Energy

THE IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY INNOVATION TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS

United States · United States Senate · 25 July 2019

CIT Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Clean Industrial Technology Act of 2019 or the CIT Act of 2019 This bill provides incentives for the nonpower industrial sector to reduce nonwater greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish an industrial emissions reduction technology research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program. Under the program, DOE must award grants and fund demonstration projects to develop and evaluate technologies designed to increase (1) the industrial competitiveness of the United States, and (2) the emission reductions of nonpower industrial sectors. DOE may also enter into contracts and cooperative agreements for these purposes. In addition, DOE must establish an Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee to provide advice to DOE and the Office of Science and Technology Policy about the program. Finally, DOE must establish a technical assistance program to achieve emission reductions in nonpower industrial sectors.

Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act This bill revises provisions related to geothermal energy projects on federal land.

Climate Action Rebate Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Climate Action Rebate Act of 2019 This bill imposes a carbon fee on the use, sale, or transfer of certain fossil fuels and fluorinated gases that emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The fee is imposed on producers and importers of such fuels and is deposited into a Climate Action Rebate Fund established by this bill.  The bill establishes an gradual emissions reduction schedule for such fuels between 2020 and 2050 (100% reduction). The bill requires payment of an equalization fee by fossil fuels and carbon-intensive imported goods at the border and provides for refunds of comparable exports. The bill rebates up to 70% of net revenues from the fund to low-income individuals as a monthly dividend. Remaining revenues must be used for investment in infrastructure, energy innovation, and assistance for workers and communities to transition to a cleaner energy economy. All carbon fee revenue must be spent in accordance with Buy American requirements and the Davis-Bacon Act (requires payment of local prevailing wage on public works projects for laborers and mechanics),

SWAP Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Stemming Warming and Augmenting Pay Act of 2019 or the SWAP Act. This bill imposes a tax on combusted fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions. The tax is equal to $30 per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions beginning in 2021. The tax increases by 5% plus inflation each year and increases by $3 per ton every two years if the previous year's emission goals are not met. The revenue from such tax is divided (1) 70% for the reduction of payroll taxes; (2) 10% for additional payments to Social Security beneficiaries, and (3) 20% to establish a carbon trust fund for block grants to offset higher energy costs for low-income households, climate adaptation, energy efficiency, carbon sequestration, and research and development programs. The bill also amends the Clean Air Act to impose a 12-year moratorium on regulations that limit greenhouse gas emissions. This moratorium may be lifted if certain emission targets are not met.

Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to issue Clean Energy Victory Bonds for investment in clean energy projects at the federal, state, and local level.

CLEANER Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

CLEANER Act of 2019 or the Closing Loopholes and Ending Arbitrary and Needless Evasion of Regulations Act of 2019 This bill eliminates the exemption of waste associated with the exploration, development, or production of crude oil, natural gas, or geothermal energy from regulations governing the disposal of hazardous waste. Within a year of enactment, the Environmental Protection Agency must determine whether waste associated with oil, gas, or geothermal energy activities meet the criteria promulgated for the identification or listing of hazardous waste.

Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act This bill expands the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to act as the lead agency for the purpose of coordinating all applicable federal authorizations and environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) with respect to authorizing a natural gas pipeline project under the Natural Gas Act. Federal, state, and local agencies involved in the environmental review process must defer to FERC's approved scope for a NEPA review. FERC must invite and designate the other participating agencies involved in the authorization process; track and publicly display on its website specific information related to the actions required to complete an authorization; and with respect to an authorization, consult with the Transportation Security Administration regarding pipeline infrastructure security, pipeline cybersecurity, pipeline personnel security, and other pipeline security measures. The bill establishes a 90 day deadline to complete an authorization application for other authorizing agencies and requires concurrent reviews when multiple agencies are involved in the authorization process. If a federal or state agency considering an aspect of an application for authorization requires the person applying for such authorization to submit data, the agency must consider any such data gathered by aerial or other remote means that the person submits.

