Energy

ENERGY NEEDS IN ASIA: THE U.S. LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS OPTION

United States · United States House of Representatives · 29 May 2014

To prohibit the Export-Import Bank of the United States from providing financial support for certain high carbon intensity energy projects.

United States · United States Congress · 29 May 2014

Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to prohibit the Export-Import Bank from guaranteeing, insuring, extending credit, or participating in the extension of credit in connection with the purchase or sale of any good or service for a high carbon intensity project that: (1) is designed to generate electricity, and (2) if completed would produce at least 500 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by the project.

Rural Wind Energy Expansion Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 29 May 2014

Rural Wind Energy Expansion Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the energy tax credit, to revise the definition of "qualified small wind energy property" to include property which uses 1 or more wind turbines with an aggregate nameplate capacity of more than 100 kilowatts but not more than 20 megawatts.

Managed Carbon Price Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 28 May 2014

Managed Carbon Price Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require covered persons (i.e., U.S. coal producers, oil refinery operators, first sellers of natural gas, and producers of other greenhouse gas [GHG] emission substances and importers of any GHG emission substance) to purchase a federal emission permit from the Secretary of the Treasury for the sale, combustion, or other use of such a substance. Exempts from such requirement use of a GHG emission substance: (1) as material in the production of another article by such person, or (2) for noncombustion agricultural purposes. Requires the Secretary to impose a GHG emission permit equivalency fee on imports of carbon intensive goods. Requires federal emission permits to be: (1) denominated in one-quarter carbon dioxide equivalents, and (2) purchased within 14 calendar days before or after a GHG emission substance is produced or entered into the United States. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish a price for obtaining a permit for a year based on a determination of the dollar amount necessary to meet specified emissions reductions targets, (2) publish a five-year price schedule for permits by January 1, 2016, for each of the five years from 2017 to 2021, and (3) publish a 10-year schedule of the minimum and maximum prices for permits by January 1, 2023, and every 10 years thereafter. Sets minimum prices. Authorizes the Secretary to reduce permit prices if target reductions are being exceeded and to increase such prices if target reductions are not being met. Establishes emission reduction targets for 2015 through 2059 decreasing from 100% to 20% of the carbon dioxide equivalents emitted in the United States in 2005. Requires the Secretary to report annually on: (1) the extent to which such limitations are being achieved, (2) GHG emission permits sold and their impact on GHG emissions, and (3) worldwide GHG emissions in relation to 2005 emissions. Defines a "carbon dioxide equivalent" as the quantity of a GHG emission substance that makes the same contribution to global warming as one metric ton of carbon dioxide. Requires the Administrator to publish and update a schedule listing such quantity for each GHG emission substance. Requires: (1) repayment of permit fees to specified permittees that use GHG emission substances in a manner that will make a negligible or no contribution to global warming, and (2) payment of the permit equivalency fees to exporters of carbon-intensive goods. Imposes a tax on covered persons who fail to obtain a required permit. Establishes the Energy and Economic Security Trust Fund into which revenue raised from permit sales shall be deposited. Requires the Fund to be used to pay monthly dividends to taxpayers and for deficit reduction.

IMPACT Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 28 May 2014

Investing to Modernize the Production of American Clean Energy and Technology Act of 2014 or the IMPACT Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to alternative and renewable energy tax provisions, to: (1) extend through 2023 the placed-in-service dates for the tax credit for producing electricity from wind, biomass, geothermal or solar energy, landfill gas, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities; (2) extend through 2023 the election of the tax credit for investment in energy property in lieu of the tax credit for producing electricity from renewable resources; (3) authorize an additional allocation of credits under the qualifying advanced energy program; and (4) extend through 2016 the tax credits for energy-efficient new home expenditures and for energy-efficient appliances. Increases or extends tax credits for qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles, heavy natural gas vehicles, and alternative fuel vehicle refueling property. Provides for tax-exempt financing of electric, natural gas, and hydrogen vehicle refueling property. Repeals or imposes limits on tax preferences for major integrated oil companies (i.e., companies that have an average daily worldwide production of at least 500,000 barrels and annual gross income over $1 billion), including the tax deduction for income attributable to oil, natural gas, or primary products thereof, the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs, the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells, the tax deduction for tertiary injectants, and the foreign tax credit for dual capacity taxpayers. Prohibits the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting method by major integrated oil companies.

Recognizing the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan.

United States · United States Congress · 28 May 2014

Congratulates the people of Azerbaijan as they celebrate Republic Day on the 96th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan's founding. Notes Azerbaijan's important role in ensuring the energy security of Israel and other American allies in Europe. Supports U.S.-Azerbaijan cooperation on energy, security, and other matters.

To prohibit funding of the Rural Utilities Service High Energy Cost Grant Program.

United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2014

Prohibits funds from being used for the Rural Utilities Service high energy cost grant program.

American Energy Independence and Security Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2014

American Energy Independence and Security Act of 2014 - Authorizes the exploration, leasing, development, production, and economically feasible and prudent transportation of oil and gas in and from the Coastal Plain of Alaska. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a competitive oil and gas leasing program for oil and gas exploration, development, and production on the Coastal Plain. Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to repeal the prohibition against production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. States that, in connection with specified environmental protection laws, the Secretary shall neither: (1) identify nonleasing alternative courses of action, nor (2) analyze the environmental effects of those actions. Prohibits the Secretary from closing land within the Coastal Plain to oil and gas leasing, exploration, development, or production except in accordance with this Act. Directs the Secretary, within one year after the first lease sale is conducted under this Act, to conduct a second lease sale (and additional sales if sufficient interest in exploration or development exists). Prescribes procedures for lease sales and lease grants on the Coastal Plain that include the requirement that the standard for land reclamation be either: (1) a condition capable of supporting the uses that the land was capable of supporting before any exploration, development, or production activities; or (2) a higher or better standard, as approved by the Secretary, upon the lessee's application. Prescribes Coastal Plain environmental protection standards that require the Secretary to administer this Act: (1) using a no significant adverse effect standard to govern authorized Coastal Plain activities; (2) implementing site-specific assessment and mitigation measures; (3) promulgating regulations to protect coastal plain fish and wildlife resources, subsistence users, and the environment; (4) requiring compliance with federal and state environmental laws; and (5) ensuring that local residents have reasonable access to public land for traditional uses. Prescribes a revenue allocation scheme derived from bonus, rental, and royalty revenues from federal oil and gas leasing and operations authorized under this Act, including monthly payments to the state of Alaska. Deems any rights-of-way or easements across the Coastal Plain for the exploration, development, production, or transportation of oil and gas to be established incident to the management of the Coastal Plain. Requires the Secretary to convey to: (1) the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation the surface estate of certain land, and (2) the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation the remaining subsurface estate to which that Corporation is entitled under a specified agreement.

No Surface Occupancy Western Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2014

No Surface Occupancy Western Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Security Act - Authorizes the exploration, leasing, development and production of oil and gas on the Western Coastal Plain of Alaska. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) establish a competitive oil and gas leasing program for oil and gas exploration, development, and production on the Western Coastal Plain; and (2) prohibit surface occupancy of the Western Coastal Plain during any oil and gas development and production States that, in connection with specified environmental protection laws, the Secretary shall neither: (1) identify nonleasing alternative courses of action, nor (2) analyze the environmental effect of those courses of action. Requires the Secretary, within one year after the first lease sale is conducted under this Act, to conduct a second lease sale (and additional sales if sufficient interest in exploration or development exists). Sets forth procedures for: (1) lease sales and lease grants on the Western Coastal Plain, and (2) Western Coastal Plain environmental protection. Prescribes a revenue allocation scheme derived from bonus, rental, and royalty revenues from federal oil and gas leasing and operations authorized under this Act, including monthly payments to the state of Alaska. Requires the Secretary to convey to: (1) the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation the surface estate of certain land, and (2) the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation the remaining subsurface estate to which that Corporation is entitled under a specified agreement.

