illnesses caused by occupational exposure to radiation and certain substances to cover additional workers with illnesses caused by toxic substances. The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program shall cover DOE employees and contractors who are members of the Toxic Special Exposure Cohort established under this bill. The Department of Health and Human Services shall establish rules for determining whether a DOE employee or contractor qualifies as a cohort member, including a list of qualifying diseases. The bill also requires the Department of Labor to create or update assessments of toxic substance exposure in each DOE facility. The bill also appropriates funds as necessary for DOE's assistance with certain Labor activities related to DOE facilities. Furthermore, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences shall conduct or support research on the epidemiological impacts of toxic substance exposure at DOE facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Clean Energy Innovation Funding Act of 2020 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Office of Science, the Office of Electricity, and the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs of the Department of Energy.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Nuclear Prosperity and Security Act This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish and operate a uranium reserve to ensure the availability of uranium mined in the United States in the event of a market disruption and support strategic fuel cycle capabilities in the United States. Uranium that is mined in the United States by an entity that is owned or controlled by the Russian Federation or the People's Republic of China or is incorporated in either country must be excluded from the reserve. DOE must publish a request for information to evaluate (1) how to operate and manage the reserve, (2) how to acquire uranium for the reserve, and (3) the quantity and form of uranium to acquire for the reserve. DOE must also include in its budget materials (1) a request for amounts for the acquisition, transportation, or storage of uranium in the reserve; or (2) an explanation for why such amounts are not requested.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Modernize Nuclear Reactor Environmental Reviews Act This bill directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to submit to Congress a report on facilitating efficient, timely environmental reviews of nuclear reactors through expanded use of categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, and generic environmental impact statements. The commission must promulgate a final rule to (1) establish an optical generic environmental impact statement for actions relating to nuclear reactors that may be used in the process for issuing a construction permit, early site permit, or combined license; and (2) amend criteria for and identification of licensing and regulatory actions to eliminate the list of actions that require environmental impact statements to allow for the use of environmental assessments and categorical exclusions for such actions.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Toxic Exposure Safety Act of 2020 This bill expands an existing program to provide compensation to Department of Energy (DOE) employees and contractors for illnesses caused by occupational exposure to radiation and certain substances to cover additional workers with illnesses caused by toxic substances. The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program shall cover DOE employees and contractors who are members of the Toxic Special Exposure Cohort established under this bill. The Department of Health and Human Services shall establish rules for determining whether a DOE employee or contractor qualifies as a cohort member, including a list of qualifying diseases. The bill also requires the Department of Labor to create or update assessments of toxic substance exposure in each DOE facility. The bill also appropriates funds as necessary for DOE's assistance with certain Labor activities related to DOE facilities. Furthermore, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences shall conduct or support research on the epidemiological impacts of toxic substance exposure at DOE facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Emergency Water and Energy is a Human Right Act This bill creates a grant program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide funds to states and Indian tribes to assist low-income households that pay a high proportion of household income for drinking water and wastewater services. Specifically, states and Indian tribes must provide payments to owners and operators of public water systems and wastewater treatment works to reduce rates charged to low-income households. Owners and operators must also conduct outreach activities to ensure that households are aware of the available rate reduction assistance. Further, any entity receiving financial assistance under this grant program must ensure that no home energy service, public water system service, or wastewater treatment works is or remains disconnected or interrupted during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency because of nonpayment.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 28 July 2020
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2020
Reforming, Expanding, and Simplifying Investment for Local Infrastructure to Enhance our Neighborhoods and Towns Act or the RESILIENT Act This bill establishes the Rural Partnerships Office within the Department of Agriculture and otherwise authorizes policies and programs within various federal agencies to assist rural communities in the strategic planning, design, financing, and implementation of infrastructure (e.g., water, transportation, broadband, and energy) projects, including by providing technical assistance for such projects.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2020