CIT Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Clean Industrial Technology Act of 2019 or the CIT Act of 2019 This bill provides incentives for the nonpower industrial sector to reduce nonwater greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish an industrial emissions reduction technology research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program. Under the program, DOE must award grants and fund demonstration projects to develop and evaluate technologies designed to increase (1) the industrial competitiveness of the United States, and (2) the emission reductions of nonpower industrial sectors. DOE may also enter into contracts and cooperative agreements for these purposes. In addition, DOE must establish an Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee to provide advice to DOE and the Office of Science and Technology Policy about the program. Finally, DOE must establish a technical assistance program to achieve emission reductions in nonpower industrial sectors.

Clean School Bus Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Clean School Bus Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish the Clean School Bus Grant Program in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Under the program, DOE must award grants for the replacement of existing school buses with electric buses.

Raise Wages, Cut Carbon Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Raise Wages, Cut Carbon Act of 2019 This bill imposes excise taxes on fossil fuels and fluorinated greenhouse gases and uses revenues from such taxes to reduce social security taxes. The bill annually increases funding beginning in FY2020 for the low-income home energy assistance program and the weatherization assistance program for low-income persons. It also directs the Social Security Administration to distribute to Social Security retirement beneficiaries 10% of environmental tax revenues beginning in FY2020. The bill imposes taxes on (1) the manufacturer, producer, or importer of coal (including lignite and peat), petroleum and petroleum products, and natural gas ($40 per ton in 2020 with a 2.5% increase each year emission reduction targets are not met); (2) any imported taxable product sold or used by its importer; and (3) fluorinated greenhouse gases. The bill requires a supermajority of either the House of Representatives or the Senate to change the revenue neutrality established by this bill. The bill also amends the Clean Air Act to suspend certain regulations that limit greenhouse gas emissions. The suspensions expire if  emissions targets are not reached after a specified time period.

Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2019 This bill revises a variety of programs to encourage energy efficiency in buildings, industry, and the federal government, including by encouraging energy efficiency in residential, commercial, federal, or school buildings; energy-efficient technologies and processes for industrial applications; sustainable manufacturing; energy-efficient electric motors or transformers; or federal use of energy-efficient and energy-saving information technologies.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the production of oil and natural gas is essential to the economy and well-being of the United States, and that addressing energy needs requires cooperation instead of coercion.

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) the production of oil and natural gas is critical to the continued prosperity of the U.S economy, its national security, and its people; (2) the federal government and public leaders should promote policies that encourage greater energy production and independence; and (3) addressing energy needs requires cooperation instead of coercion.

Blue Collar and Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish and carry out a comprehensive, nationwide program to improve education and training for jobs in energy-related industries in order to increase the number of skilled workers trained for such jobs. DOE, in collaboration with the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Secretary of Commerce, the Director of the Bureau of the Census, and energy-related industries, shall establish a clearinghouse to, among other things, develop resources training programs for jobs in energy-related industries and act as a resource for educational institutions and covered organizations and programs that would like to develop and implement training programs for such jobs. In carrying out the program, DOE, in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor, and the National Science Foundation, shall develop voluntary guidelines or best practices for educational institutions to help provide students with the skills necessary for jobs in energy-related industries, DOE shall establish and carry out a program to provide grants to eligible entities ( i.e., certain businesses, labor organizations, nonprofit organizations, or qualified youth or conservation corps) to pay the eligible wages or stipends for individuals receiving training to work for an eligible business ( i.e., businesses that provide services related to renewable electric energy generation and energy efficiency).

Renewable Energy Extension Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Renewable Energy Extension Act of 2019 This bill extends the energy tax credit for certain renewable resources and the credit for residential energy efficient property for five years.

RESTORE Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Restore Environmental Sustainability To Our Renewable Energy Act or the RESTORE Act This bill revises the renewable fuel program to eliminate the annual renewable fuel standard. The existing standard requires 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel that is produced from renewable biomass to be blended into transportation fuel by 2022. The renewable fuel standard includes fuels that are produced from renewable biomass, such as corn. The bill would not affect the standards under the program for advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, or biomass-based diesel.

Renewable Energy Extension Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Renewable Energy Extension Act of 2019 This bill extends the energy tax credit for certain renewable resources and the credit for residential energy efficient property for five years.