Energy-Efficient Cool Roof Jobs Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2014

Energy-Efficient Cool Roof Jobs Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to classify any qualified energy-efficient cool roof replacement property as 20-year property for depreciation purposes. Defines "qualified energy-efficient cool roof replacement property" as any roof system that: (1) is placed in service above conditioned or semiheated space on an eligible commercial building, (2) has a slope equal to or less than 2:12 (low-slope roof), (3) replaces an existing roof system, and (4) includes insulation meeting specified standards and a primary roof covering that has a cool roof surface. Requires the adjustment for depreciation to the earnings and profits of a real estate investment trust for any taxable year, in the case of such property, to be determined under the alternative depreciation method, except that the recovery period shall be 20 years.

Roofing Efficiency Jobs Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2014

Roofing Efficiency Jobs Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to classify any qualified energy-efficient cool roof replacement property as 20-year property for depreciation purposes. Defines "qualified energy-efficient cool roof replacement property" as any roof system that: (1) is placed in service above conditioned or semiheated space on an eligible commercial building, (2) replaces an existing roof system, (3) is a  low-slope roof, and (4) includes insulation meeting specified standards and a primary roof covering that has a cool roof surface. Requires the adjustment for depreciation to the earnings and profits of a real estate investment trust for any taxable year, in the case of such property, to be determined under the alternative depreciation method, except that the recovery period shall be 20 years.

Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Infrastructure Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2014

Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Infrastructure Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures, to: (1) increase the rate of such credit from 30% to 50% for hydrogen-related alternative fuel vehicles, (2) eliminate the dollar limitation on such credit for hydrogen-related vehicles, (3) allow such credit for off-highway motor vehicles designed for carrying or towing loads, and (4) extend such credit through 2016 for property related to hydrogen. Increases the 30% energy tax credit for investment in fuel cell property to: (1) 50% for fuel cell property used in a combined heat and power system having an energy efficiency percentage of 70% or more, and (2) 40% for fuel cell property having an energy efficiency percentage of at least 60% but less than 70%.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY RESOURCES IN CENTRAL ASIA

United States · United States House of Representatives · 21 May 2014

Indian Country Economic Revitalization Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2014

Indian Country Economic Revitalization Act of 2014 - Amends the Native American Business Development, Trade Promotion, and Tourism Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Commerce, within one year of this Act's enactment and every three years thereafter, to submit a report and recommendations for promoting the sustained growth of the economies of Indian tribes and lands. Requires each report to include: data on Indian business development and employment during the preceding 3-year period, except for the first report which is to include data from the preceding 10 years; an assessment of existing structural advantages and barriers to the economic development of Indian tribes and lands; an analysis of Indian access to adequate infrastructure, affordable energy, educational opportunities, and investment capital; and recommendations on legislation to strengthen the economies of Indian tribes and lands in areas that include regulatory, tax, and trust reform. Directs the Secretary to consider appropriate information contained in previous studies and reports in conducting this Act's studies.

EXPLORING JOBS FOR VETERANS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR

United States · United States House of Representatives · 20 May 2014

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015

United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2014

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 - Authorizes FY2014-FY2015 appropriations for the conduct of intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the: (1) Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI); (2) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); (3) Department of Defense (DOD); (4) Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA); (5) National Security Agency (NSA); (6) Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force; (7) Coast Guard; (8) Departments of State, the Treasury, Energy (DOE), and Justice (DOJ); (9) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); (10) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); (11) National Reconnaissance Office; (12) National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and (13) Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Specifies that the amounts authorized and the authorized personnel ceilings as of September 30, 2014, and as of September 30, 2015, respectively, for such activities are those specified in the classified Schedule of Authorizations for FY2014 and FY2015, which shall be made available to the congressional appropriations committees and the President. Allows the DNI to authorize employment of civilian personnel in excess of the number authorized for FY2014 or FY2015 when necessary for the performance of important intelligence functions. Requires notification to the intelligence committees on the use of such authority. Requires the DNI to establish guidelines to govern the treatment under such authorized personnel levels of employment or assignment in: (1) a student or trainee program; (2) a reserve corps or as a reemployed annuitant; or (3) details, joint duty, or long term, full-time training. Authorizes appropriations for the Intelligence Community Management Account for FY2014 and FY2015, as well as for personnel positions for elements within such Account. Authorizes appropriations for FY2014 and FY2015 for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund. Permits appropriations authorized by this Act for salary, pay, retirement, and other benefits for federal employees to be increased by such additional or supplemental amounts as necessary for increases in such compensation or benefits authorized by law. Prohibits the authorization of appropriations by this Act from being deemed to constitute authority to conduct any intelligence activity not otherwise authorized by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2014

Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2014 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensee, after consulting each affected state and local governments, to develop and submit to the NRC a post-shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR) for any of the licensee's shutdown facilities for which a PSDAR is required. Requires the NRC to: (1) solicit written comments on the proposed PSDAR from the public and conduct at least two public hearings in the facility's host state; and (2) invite the host state to file a statement of support, of conditional support with specific recommendations for changes, or of nonsupport for the proposed PSDAR. Directs the NRC, after receiving the state's statement of support or nonsupport, to determine whether the proposed PSDAR is adequate or inadequate on the basis of specified considerations, and issue a decision of approval or disapproval, as appropriate. Prescribes requirements for determining whether a proposed PSDAR is permissible if the host state files a statement of conditional support. Requires a licensee to develop and submit a new proposed PSDAR if the first one is rejected. Prohibits the NRC from approving a proposed PSDAR unless it includes a requirement that the licensee comply with state law relating to air, water, or soil quality or radiological standards if they are more restrictive than federal law.

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015

United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2014

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 - Authorizes FY2015 appropriations for the conduct of intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the: (1) Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI); (2) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); (3) Department of Defense (DOD); (4) Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA); (5) National Security Agency (NSA); (6) Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force; (7) Coast Guard; (8) Departments of State, the Treasury, Energy (DOE), and Justice (DOJ); (9) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); (10) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); (11) National Reconnaissance Office; (12) National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and (13) Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Specifies that the amounts authorized and the authorized personnel ceilings as of September 30, 2015, for such activities are those in the classified Schedule of Authorizations, which shall be made available to the congressional appropriations committees and the President. Allows the DNI, with the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to authorize employment of civilian personnel in excess of the number authorized for FY2015 when necessary for the performance of important intelligence functions. Requires notification to the intelligence committees on the use of such authority. Requires the DNI to establish guidelines to govern the treatment under such authorized personnel levels of employment or assignment in: (1) a student or trainee program; (2) a reserve corps or as a reemployed annuitant; or (3) details, joint duty, or long term, full-time training. Authorizes appropriations for the Intelligence Community Management Account for FY2015, as well as for personnel positions for elements within such Account. Authorizes appropriations for FY2015 for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund. Permits appropriations authorized by this Act for salary, pay, retirement, and other benefits for federal employees to be increased by such additional or supplemental amounts as necessary for increases in such compensation or benefits authorized by law. Prohibits the authorization of appropriations by this Act from being deemed to constitute authority to conduct any intelligence activity not otherwise authorized by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2014

Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2014 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensee, after consulting each affected state and local governments, to develop and submit to the NRC a post-shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR) for any of the licensee's shutdown facilities for which a PSDAR is required. Requires the NRC to: (1) solicit written comments on the proposed PSDAR from the public and conduct at least two public hearings in the facility's host state; and (2) invite the host state to file a statement of support, of conditional support with specific recommendations for changes, or of nonsupport for the proposed PSDAR. Directs the NRC, after receiving the state's statement of support or nonsupport, to determine whether the proposed PSDAR is adequate or inadequate on the basis of specified considerations, and issue a decision of approval or disapproval, as appropriate. Prescribes requirements for determining whether a proposed PSDAR is permissible if the host state files a statement of conditional support. Requires a licensee to develop and submit a new proposed PSDAR if the first one is rejected. Prohibits the NRC from approving a proposed PSDAR unless it includes a requirement that the licensee comply with state law relating to air, water, or soil quality or radiological standards if they are more restrictive than federal law.