End Polluter Welfare Act of 2020 This bill limits or eliminates certain fossil fuel oil and gas subsidies for oil companies, including by (1) eliminating the authority of the Department of Energy to carry out the Fossil Energy Research and Development Program; (2) expanding the definition of crude oil for purposes of the excise tax on petroleum and petroleum products to include any oil derived from a bitumen or bituminous mixture (tar sands), any liquid fuel derived from coal, and any oil derived from kerogen-bearing sources (oil shale); (3) limiting the financial assistance that such companies may receive from programs that provide relief to businesses affected by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic; (4) terminating certain tax incentives relating to fossil fuels, including the percentage depletion allowance and capital gains treatment for royalties from coal; and (5) increasing the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund financing rate.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 23 July 2020
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2020
Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe Act of 2019 This bill establishes and modifies provisions related to U.S. international energy strategy. Applications to export natural gas to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, Japan, and certain other countries shall be granted on an expedited basis without modification or delay. The Department of State shall report to Congress on a strategy to enhance the energy security of NATO member countries and increase U.S. energy exports to such countries.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2020
Marshall Plan for Coal Country Act of 2020 This bill addresses provisions related to coal mining and coal communities, including by (1) providing Medicare benefits for individuals who lost their job (other than a discharge for cause, voluntary departure, or retirement) at a coal mine or coal power plant; and (2) expanding and revising the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to provide support for economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed mining communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out before August 3, 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2020
Restoring State Mineral Revenues Act This bill eliminates the 2% fee that the federal government currently deducts from a state's entitled share to cover administrative or other costs under the Mineral Leasing Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2020
Research Investment to Spark the Economy Act or the RISE Act This bill authorizes the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, the Interior, and Health and Human Services and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation, and Environmental Protection Agency to provide support for research regarding COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) or research disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Support under this bill shall be provided through federal science agencies with at least $50 million in basic and applied research obligations in FY2020. Support may be used to provide supplemental funding to extend the duration of a grant to a research institution or national laboratory that was awarded prior to the enactment of this bill, or to expand the purposes of such a grant as specified; provide supplemental funding through existing competitively awarded cooperative agreements and contracts to cover the increased costs of construction of scientific facilities and equipment that have been delayed because of COVID-19; and award grants and cooperative agreements to institutions of higher education to conduct research on the behavioral, social, or economic effects of COVID-19 and the responses to the disease or on the effectiveness of such responses. Agencies must provide the support as rapidly as possible. Provided funds shall remain available for expenditure for up to two years.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2020
Water-Energy Technology Demonstration and Deployment Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy (DOE) to partner with at least one institution of higher education to form the Western Water Resilience Center to research the development, commercialization, and deployment of water and energy technologies. Interior shall also establish a pilot program within the Bureau of Reclamation to allow DOE participation in certain projects.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2020
Public School Green Rooftop Program This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a grant program for installing and maintaining green roof systems on public elementary and secondary school buildings. ( Green roof refers to a layer of vegetation that is planted over a waterproofing system or to a waterproof management practice that is installed on a roof and may support plant growth.) Specifically, DOE must award grants to public elementary and secondary schools, local educational agencies, and partnerships with nonprofits organizations to (1) pay the costs of planning assistance for green roof systems on school buildings, such as assessing structures, conducting financial and engineering analyses, and receiving cost estimates; and (2) install green roof systems on these buildings. Additionally, a grant recipient must complete the installation of a green roof system within four years of receiving the grant. A grant recipient that completes this installation requirement shall receive additional funding for maintenance activities, such as conducting routine inspections to monitor the condition of the green roof.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2020