American Energy Efficiency Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

American Energy Efficiency Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to prescribe a federal energy efficiency resource standard for retail electricity and natural gas suppliers. Among other things, the bill establishes procedures and standards for evaluating, measuring, and verifying electricity and natural gas savings, including specifying the types of energy efficiency and energy conservation measures that may be counted; certain requirements governing retail electricity suppliers; other requirements governing applications for, and implementation of, delegated state administration; rules to govern transfers of electricity or natural gas savings between suppliers and third-party efficiency providers serving the same state and between suppliers and third-party efficiency providers serving different states; performance standards for retail electricity and natural gas suppliers; and penalties for suppliers who fail to document the adequate savings required by this bill.

Climate Action Rebate Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Climate Action Rebate Act of 2019 This bill imposes a carbon fee on the use, sale, or transfer of certain fossil fuels and fluorinated gases that emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The fee is imposed on producers and importers of such fuels and is deposited into a Climate Action Rebate Fund established by this bill.  The bill establishes an gradual emissions reduction schedule for such fuels between 2020 and 2050 (100% reduction). The bill requires payment of an equalization fee by fossil fuels and carbon-intensive imported goods at the border and provides for refunds of comparable exports. The bill rebates up to 70% of net revenues from the fund to low-income individuals as a monthly dividend. Remaining revenues must be used for investment in infrastructure, energy innovation, and assistance for workers and communities to transition to a cleaner energy economy. All carbon fee revenue must be spent in accordance with Buy American requirements and the Davis-Bacon Act (requires payment of local prevailing wage on public works projects for laborers and mechanics),

Waste Heat to Power Investment Tax Credit Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Waste Heat to Power Investment Tax Credit Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an energy tax credit for investment in waste heat to power property. The bill defines "waste heat to power property" as property (1) comprising a system which generates electricity through the recovery of a qualified waste heat resource, and (2) the construction of which begins before January 1, 2027. "Qualified waste heat resource" is defined as (1) exhaust heat or flared gas from an industrial process that does not have as its primary purpose the production of electricity, and (2) a pressure drop in any gas for an industrial or commercial process.

Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative Act This bill authorizes the Appalachian Regional Commission to provide technical assistance and grants to individuals or entities in the Appalachian region for projects and activities (1) to conduct research and analysis regarding the impact of an ethane storage hub in the region, (2) with the potential to significantly contribute to the economic resilience of the area where the project is located, and (3) that will help establish a regional energy hub in the region for natural gas and natural gas liquids.

Battery Storage Innovation Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Battery Storage Innovation Act of 2019 This bill makes certain battery storage technologies eligible for loan guarantees provided by the Department of Energy for innovative technology.

Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act This bill revises provisions related to geothermal energy projects on federal land.

Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019

Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to issue Clean Energy Victory Bonds for investment in clean energy projects at the federal, state, and local level.

To redesignate the facility of the Bureau of Reclamation located at Highway-155, Coulee Dam, WA 99116, as the "Nathaniel 'Nat' Washington Power Plant".

United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019

This bill designates the Bureau of Reclamation's facility in Coulee Dam, Washington, known as the Third Power Plant, as the Nathaniel "Nat" Washington Power Plant .

Pipeline Politics: Energy and Power in Europe

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

ARPA–E Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019

ARPA-E Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2019 This bill revises and reauthorizes requirements governing the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in the Department of Energy (DOE). This bill requires ARPA-E to overcome the long-term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of transformative science and technology solutions to address energy, environmental, economic, and national security challenges. (Currently, ARPA-E must overcome barriers in the development of energy technologies.) The bill expands the goals of ARPA-E to include the development of energy technologies that provide transformative solutions to improve management of radioactive waste, improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of energy production, and address other challenges within the mission of DOE. The bill expands the responsibility of ARPA-E to accelerate novel early-stage research to include nonenergy research. ARPA-E must ensure that it does not fund an advanced technology project unless the prospective grantee has demonstrated sufficient attempts to secure private financing or that such project is not independently commercially viable.