Dry Cask Storage Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2014

Dry Cask Storage Act of 2014 - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to require each licensee of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to submit a plan for: (1) transfer (including on-going additional transfers) to spent nuclear fuel dry casks of any spent nuclear fuel stored by the licensee for at least seven years in spent nuclear fuel pools, and (2) configuration of the remaining spent nuclear fuel in the pool in a manner that minimizes the chance of a fire if there is a loss of water in the pool. Requires the NRC to approve or disapprove the plan within 90 days after its submission. Authorizes the NRC to make a grant to any licensee with an approved plan to assist in the cost of transferring spent nuclear fuel to dry casks under the plan. Requires the emergency planning zone applicable to each civilian nuclear power reactor to be at least 10 miles in radius until all spent nuclear fuel at the reactor has been transferred to dry casks. Directs the NRC to expand to 50 miles in radius the emergency planning zone applicable to each reactor not in compliance with an approved plan. Makes the licensee responsible for all coasts associated with expansion. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer annually to the NRC, to pay the costs of the grants program, 10% of the interest generated during the preceding fiscal year from investments of the Nuclear Waste Fund.

Safe and Secure Decommissioning Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2014

Safe and Secure Decommissioning Act of 2014 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to prohibit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from approving the request of a licensee for a waiver of, or exemption from, a covered regulation applicable to a civilian nuclear power reactor that has permanently ceased to operate. Specifies as a covered regulation: (1) an emergency preparedness or response regulation or requirement, or (2) a security regulation or requirement applicable to spent nuclear fuel. Declares that this prohibition shall not apply to a civilian nuclear power reactor at which all spent nuclear fuel has been transferred to spent nuclear fuel dry casks.

Renewable Energy Jobs Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2014

Renewable Energy Jobs Act - Requires the Secretary of Labor to carry out a pilot program to train individuals for careers in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries and award grants under the program to the five states with the highest installed alternative energy power capacity. Defines "renewable energy and energy efficiency industries" as the following industries: the energy-efficient building, construction, or retrofits industry; the renewable electric power industry, including the wind, solar, and geothermal energy industries; and the energy efficiency assessment industry that serves the residential, commercial, or industrial sectors.

Removing Repeated Executive Delays to Transboundary Approvals of Pipelines and Engineering Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2014

Removing Repeated Executive Delays to Transboundary Approvals of Pipelines and Engineering Act - Designates and empowers the Secretary of State to receive all applications (except those received by the Secretary of Energy [DOE] under current law) for permits for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance, at the U.S. borders, of facilities for the exportation or importation to or from a foreign country of petroleum, petroleum products, coal, other fuels, certain products, water or sewage, as well as persons or things. Prescribes requirements and procedures for granting a permit. Authorizes TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. to construct, connect, operate, and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities specified in an application filed by TransCanada Corporation to the Department of State on May 4, 2012. Deems the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement regarding the pipeline issued by the Secretary of State in January 2014 to fully satisfy the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and any law that requires federal agency consultation or review, including the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Restricts any legal challenges regarding a federal agency action and such facilities to judicial review on direct appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to review any Executive order issued by the President that is not based on the President's exclusive constitutional authority.

Sensible Accounting to Value Energy Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2014

Sensible Accounting to Value Energy Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop and issue guidelines for all federal mortgage agencies (including the Federal National Mortgage Association [Fannie Mae], the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation [Freddie Mac], and any affiliates) to implement enhanced loan eligibility requirements, for use when testing the ability of a loan applicant to repay a covered loan, that account for the expected energy cost savings for a loan applicant at a subject property. Directs the Secretary to issue guidelines for how covered agencies shall determine: (1) the maximum permitted loan amount based on the value of the property for all covered loans made on properties with an energy efficiency report, and (2) the estimated energy savings for properties with such a report. Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 to require standards for the performance of real estate appraisals in connection with federally related transactions to require at a minimum that state certified and licensed appraisers have timely access, where practicable, to information from the property owner and the lender that may be relevant in developing an opinion of value regarding the energy- and water-saving improvements or features of a property. Applies the requirement of state certified appraisers to transactions involving any real property on which the appraiser makes adjustments using an energy efficiency report. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory group on the implementation of the enhanced energy efficiency underwriting criteria established in this Act.

DRIVE Now Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2014

Deficit Reduction for Infrastructure, Value, and Efficiency Now Act of 2014 or the DRIVE Now Act of 2014 - Appropriates additional funding for the Highway Account in the Highway Trust Fund. Requires the Federal Chief Information Officer (defined as the Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government in the Office of Management and Budget [OMB]) to: (1) develop and implement the Federal Data Center Optimization Initiative to optimize the usage and efficiency of federal data centers, and (2) submit a plan to Congress for the implementation of the Initiative Sets forth permissible methods for agencies to consolidate data centers and achieve maximum server utilization and energy efficiency. Requires agencies to track their costs and savings resulting from implementation of the Initiative and to report annually to the Federal Chief Information Officer on such implementation. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to examine methods for calculating savings from the Initiative and to report findings and make recommendations to the Federal Chief Information Officer and to Congress. Requires the Federal Chief Information Officer to report annually to relevant congressional committees assessing agency progress in carrying out the Initiative. Directs the OMB Director to issue recommendations for reducing or consolidating the number of federal data centers by at least 40% not later than September 30, 2018, and by at least 80% not later than September 30, 2023. Repeals a provision of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 establishing an inspection and grading program for catfish and other species of farm-raised fish or shellfish effective on the date of enactment of such Act. Directs the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to submit a report to Congress that lists each bank account held by the federal government that has had a zero balance for 180 days, with recommendations as to which accounts should be immediately closed. Requires the closure of any accounts recommended for closure within 7 days after the submission of such report.

Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the term expiring June 30, 2019. (Reappointment)

United States · United States Senate · 5 May 2014

Carbon Capture and Sequestration Deployment Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2014

Carbon Capture and Sequestration Deployment Act of 2014 - Directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a cooperative industry-government research and development program to demonstrate innovative technologies to capture, prevent, or store carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from carbon-based fuels or to enable the beneficial use of CO2. Requires DOE to conduct an annual assessment of existing programs supporting carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology until that technology is available in commerce. (CCS is a three-step process: the capture, transport, and underground injection and geologic sequestration of CO2.) Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for CO2 sequestration, to: (1) impose limitations on the allocation of credit amounts for carbon capture projects, including a 10-year limitation on CO2 capture at a qualified facility (defined as an industrial facility which captures not less than 500,000 metric tons of CO2 in a taxable year); (2) require the Secretary of the Treasury to establish procedures for allocating the national limitation on such credit to projects for placing carbon capture equipment (i.e., equipment to capture and pressurize qualified CO2) in service at qualified facilities and for certifying projects for which an allocation has been made; and (3) identify as eligible for such credit the taxpayer who captures and disposes of the qualified CO2. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to authorize DOE to make loan guarantees to: (1) construct or retrofit coal- or petroleum coke-fired industrial facilities or electric generation facilities to utilize CCS technology, and (2) construct pipelines for the transport of CO2 to sequestration sites or to sites where the C02 will be used for hydrocarbon recovery. Expands the qualifying advanced coal project investment tax credit to include an additional amount for the costs of constructing and retrofitting such facilities.

A bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.

United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2014

Authorizes TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. to construct, connect, operate, and maintain the pipeline and cross-border facilities specified in an application filed by TransCanada Corporation to the Department of State on May 4, 2012. Deems the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement regarding the pipeline issued by the Secretary of State in January 2014 to fully satisfy the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and any law that requires federal agency consultation or review, including the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Declares any applicable federal permit or authorization issued before enactment of this Act to remain in effect. Restricts any legal challenges regarding a federal agency action and such facilities to judicial review on direct appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Declares that this Act does not alter any federal, state, or local process or condition in effect on the date of enactment of this Act that is necessary to secure access from an owner of private property to construct the pipeline and cross-border facilities.

Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2014

Russian Aggression Prevention Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to submit to Congress a strategic framework for U.S. security assistance and cooperation in Europe and Eurasia. Directs the President to: (1) halt for 180-days all current and planned redeployments of combat forces from Europe other than certain redeployments, and (2) develop a plan to correct any deficiencies in the Armed Forces' ability to respond to contingencies in Europe and Eurasia. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) represents the most successful collective security agreement of the modern era, and (2) a strong NATO is critical to maintaining peace in Europe and Eurasia and ensuring that the Russian Federation plays an appropriate role in the region. Directs the President to: (1) implement a plan for increasing U.S. and NATO support for the armed forces of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, and other NATO member-states; and (2) direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO to seek consideration for permanently basing NATO forces in such countries. Directs the President to submit a plan to Congress for accelerating NATO and European missile defense efforts. Directs the President to establish a United States-German Global and European Security Working Group to focus on areas of mutual concern, including the situation in Ukraine, and increasing political, economic, and military cooperation between the two states. Directs the President to impose asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions, if Russian armed forces have not withdrawn from Crimea within seven days after enactment of this Act, against: (1) any government official, and any close associate or family member of that official, who is responsible for or otherwise directing violations of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, or who is responsible for acts of significant corruption in the Russian Federation; (2) any individual who sponsored or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of such acts; (3) any individual or entity with respect to which sanctions were previously imposed relating to violations of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty; (4) any entity owned or controlled by a sanctioned entity that is owned or controlled by a citizen of the Russian Federation; and (5) any senior executive of a sanctioned entity who is a citizen of the Russian Federation. Directs the President to impose asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions, if Russian armed forces have not withdrawn from the eastern border of Ukraine within seven days after enactment of this Act, or if agents of the Russian Federation do not cease actions to destabilize the control of the government of Ukraine over eastern Ukraine, against: (1) Sberbank, (2) VTB Bank, (3) Vnesheconombank, (4) Gazprombank, (5) Gazprom, (6) Novatek, (7) Rosneft, (8) Rosoboronexport, (9) any entity owned or controlled by such an entity that is owned or controlled by a citizen of the Russian Federation; and (10) any senior executive of such an entity who is a citizen of the Russian Federation. Imposes asset blocking, U.S. exclusion, and foreign financial entity sanctions, if Russian armed forces expand further into, or the government of the Russian Federation annexes, sovereign territory of Ukraine or any other country in Europe or Eurasia, against: (1) any senior Russian official, (2) any entity owned or controlled by a senior Russian official, and (3) any close associate of a senior Russian official who provides significant support or resources to such senior Russian official. Imposes asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions also, in such circumstances, against: (1) any entity organized under the laws of the Russian Federation that is owned or controlled by the government of the Russian Federation, or owned or controlled by a person sanctioned for violations of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty; (2) any entity that operates in the arms, defense, energy, financial services, metals, or mining sectors of the Russian Federation; and (3) any senior executive of such an entity who is a citizen of the Russian Federation. Sets forth related penalty requirements. States that U.S. exclusion sanctions shall not apply if necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations or other applicable international obligations. Authorizes the President to waive sanctions if in the U.S. national security interests, and with prior congressional notification. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to limit the transfer or export by any U.S. person of oil and gas advanced technology to any person in, or any citizen of, the Russian Federation if: (1) the Russian Federation has not substantially withdrawn its armed forces from the eastern border of Ukraine within 30 days, or (2) agents of the Russian Federation do not end destabilizing measures in eastern Ukraine. Directs the Secretary of State to work with U.S. allies to limit: (1) sales of defense articles and services to the government of the Russian Federation, and (2) cooperation with the government of the Russian Federation on matters related to the production of defense articles and services by Russian entities. Prohibits the President from: (1) entering into any agreement with the government of the Russian Federation regarding the reduction of nuclear forces except with the advice and consent of the Senate; (2) reducing the number of deployed or non-deployed launchers under the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms while Russian armed forces are threatening the territorial integrity or sovereignty of Ukraine or another European or Eurasian state; (3) sharing sensitive U.S. missile defense information with the government of the Russian Federation; and (4) authorizing any Open Skies Treaty overflights of U.S. territory or government facilities by Russian airplanes that employ any surveillance devices beyond those employed before January 1, 2014. Prohibits amounts from being obligated or expended to integrate into any U.S. or NATO common-funded missile defense system any stand-alone radar or missile defense system manufactured, sold, or exported by: (1) a Russian entity, or (2) any person or entity currently sanctioned or designated under U.S. law for missile technology proliferation. Directs the Secretary of State to provide access to appropriate consular resources, including prioritized access for refugee and other immigration or travel status to the United States, for journalists, political and civil society activists, and dissidents in the Russian Federation. Directs the Secretary of State to increase efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and political and civil society organizations in the Russian Federation. Directs DOD to assess the capabilities and needs of the Ukrainian armed forces. Authorizes the President, upon completion of such assessment, to provide specified military assistance to Ukraine. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) provide Ukraine with information about Russian military and intelligence capabilities on Ukraine's eastern border and within Ukraine's territorial borders, including Crimea; and (2) ensure that such intelligence information is protected from further disclosure. Provides major non-NATO ally status for Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova (during the period in which each of such countries meets specified criteria) for purposes of the transfer or possible transfer of defense articles or defense services. Directs the President to increase: (1) U.S. Armed Forces interactions with the armed forces of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia; and (2) U.S and NATO security assistance to such states. Amends the Natural Gas Act to apply the expedited application and approval process for natural gas exports to World Trade Organization members. Urges the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Trade and Development Agency, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the World Bank Group, and the European Bank for Reconstruction to promote assistance to Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova in order to exploit natural gas and oil reserves and to develop alternative energy sources. Prohibits any federal department or agency from taking any action that recognizes Russian Federation sovereignty over Crimea or otherwise endorses the Russian Federation's illegal annexation of Crimea. Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) strengthen democratic institutions, the independent media, and political and civil society organizations in countries of the former Soviet Union; and (2) increase educational and cultural exchanges with countries of the former Soviet Union. Directs the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Voice of America (VOA) to provide Congress with a plan for increasing and maintaining through FY2017 the quantity of U.S.-funded Russian-language broadcasting into countries of the former Soviet Union, with priority for broadcasting into Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.

Fossil Energy Encouragement and Accountability Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2014

Fossil Energy Encouragement and Accountability Act of 2014 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Energy (DOE) for FY2015 for coal, natural gas, and oil research and development. Prohibits the use of such funds, however, to: (1) transform any element of the National Energy Technology Laboratory into a government-owned, contractor-operated laboratory, or to consider or plan for any such transformation; (2) consolidate or close any element of the Laboratory; or (3) transfer the Laboratory's human resources functions from any laboratory.

Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2014

Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2014 - Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (SAA, 2008) to extend emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) payments for eligible individuals to weeks of employment ending on or before June 1, 2014. Amends the Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families Act to extend until May 31, 2014, requirements that federal payments to states cover 100% of EUC. Amends the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 to exempt weeks of unemployment between enactment of this Act and November 30, 2014, from the prohibition in the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (FSEUCA of 1970) against federal matching payments to a state for the first week in an individual's eligibility period for which extended compensation or sharable regular compensation is paid if the state law provides for payment of regular compensation to an individual for his or her first week of otherwise compensable unemployment. (Thus allows temporary federal matching for the first week of extended benefits for states with no waiting period.) Amends the FSEUCA of 1970 to postpone similarly from December 31, 2013, to May 31, 2014, termination of the period during which a state may determine its "on" and "off" indicators according to specified temporary substitutions in its formula. Amends the SAA, 2008 to appropriate funds out of the employment security administration account through the first five months of FY2015 to assist states in providing reemployment and eligibility assessment activities. Requires the provision of such activities to an individual, at a minimum, within a time period after he or she begins to receive Tier-1 EUC benefits, and if applicable, again within a time period after he or she begins to receive Tier-3 EUC benefits. Requires the Secretary of Labor to determine appropriate time periods. Specifies the purposes of the activities, namely to: better link the unemployed with the overall workforce system by bringing individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits in for personalized assessments and referrals to reemployment services; and provide them with early access to specific strategies that can help get them back into the workforce faster, including through: (1) the development of a reemployment plan, (2) provision of access to relevant labor market information, (3) provision of access to information about industry-recognized credentials that are regionally relevant or nationally portable, (4) provision of referrals to reemployment services and training, and (5) an assessment of the individual's on-going eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits. Amends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to extend through May 31, 2014, the temporary increase in extended unemployment benefits. Makes a change in application of a certain requirement (nonreduction rule) to a state that has entered a federal-state EUC agreement, under which the federal government would reimburse the state's unemployment compensation agency making EUC payments to individuals who have exhausted all rights to regular unemployment compensation under state or federal law and meet specified other criteria. (Under the nonreduction rule such an agreement does not apply with respect to a state whose method for computing regular unemployment compensation under state law has been modified to make the average weekly unemployment compensation benefit paid on or after June 2, 2010, less than what would have been paid before June 2, 2010.) Declares that the nonreduction rule shall not apply to a state which has enacted a law before December 1, 2013, that, upon taking effect, would violate the nonreduction rule. Allows a state whose agreement was terminated, however, to enter into a subsequent federal-state EUC agreement on or after enactment of this Act if, taking into account this inapplicability of the nonreduction rule, it would otherwise meet the requirements for an EUC agreement. (Thus allows such a subsequent EUC agreement to permit payment of less than the average weekly unemployment compensation benefit paid on or after June 2, 2010.) Prohibits the use of federal funds to: (1) make payments of unemployment compensation to any individual whose adjusted gross income in the preceding year was at least $1 million, or (2) determine whether or not this prohibition applies to an individual. Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to: (1) study the use of work suitability requirements to strengthen them to ensure that unemployment insurance benefits are being provided to individuals who are actively looking for work and truly want to return to the labor force; and (2) brief Congress on the ongoing study, including preliminary recommendations for appropriate legislation and administrative action. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to revise the applicable percentages for determining minimum funding standards for single-employer defined benefit pension plans (funding stabilization). Exempts plans providing accelerated benefit distributions from the application of such standards. Amends ERISA, with respect to pension insurance premiums paid by a designated payor (i.e., the contributing sponsor or plan administrator for a single employer pension plan and the plan administrator for the multiemployer plan) to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Allows a designated payor to elect to prepay, during any plan year, the applicable PBGC flat dollar insurance premium due for up to five consecutive subsequent plan years specified in the election. Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to extend through FY2024 the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to collect customs user fees for the processing of certain merchandise. Amends the IRC to provide that a bona fide volunteer providing firefighting and prevention services, emergency medical services, or ambulance services to a state or local government or tax-exempt organization shall not be counted in determining the number of full-time employees of an employer for purposes of the employer mandate to provide minimum essential health care coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Excludes services rendered as a bona fide volunteer to any governmental entity and any tax-exempt organization (specified employer) from the determination of the number of full-time employees of an employer for purposes of such mandate. Defines "bona fide volunteer" as an employee whose only compensation from a specified employer is in the form of: (1) reimbursement for (or reasonable allowance for) reasonable expenses incurred in the performances of volunteer services; or (2) reasonable benefits and nominal fees, customarily paid in connection with the performance of volunteer services. Amends the IRC to allow states, for a 120-day period beginning on enactment of this Act, to implement an employment assistance voucher program, in lieu of paying unemployment compensation directly to employees, under which an eligible individual is issued an employment assistance voucher and is hired by a participating employer who receives a subsidy from the state for the wages paid to the employee. Defines an "eligible employee" as an individual who has been unemployed for at least six months, who is eligible for unemployment compensation, and who is likely to exhaust such compensation. Amends MAP-21 to revise the requirement that 10% of the award of contracts for federal-aid highway, federal public transportation, and highway safety research and development programs be set-aside for small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Requires the set-aside to include veteran-owned small business concerns. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish: (1) a voluntary America Star Program under which manufacturers may have products certified as meeting the standards of labels that indicate to consumers the extent to which the products are manufactured in the United States; and (2) such America Star labels, including the content of the labels and the standards that a product shall meet in order to bear a particular label. Requires the labels to be consistent with public perceptions of the meaning of descriptions of the extent to which a product is manufactured in the United States. Requires the Secretary, after receiving an application, to certify a product as meeting a label's standards, notify the manufacturer, conduct monitoring and compliance review to ensure that a product continues to meet such standards, notify a manufacturer of any corrective action needed, and withdraw certification of a product if such action is not taken. Provides for an expedited appeals procedure for actions that adversely affect a person. Prohibits a person from placing an America Star label on a product, using such label in marketing such product, or in any other way representing that such product meets the standards of such label unless a certification by the Secretary is in effect. Bars the Secretary from certifying the product for a five-year period after determining that a manufacturer has violated the purposes of the Program. Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to redefine "accelerated filer" with respect to issuers of securities required to meet accelerated deadlines for filing their Form 10-Q quarterly reports. Requires the SEC to include among accelerated filers any issuers of securities that have: (1) annual revenues in excess of $100 million, and (2) an aggregated worldwide market value between $250 million and $700 million of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates. Establishes the American Infrastructure Fund (AIF) as a wholly-owned government corporation to provide bond guarantees and make loans to state and local governments and non-profit infrastructure providers for transportation, energy, water, communications, or educational facility infrastructure projects (Qualified Infrastructure Projects [QIPs]). Requires AIF also to make equity investments in QIPs such entities sponsor. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the AIF, to issue American Infrastructure Bonds with an aggregate face value of $50 billion. Requires proceeds from the sale of the bonds to be deposited into the AIF. Amends the IRC to allow U.S. corporations to exclude from gross income qualified cash dividend amounts received during a taxable year from a foreign-controlled corporation equal to the face value of qualified infrastructure bonds the corporation has purchased. Prohibits allowance of a foreign tax credit to the excluded portion of any dividend received by a U.S. corporation. Prohibits also the allowance of a deduction for expenses related to that excludable portion. Declares that a presidential permit shall not be required for construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of border crossing facilities for the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

S. 2132, INDIAN TRIBAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND SELF-DETERMINATION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2014

United States · United States Senate · 30 April 2014

ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015

United States · United States Senate · 30 April 2014

A bill to expedite decisions on applications for authorization to export natural gas, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2014

Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to issue a decision on an application for authorization to export natural gas within 90 days after the later of: (1) the end of the comment period for that decision as set forth in the Federal Register, or (2) the date of enactment of this Act. Grants original and exclusive jurisdiction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the export facility under an application will be located over any civil action for the review of: (1) an order by the Secretary about the application, or (2) the  failure of the Secretary to issue a decision on the application. Requires the Court, if it finds in a civil action that the Secretary has failed to issue a decision on an application, to order the Secretary to issue one within 30 days. Requires the Court to set any civil action brought under this Act on the docket, for expedited consideration, as soon as practical after the filing date of the initial pleading.

Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2014

Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2014 - Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to authorize agencies to enter into energy savings performance contracts to reduce the costs of fuel supply, delivery, or transport for nonbuilding applications. Prohibits payments by agencies to entities that supply, deliver, or transport fuel under such contracts from exceeding the amounts that the agencies would have paid entities without the contracts. Authorizes the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to: (1) carry out research to improve military vehicle technology to increase fuel economy or reduce fuel consumption of military vehicles used in combat; and (2) establish an online, centralized repository for all Department of Defense (DOD) operational energy-related research and development efforts. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish: (1) a DOD executive agent for warrior power to align and advance efforts to measure and manage the development and evaluation of man-portable tactical power generation systems to power tactical communications equipment, weapons systems, and other troop equipment; and (2) a program to foster secure and reliable sources of energy for military installations, including incorporation of advanced energy metering, renewable energy, energy storage, and redundant power systems. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Defense Alternative Fuel Vehicle Infrastructure Fund to support installing, operating, and maintaining alternative fuel dispensing stations for use by DOD's alternative fueled vehicles and other infrastructure necessary to fuel the vehicles.

A bill to establish the Green Bank to assist in the financing of qualified clean energy projects and qualified energy efficiency projects.

United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2014

Establishes the Green Bank as a federally-owned independent corporation with a 20-year charter. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue Green Bonds in order to provide the Bank with an initial capitalization of $10 billion and to provide additional capitalization of up to $50 billion upon request of the Bank. Requires the Bank to establish a program to provide financial support or risk management for qualifying clean energy or energy efficiency projects. Authorizes the Bank to provide funding for low-interest loans to establish state clean energy financing institutions and to co-fund the projects with an institution. Gives the Bank immunity from impairment, limitations, or restrictions under laws. Authorizes the Bank to conduct its business without regard to state law relating to incorporation. Exempts the Bank from all state or local taxation except real property taxation. Requires the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank to set forth spending safeguards, including: (1) deobligating financial support to entities that demonstrate an insufficient level of performance or wasteful or fraudulent spending, and (2) creating a publicly available online database with information about financing support or risk management. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit and defer tax deduction amounts for foreign-related interest expense (i.e., interest expense allocated and apportioned to income from sources outside the United States).

Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2014

Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2014 - Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to authorize agencies to enter into energy savings performance contracts to reduce the costs of fuel supply, delivery, or transport for nonbuilding applications. Prohibits payments by agencies to entities that supply, deliver, or transport fuel under such contracts from exceeding the amounts that the agencies would have paid entities without the contracts. Authorizes the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to: (1) carry out research to improve military vehicle technology to increase fuel economy or reduce fuel consumption of military vehicles used in combat; and (2) establish an online, centralized repository for all Department of Defense (DOD) operational energy-related research and development efforts. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish: (1) a DOD executive agent for warrior power to align and advance efforts to measure and manage the development and evaluation of man-portable tactical power generation systems to power tactical communications equipment, weapons systems, and other troop equipment; and (2) a program to foster secure and reliable sources of energy for military installations, including incorporation of advanced energy metering, renewable energy, energy storage, and redundant power systems. Establishes in the Treasury the Department of Defense Alternative Fuel Vehicle Infrastructure Fund to support installing, operating, and maintaining alternative fuel dispensing stations for use by DOD's alternative fueled vehicles and other infrastructure necessary to fuel the vehicles.

21st Century Energy Workforce Development Jobs Initiative Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2014

21st Century Energy Workforce Development Jobs Initiative Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a comprehensive program to improve the education and training of workers for energy-related jobs, with emphasis on increasing the number of skilled minorities and women trained to work in such jobs.

To establish the Green Bank to assist in the financing of qualified clean energy projects and qualified energy efficiency projects.

United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2014

Establishes the Green Bank as a federally-owned independent corporation with a 20-year charter. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue Green Bonds in order to provide the Bank with an initial capitalization of $10 billion and to provide additional capitalization of up to $50 billion upon request of the Bank. Requires the Bank to establish a program to provide financial support or risk management for qualifying clean energy or energy efficiency projects. Authorizes the Bank to provide funding for low-interest loans to establish state clean energy financing institutions and to co-fund the projects with an institution. Gives the Bank immunity from impairment, limitations, or restrictions under laws. Authorizes the Bank to conduct its business without regard to state law relating to incorporation. Exempts the Bank from all state or local taxation except real property taxation. Requires the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank to set forth spending safeguards, including: (1) deobligating financial support to entities that demonstrate an insufficient level of performance or wasteful or fraudulent spending, and (2) creating a publicly available online database with information about financing support or risk management. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit and defer tax deduction amounts for foreign-related interest expense (i.e., interest expense allocated and apportioned to income from sources outside the United States).

Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2014

Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014 - Title I: Buildings - Subtitle A: Building Energy Codes - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act (ECPA) to direct the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to: (1) support the development and updating of national model building energy codes for residential and commercial buildings to enable the achievement of aggregate energy savings targets established by this Act, (2) encourage and support the adoption by states and local governments of building energy codes that meet or exceed the national codes, and (3) support full compliance with state and local codes. Subtitle B: Worker Training and Capacity Building - Directs the Secretary to provide grants to establish building training and assessment centers at institutions of higher learning to identify and promote opportunities, concepts, and technologies for expanding building energy and environmental performance. Requires the Secretary to make grants to pay the federal share of career skills training programs to help students obtain a certification to install energy efficient buildings technologies. Subtitle C: School Buildings - Requires the Secretary to act as the lead federal agency for coordinating and disseminating information on existing federal programs and assistance that may be used to help initiate, develop, and finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofitting projects for schools. Subtitle D: Better Buildings - Requires the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to develop and publish model leasing provisions and best practices for use in leasing documents that designate a federal agency as a landlord or tenant to encourage building owners and tenants to invest in cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) to require the Secretary to study the feasibility of: (1) significantly improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings through the design and construction of separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures, and (2) encouraging owners and tenants to implement such measures in separate spaces. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a voluntary Tenant Star program within the Energy Star program to recognize tenants in commercial buildings that voluntarily achieve high levels of energy efficiency in separate spaces. Requires DOE's Administrator of the Energy Information Administration to collect data on categories of building occupancy that consume significant quantities of energy and on other aspects of the property, building operation, or building occupancy determined to be relevant to lowering energy consumption. Subtitle E: Energy Information for Commercial Buildings - Amends EISA to revise exceptions to the requirement that federal agencies must lease space in buildings that have earned the Energy Star label. Requires a space leased by an agency in a building that has not earned the Energy Star label to be benchmarked under a nationally recognized, online, free benchmarking program, with public disclosure. Exempts from such requirement a space for which owners cannot access whole building utility consumption data. Requires the Secretary to modify and maintain existing databases or create and maintain a new database platform to store and make publicly available energy-related information on commercial and multifamily buildings. Authorizes the Secretary to make awards to utilities, utility regulators, and utility partners to develop and implement programs to provide aggregated whole building energy consumption information to multitenant building owners. Title II: Industrial Efficiency and Competitiveness - Subtitle A: Manufacturing Energy Efficiency - Amends EISA to rename the energy-intensive industries program as the future of industry program. Amends ECPA to require the Secretary: (1) as part of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, to conduct on-site technical assessments at the request of a manufacturer to identify opportunities for maximizing the energy efficiency of industrial processes and cross-cutting systems, preventing pollution and minimizing waste, improving efficient use of water in manufacturing processes, and conserving natural resources; and (2) as part of DOE's industrial efficiency programs, to carry out an industry-government partnership program to research, develop, and demonstrate new sustainable manufacturing and industrial technologies and processes that maximize the energy efficiency of industrial systems, reduce pollution, and conserve natural resources. Requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to expedite consideration of applications from eligible small businesses for loans under the Small Business Act to implement recommendations of industrial research and assessment centers. Subtitle B: Supply Start - Establishes within DOE a Supply Star program to identify and promote practices, recognize companies, and recognize products that use highly efficient supply chains that conserve energy, water, and other resources. Subtitle C: Electric Motor Rebate Program - Directs the Secretary to establish rebate programs for expenditures for the purchase and installation of: (1) a new constant speed electric motor control that reduces motor energy use by at least 5%, and (2) certain commercial or industrial machinery or equipment that is manufactured and incorporates an advanced motor and drive system. Subtitle D: Transformer Rebate Program - Directs the Secretary to establish rebate programs for expenditures made by owners of industrial or manufacturing facilities, commercial buildings, and multifamily residential buildings for the purchase and installation of new energy efficient transformers. Title III: Federal Agency Energy Efficiency - Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, with respect to federal agency energy management, to require each agency to collaborate with the Director of the Office of the Management and Budget (OMB) to develop an implementation strategy for the maintenance, purchase, and use of energy-efficient and energy-saving information technologies. Requires the OMB Director to establish performance goals for evaluating the efforts of agencies in improving such technology systems. Requires the Chief Information Officers Council to supplement the goals with recommendations on best practices for attaining them. Authorizes the GSA Administrator, for any building project for which congressional approval has been received and the design has been substantially completed, but whose construction has not begun, to use appropriated funds to update the building's design to meet energy efficiency and other standards for new federal buildings. Amends EISA to revise requirements for data center energy efficiency. Designates an information technology industry organization that coordinates the voluntary national information program for such centers. Requires establishment of an open data initiative for federal data center usage data. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a demonstration program for energy and water conservation improvements at multifamily residential units. Title IV: Regulatory Provisions - Subtitle A: Third-Party Certification Under Energy Star Program - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to direct the EPA Administrator to revise the certification requirements for the labeling of consumer, home, and office electronic products for program partners that have complied with all requirements of the Energy Star program for a period of at least 18 months. Prohibits such requirements from requiring third-party certification for such a product to be listed. Subtitle B: Federal Green Buildings - Amends EISA to revise requirements for certification of green buildings. Subtitle C: Water Heaters - Amends EPCA to establish additional energy conservation standards applicable to grid-enabled water heaters (those intended for use as part of an electric thermal storage or demand response program). Subtitle D: Energy Performance Requirements for Federal Buildings - Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to extend energy performance requirements for federal buildings through FY2017 (from a 30% reduction from 2003 energy consumption level for FY2015 to a 36% reduction for FY2017). Amends ECPA to revise the definition of "federal building" to include buildings altered by federal agencies, and to define "major renovation." Requires the Secretary to establish revised federal building energy efficiency performance standards after the approval of revisions of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 or the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to meet or exceed such revisions. Repeals a standard on fossil fuel-generated energy use in federal buildings. Requires federal building energy standards to be: (1) reviewed every five years, and (2) upgraded to include all new energy efficiency and renewable energy measures that are technologically feasible and economically justified if significant energy savings would result. Directs the Secretary of HUD to develop and issue guidelines for all federal mortgage agencies to implement enhanced loan eligibility requirements, for use when testing the ability of a loan applicant to repay a covered loan, that account for the expected energy cost savings for a loan applicant at a subject property. Directs the Secretary to issue guidelines for how covered agencies shall determine: (1) the maximum permitted loan amount based on the value of the property for all covered loans made on properties with an energy efficiency report meeting certain requirements, and (2) the estimated energy savings for properties with such a report. Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 to require standards for the performance of real estate appraisals in connection with federally related transactions to require at a minimum that state certified and licensed appraisers have timely access to information from the property owner and the lender that may be relevant in developing an opinion of value regarding the energy- and water-saving improvements or features of a property. Applies the requirement of state certified appraisers to transactions involving any real property on which the appraiser makes adjustments using an energy efficiency report. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory group on the implementation of the enhanced energy efficiency underwriting criteria established in this Act. Subtitle E: Third-Party Testing - Amends EPCA to require the Secretary of DOE and the EPA Administrator to rely on voluntary certification programs for air conditioning, furnace, boiler, heat pump, and water heater products. Title V: Miscellaneous - Amends EISA to reduce appropriations for the Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative.