Leasing Market Efficiency Act This bill requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to issue all onshore oil and gas leasing through a competitive bidding process. The BLM must ensure the receipt by the United States of fair market value for any land or resources leased and any rights covered by the United States.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 17 July 2020
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2021 This bill provides FY2021 appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for military activities. (The bill excludes military construction, military family housing, civil works projects of the Army Corps of Engineers, and nuclear warheads, which are all considered in other appropriations bills.) Within the DOD budget, the bill provides appropriations for Military Personnel; Operation and Maintenance; Procurement; Research, Development, Test and Evaluation; and Revolving and Management Funds. The bill provides appropriations for Other Department of Defense Programs, including the Defense Health Program, Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, and the Office of the Inspector General. The bill provides appropriations for (1) Related Agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund and the Intelligence Community Management Account; and (2) Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism. The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
This bill modifies requirements in FY2020 for the use of certain funds under the the low-income home energy assistance program. Specifically, the bill requires each state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and each Indian Tribe that receives funding under the program to (1) accept proof of job loss or severe income loss dated after February 29, 2020, such as a layoff or furlough notice or verification of application for unemployment benefits, as sufficient to demonstrate lack of income for an individual or household; and (2) not use more than 12.5% of such funding for administrative costs.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 14 July 2020
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2020
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2021 This bill provides FY2021 appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to Interior for the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, the Office of the Special Trustee For American Indians, Departmental Offices, and Department-Wide Programs. The bill also provides appropriations to the EPA and the Forest Service. Within the Department of Health and Human Services, the bill provides appropriations for the Indian Health Service, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The bill provides appropriations to several related agencies, including the Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Commission of Fine Arts, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. the National Capital Planning Commission, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Presidio Trust, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission, and the World War I Centennial Commission. The bill also provides additional emergency funding to the Bureau of Indian Education, the EPA, and the Indian Health Service for school construction, infrastructure grants, and the construction of health care facilities. Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2020
Save American Vital Energy Jobs Act or the SAVE Jobs Act This bill extends energy-related tax provisions and expands incentives for job creation in the energy sector during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period. Specifically, the bill extends for one year the construction period for carbon oxide sequestration facilities for purposes of the tax credit, suspends capitalization rules in 2020 to permit immediate expensing of certain inventory costs, reduces the required deposit of certain motor fuel excise taxes from 95% to 25%, allows expensing of intangible drilling costs in 2020, permits extensions and suspensions of production and operations under onshore and offshore leases during the COVID-19 emergency period, requires a royalty rate reduction during the COVID-19 emergency period for a maximum 180-day period, and requires the Department of the Interior to delay until July 1, 2022, the effective date for compliance with the 2016 final rule titled Consolidated Federal Oil & Gas and Federal & Indian Coal Valuation Reform.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2020
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide budget information regarding incinerators and waste-to-energy waste disposal alternatives to burn pits. DOD must include the information as a dedicated budget line item in the President's FY2022 budget.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment Act of 2020 This bill addresses provisions related to clean energy and zero-emission electricity technology. Among these provisions, the bill (1) implements measures to deploy clean energy technologies and make them commercially available, including through the activities of a Clean Energy Deployment Administration within the Department of Energy; (2) sets forth requirements for a zero-emission electricity standard; (3) provides incentives to power companies for the accelerated deployment of a zero-emission electricity system, including tax credits and grants; (4) reauthorizes through FY2030 and revises the Weatherization Assistance Program; and (5) establishes a nationwide program to improve education and training for jobs in energy-related industries with existing or expected worker shortages.