Carbon Capture Improvement Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2019

Carbon Capture Improvement Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the issuance of tax-exempt facility bonds for the financing of qualified carbon dioxide capture facilities. A "qualified carbon dioxide capture facility" is any equipment installed in an industrial carbon dioxide facility that satisfies specified capture and storage requirements and (1) is used for the capture, treatment and purification, compression, transportation, or on-site storage of carbon dioxide produced by the industrial carbon dioxide facility; or (2) is integral or functionally related and subordinate to a gasification process that converts a product from coal, petroleum residue, biomass, or other materials which are recovered for their energy or feedstock value into a synthesis gas composed primarily of carbon dioxide and hydrogen for direct use or subsequent chemical or physical conversion.

Energizing American Shipbuilding Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019

Energizing American Shipbuilding Act of 2019 This bill directs (1) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to require specified percentages of liquefied natural gas exports to be transported on vessels built or retrofitted in the United States and documented under its laws, and (2) the President to require specified percentages of crude oil exports to be transported on vessels built or retrofitted in the United States and documented under its laws. FERC and the President may waive these requirements under specified circumstances. The Energy Information Administration must collect and publish information on exports of natural gas and crude oil by vessels, including forecasts and data on those exports.

Launching Energy Advancement and Development through Innovations for Natural Gas Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019

Launching Energy Advancement and Development through Innovations for Natural Gas Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program to award competitive grants to certain entities for the capture of carbon dioxide produced during the generation of natural gas-generated power. Specifically, DOE must accelerate the development of commercially viable carbon capture technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, including to improve the thermodynamics, kinetics, scalability, durability, and flexibility of carbon capture technologies used during the generation of electricity from natural gas power systems; enter into cooperative agreements with certain entities to construct and operate no more than five facilities to capture carbon dioxide from natural gas generating power facilities; and identify any barriers to the commercial development of carbon capture technologies.

Good Jobs for 21st Century Energy Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019

Good Jobs for 21st Century Energy Act This bill establishes Department of Labor requirements and tax incentives for certified entities who construct certain clean energy, manufacturing, or energy efficiency projects. Specifically, the bill initiates prevailing wage jobs in the clean energy economy, builds clean U.S. energy infrastructure and technology, and provides incentives for workforce training and development.

Acting on the Annual Duplication Report Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019

Acting on the Annual Duplication Report Act of 2019 This bill requires specified federal agencies to address recommendations made to Congress by the Government Accountability Office and detailed in the annual duplication report. Specifically the Defense Security Cooperation Agency shall review options for expanding the use of administrative surcharges under the foreign military sales program; the Department of Energy shall review options for a long-range target for the optimal size and configuration of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; the U.S. Mint may modify the composition of circulating coins in accordance with a study and analysis conducted by the Mint if such modification will reduce costs incurred by taxpayers, be seamless, and have no impact on the public and stakeholders; and the Department of the Treasury shall require that any tax return which is prepared electronically, but is printed and filed on paper, bear a code which can, when scanned, convert such return to electronic format. Regarding student loan debt, among other things, an institution of higher education may not include placing students in forbearance as a means of reducing the cohort default rate of the institution.

Energizing American Shipbuilding Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019

Energizing American Shipbuilding Act of 2019 This bill directs (1) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to require specified percentages of liquefied natural gas exports to be transported on vessels built or retrofitted in the United States and documented under its laws, and (2) the President to require specified percentages of crude oil exports to be transported on vessels built or retrofitted in the United States and documented under its laws. FERC and the President may waive these requirements under specified circumstances. The Energy Information Administration must collect and publish information on exports of natural gas and crude oil by vessels, including forecasts and data on those exports.

Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019

Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2019 This bill sets forth provisions regarding development of geothermal, solar, or wind energy on public lands. The bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish priority areas on covered land (i.e., public land administered by Interior and not excluded under law from the development of geothermal, solar, or wind energy) for geothermal, solar, or wind energy projects. Other areas shall also be considered for the development of renewable energy projects under this bill, consistent with the principles of multiple use. Interior shall establish a program to improve federal permit coordination with respect to renewable energy projects carried out on covered land. Interior and the Department of Agriculture shall seek to issue permits that in total authorize the production of at least 25 gigawatts of electricity from geothermal, solar, or wind energy projects by the end of 2025. The bill provides for the disposition of revenues from the development of wind or solar energy on covered land. The bill establishes the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund to make funds available to federal, state, and tribal agencies for distribution in regions in which renewable energy projects are located on federal land for (1) restoring and protecting fish and wildlife habitat and corridors for affected species and water resources in areas affected by geothermal, solar, or wind energy development; and (2) preserving and improving recreational access to federal land and water in an affected region.

Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019

Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2019 This bill revises a variety of programs to encourage energy efficiency in buildings, industry, and the federal government, including by encouraging energy efficiency in residential, commercial, federal, or school buildings; energy-efficient technologies and processes for industrial applications; sustainable manufacturing; energy-efficient electric motors or transformers; or federal use of energy-efficient and energy-saving information technologies.

Domestic Offshore Energy Reinvestment Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019

Domestic Offshore Energy Reinvestment Act of 2019 This bill increases the revenue Gulf states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama) receive from certain federal oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico and eliminates the revenue sharing cap.

Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2019

Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2019 This bill increases the amount of compensation provided to individuals exposed to radiation and expands eligibility requirements for compensation to include additional individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund until 45 years after this bill's enactment. The trust fund compensates individuals who contract cancer or other diseases as a result of their exposure to radiation during nuclear testing undertaken by the United States during the Cold War. The bill revises the requirements governing the compensation of individuals who were exposed to radiation, including by increasing the amount of compensation that an individual may receive; expanding the affected area to include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico; expanding eligibility requirements to include additional individuals, such as certain employees of uranium mines or mills; and extending until 45 years after this bill's enactment the statute of limitations for the filing of claims. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences must establish a grant program for institutions of higher education to study the epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling among non-occupationally exposed individuals. The bill also expands eligibility requirements for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program with respect to certain employees with a specified cancer.

Secure American Research Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2019

Secure American Research Act of 2019 This bill directs the National Science and Technology Council to establish an interagency working group to coordinate activities to (1) protect federally funded research and development from foreign interference, cyberattacks, theft, or espionage; and (2) develop common definitions and best practices for federal science agencies and grantees, while taking into account the importance of the open exchange of ideas and international talent required for scientific progress and American leadership in science and technology. The working group's responsibilities, among other things, shall include developing unclassified policy guidance to assist federal science agencies and grantees in having consistent policies to defend against threats to federally funded research and development and the integrity of the U.S. scientific enterprise, and developing guidelines to create a consistent cybersecurity policy across federal agencies to protect federally funded research and development from foreign interference theft or espionage through cybeersecurity breaches. The Office of Science and Technology Policy must provide biennial summary reports on the working group's activities and the most current version of such policy guidance and guidelines. The National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense, and any other federal agencies, as appropriate, shall enter into a joint agreement with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to create a National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable.

Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2019

Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act of 2019 This bill allows energy tax credits through 2021 for investments in (1) qualified biogas property, or (2) qualified manure resource recovery property. The bill also permits new clean renewable energy bonds to be used for such properties. "Qualified biogas property" comprises a system that (1) uses anaerobic digesters or other specified processes to convert biomass into a gas which is at least 52% methane, and (2) captures the gas for use as a fuel. The term includes property that cleans and conditions the gas for use as a fuel. "Qualified manure resource recovery property" comprises a system that uses specified processes to recover the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus from a non-treated digestate or animal manure by reducing or separating at least 50% of the nutrients, excluding any reductions during the incineration, storage, composting, or field application of the non-treated digestate or animal manure. The term also includes certain processing equipment. The Department of the Treasury must enter into an agreement with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for a study of biogas and report to Congress on the study.

Desalination Development Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019

Desalination Development Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 a grant program for constructing desalination projects. The bill also revises the program, including by requiring the prioritization of projects that maximize energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy.

Enhancing Grid Security through Public-Private Partnerships Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019

Enhancing Grid Security through Public-Private Partnerships Act This bill directs the Department of Energy to facilitate and encourage public-private partnerships in order to address and mitigate the physical security and cybersecurity risks of electric utilities.

Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019

Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the Department of Energy to provide financial assistance to states for the development, implementation, review, and revision of a state energy security plan that assesses the state's existing circumstances and proposes methods to strengthen the ability of the state to have a reliable, secure, and resilient energy infrastructure. A state energy security plan must contain specified content, including a risk assessment of energy infrastructure and cross-sector interdependencies and a risk mitigation approach to enhance reliability and end-use resilience. The plan must address potential hazards to each energy sector or system, including physical threats and cybersecurity threats.