EXPIRE Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2014

Expiring Provisions Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency Act of 2014 or the EXPIRE Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2015 expiring tax provisions pertaining to individual and business taxpayers and the energy sector. Expresses the sense of the Senate calling for tax reform in the 114th Congress to allow provisions that don't merit permanency to expire and to focus on fostering economic growth and lowering tax rates by broadening the tax base. Title I: Provisions Expiring in 2013 - Subtitle A: Individual Tax Extenders - Extends through 2015: the tax credit for purchasing health insurance; the tax deduction of expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers; the tax exclusion of imputed income from the discharge of indebtedness for a principal residence; the equalization of the tax exclusion for employer-provided commuter transit and parking benefits; the tax deduction of mortgage insurance premiums; the tax deduction of state and local general sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes; the tax deduction of contributions of capital gain real property for conservation purposes; the tax deduction of qualified tuition and related expenses; and the tax exemption of distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for charitable purposes. Subtitle B: Business Tax Extenders: Extends through 2015: the tax credit for increasing research expenditures; the low-income housing tax credit rate for newly constructed non-federally subsidized buildings; the Indian employment tax credit; the new markets tax credit; the tax credit for qualified railroad track maintenance expenditures; the tax credit for mine rescue team training expenses; the tax credit for differential wage payments to employees who are active duty members of the Uniformed Services; the work opportunity tax credit; authority for issuance of qualified zone academy bonds; the classification of race horses as three-year property for depreciation purposes; accelerated depreciation of qualified leasehold improvement, restaurant, and retail improvement property, of motorsports entertainment complexes, and of business property on Indian reservations; accelerated depreciation of business property (bonus depreciation); the tax deduction for charitable contributions of food inventory made by taxpayers other than C corporations; the increased expensing allowance for business assets, computer software, and qualified real property (i.e., leasehold improvement, restaurant, and retail improvement property); the election to expense advanced mine safety equipment expenditures; the expensing allowance for film and television production costs and costs of live theatrical productions; the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities in Puerto Rico; tax rules relating to payments between related foreign corporations and regulated investment companies; the subpart F income exemption for income derived in the active conduct of a banking, financing, or insurance business; the 100% exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale of small business stock; the basis adjustment rule for stock of an S corporation making charitable contributions of property; the reduction of the recognition period for the built-in gains of S corporations; tax incentives for investment in empowerment zones; the increased level of distilled spirit excise tax payments into the treasuries of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands; and the tax credit for American Samoa economic development expenditures. Amends the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 to extend through 2015 the exemption of the basic military housing allowance from the income test for programs financed by tax-exempt housing bonds. Subtitle C: Energy Tax Extenders - Extends through 2015: the tax credit for residential energy efficiency improvements; the tax credit for two- or three-wheeled plug-in electric vehicles; thee tax credit for second generation biofuel production; the income and excise tax credits for biodiesel and renewable diesel fuel mixtures; the tax credit for producing electricity using Indian coal facilities; the tax credit for producing electricity using wind, biomass, geothermal, landfill gas, trash, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities; the tax credit for energy efficient new homes; the special depreciation allowance for second generation biofuel plant property; the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings; tax deferral rules for sales or dispositions of qualified electric utilities; and the excise tax credit for alternative fuels and fuels involving liquefied hydrogen. Title II: Provisions Expiring in 2014 - Subtitle A: Energy Tax Extenders -  Extends through 2015 the tax credits for new qualified fuel cell motor vehicles and for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property expenditures. Subtitle B: Extenders Relating to Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans - Extends through 2015 the automatic extensions of amortization periods for defined benefit plans and multiemployer funding rules under the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Title III: Revenue Provisions - Imposes a $500 penalty on a tax return preparer for each failure to comply with due diligence requirements for determining the eligibility of a taxpayer for the child tax credit. Imposes a 100% continuous levy on payments due to Medicare providers and suppliers with delinquent tax debts. Excludes from gross income payments made to noncorporate taxpayers under the Clean Coal Power Initiative. Directs the Secretary to: (1) enter into qualified tax collection contracts to collect outstanding inactive tax receivables; and (2) establish a program to hire, train, and employ special compliance personnel to collect taxes using the automated collection system. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) exclude dividends received by a U.S. shareholder from a controlled foreign corporation from the definition of "personal holding company income" for purposes of personal holding company taxation, and (2) provide for inflation adjustments to amounts of civil penalties for failure to file tax returns and informational statements. Title IV: Budgetary Effects - Prohibits the budgetary effects of this Act from being entered on a PAYGO scorecard maintained pursuant to the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.