United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2020
Energy Tax Credit Direct Payment Act of 2020 This bill reinstates in 2020 the program authorizing the Department of the Treasury to convert certain alternative clean energy tax credits into cash grants.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Future of Agricultural Resiliency And Modernization Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to award grants to certain entities, including states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations, to carry out projects that further agricultural resiliency and modernization, such as projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions; improve air, water, and soil health; and increase carbon sequestration. Additionally, USDA must establish a program to award grants to governmental organizations and private entities in the agricultural sector to carry out at least 10 pilot projects with the potential to reduce or sequester greenhouse emissions that convert and valorize tree nut harvest by-products and waste into multiple higher value biocarbon products, including sustainable industrial applications, agrochemicals, repurposing process heat, energy, and construction materials.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 2020
Job Creation through Energy Efficient Manufacturing Act This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a Financing Energy Efficient Manufacturing Program that provides grants for energy efficiency improvement projects in the manufacturing sector. The following types of entities are eligible for grants: state energy offices; Native American tribes; nonprofit organizations that focus on providing energy efficiency or renewable energy services and receive funding from states, tribes, or utilities; electric cooperative groups; or entities with a public-private partnership under the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The entities that receive grants must then distribute subgrants to certain small- or medium-sized manufacturers (employing no more than 750 employees) located in the same states as the entities. Recipients of subgrants must carry out projects that (1) improve the energy efficiency of the manufacturers, and (2) develop technologies that reduce electricity or natural gas use by the manufacturers. The bill establishes labor requirements for projects that receive grant funding under this bill. In addition, grant projects may only use iron and steel products that are produced in the United States, unless DOE grants a waiver of the requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 2020
Job Creation through Energy Efficient Manufacturing Act This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a Financing Energy Efficient Manufacturing Program that provides grants for energy efficiency improvement projects in the manufacturing sector. The following types of entities are eligible for grants: state energy offices; Native American tribes; nonprofit organizations that focus on providing energy efficiency or renewable energy services and receive funding from states, tribes, or utilities; electric cooperative groups; or entities with a public-private partnership under the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The entities that receive grants must then distribute subgrants to certain small- or medium-sized manufacturers (employing no more than 750 employees) located in the same states as the entities. Recipients of subgrants must carry out projects that (1) improve the energy efficiency of the manufacturers, and (2) develop technologies that reduce electricity or natural gas use by the manufacturers. The bill establishes labor requirements for projects that receive grant funding under this bill. In addition, grant projects may only use iron and steel products that are produced in the United States, unless DOE grants a waiver of the requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act This bill establishes a new process for approving the construction and operation of energy infrastructure across an international border of the United States and replaces the existing process established under specified executive orders. Specifically, this bill requires a person to obtain a certificate of crossing before constructing, connecting, operating, or maintaining a border-crossing facility for the import or export of oil, natural gas, or electricity across an international border. A certificate must be obtained from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a facility consisting of oil or natural gas pipelines or the Department of Energy (DOE) for an electric transmission facility. As a condition of issuing a certificate, DOE must require that an electric transmission facility be constructed, connected, operated, or maintained consistent with specified policies and standards. FERC and DOE must meet a deadline for issuing a certificate as set forth by this bill. The bill also requires FERC to meet a deadline for approving applications to import or export natural gas to or from Canada or Mexico.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
Methane Emissions Reduction Act This bill requires the Department of Energy to carry out a program to reduce methane emissions from flaring and venting natural gas during oil and natural gas production activities.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
National Security Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2020 This bill, for FY2021 and any subsequent fiscal year, directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to improve its energy efficiency, including by reducing energy intensity in DOD buildings by 2.5% annually through the end of FY2027. It also adds requirements relating to clean energy including that electric energy and thermal energy in DOD buildings are comprised of clean energy. DOD must develop, implement, and annually update an integrated Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan for each of FY2021-FY2040.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2020
Protecting American Energy Production Act This bill prohibits the President from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes the moratorium. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that states should maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2020
Nuclear Licensing Efficiency Act This bill revises the permitting and licensing process for nuclear production or utilization facilities. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission must follow specified procedures when reviewing an application for an early site permit, construction permit, operating license, or combined construction permit and operating license for a nuclear production or utilization facility. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on the effects of eliminating mandatory hearings for uncontested licensing and construction permit applications under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. The bill revises the composition of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, and provides specific timelines for the committee to complete its review for a construction permit or an operating license for a nuclear facility. The bill also places a limit on the amount of annual fees that may be charged to a nuclear fuel facility, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2020
Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2020 This bill grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the authority to approve or deny applications for facilities, such as Liquefied Natural Gas terminals, to export natural gas from the United States to foreign countries or import natural gas from foreign countries.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2020
Strengthening American Nuclear Competitiveness Act This bill requires expedited consideration of certain nuclear technology exports, and it requires the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to author specified reports. Specifically, DOE must establish procedures to expedite consideration of authorization requests regarding the transfer of a technology that involves specified low-proliferation-risk reactors to certain foreign countries. DOE must also report on U.S. civil nuclear commerce, including (1) an assessment of current practices with respect to the civilian nuclear industry and the impacts of such practices on both the industry and in foreign commerce, (2) a comparison of U.S. practices to the practices of foreign countries with respect to their own civilian nuclear industry, and (3) recommendations to improve the competitiveness of U.S. civil nuclear commerce. The GAO must report on the feasibility and implications of modifying or repealing specified restrictions on issuing licenses for certain nuclear facilities to an alien or an entity owned, controlled, or dominated by an alien, foreign corporation, or foreign government. The GAO must also report on actions by DOE with respect to the retrospective risk pooling program that requires each nuclear supplier to help cover the contingent cost resulting from certain nuclear incidents.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2020
Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act This bill expands the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to act as the lead agency for the purpose of coordinating all applicable federal authorizations and environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) with respect to authorizing a natural gas pipeline project under the Natural Gas Act. Federal, state, and local agencies involved in the environmental review process must defer to FERC's approved scope for a NEPA review. FERC must invite and designate the other participating agencies involved in the authorization process, and track and publicly display on its website specific information related to the actions required to complete an authorization. The bill establishes a 90 day deadline to complete an authorization application for other authorizing agencies and requires concurrent reviews when multiple agencies are involved in the authorization process. If a federal or state agency considering an aspect of an application for authorization requires the person applying for such authorization to submit data, the agency must consider any such data gathered by aerial or other remote means that the person submits.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2020
Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act This bill expands provisions related to hydropower production and revises the hydropower licensing process.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2020
Protecting Europe's Energy Security Clarification Act of 2020 This bill expands existing sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that engage in certain activities relating to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream energy pipelines. Current law generally imposes visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that knowingly took actions such as selling or leasing vessels that engaged in pipe laying related to the pipelines. Under this bill, the President shall also impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that engage in other specified activities, such as (1) providing underwriting services or insurance for such vessels, or (2) installing welding equipment for such vessels.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2020
Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now Act of 2020 or the GREEN Act of 2020 This bill provides tax incentives for investment in renewable energy resources and energy efficiency programs. Among other provisions, the bill extends for five years the tax credit for production of electricity from certain renewable resources (e.g., wind facilities, biomass, landfill trash facilities), the election to treat certain tangible property as energy property for purposes of the energy tax credit, and certain provisions of the energy tax credit; expands the energy tax credit to include energy storage technology, waste energy recovery property, and qualified biogas property; extends for two years the tax credit for carbon oxide sequestration; allows elective payments in lieu of certain energy-related tax credits; modifies the phaseout provisions of the income and excise tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel and extends the termination date for such credits; extends for five years and increases the tax credit for nonbusiness energy property and the new energy efficient home tax credit; extends for six years the residential energy efficient property tax credit; extends for five years the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings; modifies the limitations on new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles tax credit and allows a new credit for such vehicles that are previously-owned; allows a new tax credit for zero emission heavy vehicles (vehicles with a gross weight rating of not less than 14,000 pounds and not powered by an internal combustion engine); extends for five years the tax credits for qualified fuel cell motor vehicles and alternative fuel cell refueling property; provides for additional allocations of the advanced energy project tax credit; allows a new tax credit for the labor costs of installing mechanical insulation property; allows a new tax credit to promote environmental justice programs (programs to improve health and economic outcomes of individuals residing in low-income areas or areas populated disproportionately by racial or ethnic minorities); and requires the Department of the Treasury to report on the utility of data from the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program for determining the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by taxpayers for purposes of imposing a fee on them for such emissions.