A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to exclude energy efficiency projects, pollution control projects, and reliability projects from the definition of a modification.

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019

This bill excludes energy efficiency projects, pollution control projects, and reliability projects from the new source review process, which requires stationary sources of air pollution to get approval before construction or modification.

RE-Coop 21st Century Manufacturing Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019

Rare Earth Cooperative 21st Century Manufacturing Act or the RE-Coop 21st Century Manufacturing Act This bill addresses the advancement of domestic refining of rare earth elements and the safe storage of thorium. The Department of Commerce must establish a privately funded, operated, and managed Thorium-Bearing Rare Earth Refinery Cooperative tasked with the creation of a fully integrated domestic rare earth value chain to serve U.S. national security needs and the critical advanced manufacturing industries. The Department of Energy must coordinate with other agencies to procure the issuance of a federal charter for the Thorium Storage, Energy, and Industrial Products Corporation which shall assume liability for and ownership of all thorium and mineralogically actinides and decay products contained within the rare earth element ores utilized by the cooperative.

Green Spaces, Green Vehicles Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2019

Green Spaces, Green Vehicles Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE), the Forest Service, and the National Park Service (NPS) (appropriate agencies) to collaborate on the Green Spaces, Green Vehicles Initiative to facilitate the installation and use of zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure on National Forest System lands, NPS lands, and specified lands owned by units of local government or Indian tribes. DOE and such appropriate agencies shall facilitate such installation and use, including by acquiring zero-emissions vehicles for the fleets of the Forest Service and the NPS. For purposes of determining whether the acquisition of alternative fueled vehicles is practical for the fleet of the Forest Service or the NPS, DOE shall take into account the availability on National Forest System land or NPS land, as applicable, of zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure.

United States-United Kingdom Directed Energy Cooperation Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 July 2019

United States-United Kingdom Directed Energy Cooperation Act This bill authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD), upon request from the United Kingdom (UK) and with the concurrence of the Department of State, to jointly carry out research and testing of directed energy capabilities with the UK. (Directed energy systems are capable of converting chemical or electrical energy into radiated energy and focusing it on a target.) DOD may provide maintenance and sustainment support for such activities if the UK matches U.S. funds provided for such support or otherwise provides an amount that meets the UK's best efforts. The bill imposes various reporting requirements related to such joint research.

Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2019

Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 This bill expands Department of Energy (DOE) research, development, and demonstration programs for fossil energy. Specifically, the bill authorizes DOE programs regarding carbon capture technologies for power plants, including technologies for coal and natural gas; carbon storage, including to develop and maintain mapping tools and resources that assess the capacity of geologic storage formations in the United States; carbon utilization, including to assess and monitor potential changes in life cycle carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions; advanced energy systems to reduce emissions from and improve the efficiency of fossil fuel power generation; developing and assessing methods to separate and recover rare earth elements from coal and byproduct streams; identifying the environmental, health, and safety impacts of methane hydrate development; carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere; methane leak detection and mitigation; and identifying and evaluating novel uses for light hydrocarbons produced during oil and shale gas production.

Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2019

Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Energy to carry out a grant program to research, develop, and evaluate wind energy technologies and systems.

Solar Energy Research and Development Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2019

Solar Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Energy to carry out a grant program to research, develop, and evaluate solar energy technologies and systems.

Joint Long-Term Storage Act of 2019

United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2019

Joint Long-Term Storage Act of 2019 This bill requires the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in the Department of Energy to establish a demonstration initiative composed of demonstration projects focused on the development of long-duration energy storage technologies. The goals of the initiative include demonstrating the potential benefits of long-duration energy storage to efficient use of the electricity grid and increasing the commercial viability of long-duration energy storage technologies. As part of the initiative, ARPA-E must establish a joint program with the Department of Defense's Environmental Security Technology Certification Program office to (1) demonstrate promising long-duration energy storage technologies at different scales; and (2) help new, innovative long-duration energy storage technologies become commercially viable. The bill authorizes through FY2024 the Duration Addition to electricitY Storage program to develop energy storage systems that provide power to the electric grid for durations of 10 to approximately 100 hours.