Tax Technical Corrections Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2014

Tax Technical Corrections Act of 2014 - Makes technical and clerical amendments to: the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012; the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012; the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010; the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010; the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010; the Hiring Incentives To Restore Employment Act; the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009; the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008; the Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008; the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008; the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008; the Tax Technical Corrections Act of 2007; the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006; the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005: A Legacy for Users; the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005; and the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. Eliminates provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that are not used in computing current tax liabilities (referred to as deadwood provisions).

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PRIORITIES

United States · United States House of Representatives · 10 April 2014

Climate Change Education Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2014

Climate Change Education Act - Declares that the evidence for human-induced climate change is overwhelming and undeniable. Requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a Climate Change Education Program to: broaden the understanding of human-induced climate change, possible consequences, and potential solutions; apply the latest scientific and technological discoveries to provide learning opportunities to people of all ages; conduct a national information campaign to help people understand and promote implementation of new technologies, programs, and incentives related to energy conservation, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas reduction; and inform the public of impacts to human health and safety as a result of climate change. Directs NOAA to establish a grant program to support climate change education.

Recognizing Linemen, the profession of Linemen, and the contributions of these brave men and women to protect public safety, and expressing support of designation of April 18, 2014, as National Lineman Appreciation Day.

United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2014

Recognizes the efforts of linemen in keeping the electrical power on and protecting public safety. Expresses support for the designation of National Linemen Appreciation Day.

THE TRADE IMPLICATIONS OF U.S. ENERGY POLICY AND THE EXPORT OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG)

United States · United States House of Representatives · 9 April 2014

ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015

United States · United States Senate · 9 April 2014

Smart Water Resource Management Conservation and Efficiency Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2014

Smart Water Resource Management Conservation and Efficiency Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish and carry out a smart water resource management pilot program to award grants to three to five eligible entities (authorities that provide water, wastewater, or water reuse services) to demonstrate novel and innovative technology-based solutions that will: (1) increase the energy and water efficiency of water, wastewater, and water reuse systems; (2) improve such systems to help communities make significant progress in conserving water, saving energy, and reducing costs; and (3) support the implementation of innovative processes and the installation of advanced automated systems that provide real-time data on energy and water. Directs the Secretary, in selecting grant recipients, to consider: energy and cost savings; the novelty of the technology to be used; the degree to which the project integrates next-generation sensors, software, analytics, and management tools; the anticipated cost-effectiveness of the pilot project in terms of energy efficiency savings, water savings or reuse, and infrastructure costs averted; whether the technology can be deployed in a variety of geographic regions and the degree to which the technology can be implemented on a smaller or larger scale; and whether the project will be completed in five years or less. Requires the Secretary to evaluate, annually, each project for which a grant is provided and make best practices identified available to the public.

WaterSense Efficiency, Conservation, and Adaptation Act of 2014

United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2014

WaterSense Efficiency, Conservation, and Adaptation Act of 2014 - Establishes within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a WaterSense program to identify and promote water efficient products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes, and services so as to: reduce water use; reduce the strain on water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure; conserve energy used to pump, heat, transport, and treat water; and preserve water resources through the voluntary labeling of, or other forms of communications about, products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes, and services that meet the highest water efficiency and performance criteria. Requires the Administrator of EPA to identify other voluntary approaches to encourage recycling and reuse technologies to improve water efficiency or lower water use and to implement those approaches, if appropriate. Establishes a State Residential Water Efficiency and Conservation Incentives Program to provide financial incentives for consumers to purchase and install products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes, and services labeled under the WaterSense program. Requires the Administrator to make grants to owners or operators of water systems to address, mitigate, and adapt to address any ongoing or forecasted impact of climate change on the water quality or quantity of a U.S. region.

Forging Peace Through Strength in Ukraine and the Transatlantic Alliance Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2014

Forging Peace Through Strength in Ukraine and the Transatlantic Alliance Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the continuing practice by the Russian Federation of physical, diplomatic, and economic aggression toward neighboring countries is clearly intended to undermine regional security and stability; (2) the Russian military build-up and aggressive posture on the eastern border of Ukraine represents an intent to intimidate Ukraine and its citizens to submit to Russian control; (3) the Russian Federation should immediately cease all improper and illegal activities in Ukraine and President Putin should direct an immediate return of Russian forces; (4) the United States reaffirms its commitment to explicitly secure the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and borders of Ukraine; (5) the United States supports the expansion of security cooperation with states in Central and Eastern Europe, including NATO member states, NATO aspirants, and appropriate Eastern Partnership countries; (6) the United States reaffirms support of NATO efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully and diplomatically; and (7) the United States should take immediate steps to enhance its military presence and readiness posture in Europe to deter aggression and assure its allies and partners through forward presence and engagement. Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) (Secretary) to develop and report on a strategic framework for U.S. security force assistance and cooperation in the European and Eurasian regions. Directs the President to submit a plan to: (1) increase U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities devoted to monitoring the situation in Ukraine; (2) increase U.S. intelligence information sharing and situational awareness to the maximum extent practicable with Ukraine utilizing appropriate bilateral channels and the NATO-Ukraine Commission; (3) provide military advice and technical assistance to the Ukrainian military to enhance their defensive preparations and posture; (4) convene NATO member states and Ukraine to review options and implement prudent steps to increase the defense of U.S., NATO, and Ukraine cyber networks; and (5) work with NATO member states and the Ukrainian military to counter Russian propaganda. Expresses the sense of Congress in support of the immediate augmentation of U.S. Armed Forces in the area of responsibility of the U.S. European Command in order to meet operational plan requirements for response in support of a NATO ally. Directs the Secretary to provide notification of such augmentation, as well as related information. Calls for the President to immediately correct deficiencies in the readiness of U.S. Armed Forces in such area and to provide appropriate additional resources to NATO as needed. Requires the Secretary to ensure the operational availability of the Aegis Ashore system site in Poland. Authorizes the Secretary to relocate the necessary assets of the Aegis weapon system between and within the DDG-51 Class Destroyer program and the Aegis Ashore program to meet mission requirements. States that it is the policy of the United States that available short-range air and missile defense systems and terminal missile defense systems of the United States with operational missiles be rotationally deployed to central and eastern European allies to strengthen their air and missile defense capabilities. Requires the Secretary: (1) by December 31, 2014, and pursuant to an agreement between the United States and Poland, to deploy to Poland a system providing a short-range air and missile defense capability and/or terminal missile defense capability and the personnel required to operate and maintain such system; (2) to stop plans for the relocation and consolidation of U.S. dual-capable aircraft that are based in Europe and develop plans to temporarily base such aircraft in NATO member states that request to host such aircraft; (3) to conduct siting studies for the construction of weapon storage and security systems and protective aircraft shelters in NATO member states that notify the Secretary of an interest in hosting such systems and shelters and to provide for reasonable burden sharing of associated costs; and (4) to coordinate with NATO member states on the policy considerations of a decision to alter the posture of forward deployed nuclear weapons and related capabilities of the United States. Prohibits FY2015 DOD funds from being used for any bilateral military-to-military contact or cooperation between the United States and the Russian Federation until the Secretary makes certain certifications with respect to Russian recognition of the sovereignty of all Ukrainian territory and related matters. Allows a waiver in the U.S. national security interest. Prohibits FY2015 Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration funds from being used for any contract, cooperation, or transfer of technology between the United States and the Russian Federation until the Secretary of Energy makes certain certifications with respect to Russia's respect of Ukrainian territory and compliance with the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles and the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. Allows a waiver in the national security interest. Directs the Secretary to report annually on the current and future military power of the Russian Federation.