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United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2020
Wind Workforce Modernization and Training Act of 2020 This bill establishes programs within the Department of Energy to provide support and incentives for training wind technician students.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2020
ATVM Modernization Act This bill expands eligibility under the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program to include certain energy-efficient aircraft.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2020
National Dam and Hydropower Safety Improvements Act of 2020 This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to take certain actions related to dam safety. Specifically, the commission may issue a license for a dam and other project works only if the project meets the relevant safety requirements and the licensee can operate and manage the project works in a manner that ensures dam and public safety. A licensee with an already-issued license must also meet these safety requirements. The commission shall also establish procedures to assess the financial viability of an applicant for such a license. The commission's Office of Energy Projects must notify a state in certain situations, such as when the commission issues a finding that requires a dam operator in that state to make repairs. The commission must also (1) hold a conference with states to discuss dam safety issues, and (2) report to Congress an assessment of the failures of the Edenville and Sanford dams in Michigan.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2020
GSA Resilient, Energy Efficient, and Net-Zero Building Jobs Act of 2020 or the GREEN Building Jobs Act of 2020 This bill establishes additional energy-efficiency requirements and programs for facilities that are managed by the General Services Administration, with a particular focus on reducing energy and water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 through certain projects and partnerships with the private sector.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2020
Energy Efficient Qualified Improvement Property Act of 2020 or the E-QUIP Act This bill allow straight line depreciation over a 10-year period of energy efficient qualified improvement property. The bill defines energy efficient qualified improvement property as any improvement to a building that is nonresidential real property, or multifamily residential rental property, first placed in service more than 10 year before the enactment of this bill, and that is installed as part of the lighting system, the heating, cooling, ventilation, or hot water systems, or the building envelope. The improvement must meet specified performance and other requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2020
Water Advanced Technologies for Efficient Resource Use Act of 2020 This bill provides statutory authority for the WaterSense program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and sets forth related requirements. Under the program, the EPA awards grants to provide incentives for consumers to purchase water-efficient products.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2020
Hydrogen Utilization and Sustainability Act This bill expands the tax credit for producing electricity from renewable resources to include qualified hydrogen (i.e., hydrogen fuel that has been certified as having nonpositive carbon intensity).
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 2020
Conservation Funding Protection Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to hold at least two region-wide oil and gas lease sales per year in the Gulf of Mexico. Each lease sale must include areas in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. In addition, the bill establishes deadlines for completing environmental reviews of the lease sales.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2020
Wildfire Resilient Power Grid Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish within its Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability a grant program that provides incentives for electric utilities to reduce the risk of power lines causing a wildfire.
United States · United States Congress · 24 November 2020
Electric Vehicle Mobility Area Planning Act or the EV MAP Act This bill creates a grant program to assist local governments, electric cooperatives, and other entities identify where electric vehicle charging stations will be needed to meet the current and future needs of electric vehicle drivers.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2020
Worldwide Wind Turbine Act This bill authorizes the U.S. Agency for International Development to accept or purchase, use, and dispose of used property (e.g., pieces of a wind turbine) for the planning and implementation of wind energy programs as appropriate and consistent with country needs and the agency's Country Development Cooperation Strategy.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2020
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act This bill establishes targets and standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from airplane flights and provides incentives for the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel. Specifically, this bill establishes a national goal to achieve a net 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from flights by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2050. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must establish a low carbon fuel standard for aviation fuels. Under the standard, the EPA must set annual targets in order to reduce certain greenhouse gas emissions associated with aviation fuel by at least (1) 20% by 2030, and (2) 50% by 2050. Beginning in FY2023, the Department of Defense must make a bulk purchase of an amount of sustainable aviation fuel that is not less than 10% of the total amount of aviation fuel procured for operational purposes. Additionally, the Department of Transportation must implement a program that offers grants and cost-sharing agreements for projects to produce, transport, blend, or store sustainable aviation fuel. The projects must be located in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2020
Keeping America's Energy Resources Moving Act of 2020 This bill authorizes an alien crewman to obtain a permit to land in the United States for up to 180 days if, during this period, the crewman will perform ship-to-ship liquid cargo transfer operations involving a vessel engaged in foreign trade. Currently, an alien crewman may obtain a permit to land for up to 29 days. Under this bill, an alien passing in transit through the United States to board a vessel to perform the above-described liquid cargo transfer operations may qualify as a nonimmigrant in transit. (A qualifying nonimmigrant in transit may obtain a transit visa.)
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2020
Streamlining Advanced Biofuels Registration Act of 2020 This bill sets forth an approval process for advanced biofuel registrations and directs the Environmental Protection Agency to take final action on certain pending petitions for renewable fuel pathways.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2020
Restructuring Environmentally Sound Pensions in Order to Negate Disaster Act of 2020 or the RESPOND Act of 2020 This bill addresses issues related to the impact of climate change on the economy. The Federal Reserve Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission must annually report on the economic costs of climate change. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board must establish an advisory panel on the economics of climate change to, among other things, advise how the board may invest in clean and renewable energy.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2020
American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020 This bill provides support and incentives for nuclear infrastructure and advanced nuclear technologies, allows the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deny imports of certain uranium supplies from Russia and China for national security purposes, creates a national strategic uranium reserve, and sets forth related requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2020
Solar Jobs Preservation Act of 2020 This bill allows a taxpayer election for payments in lieu of the energy tax credit. It also extends such credit for one year.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2020
Enhanced Protection from Unmanned Aircraft Attacks Act of 2020 This bill allows the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and Energy to contract with other entities in order to protect U.S. facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft. The Federal Acquisition Regulation must be updated accordingly within 180 days of the date of enactment of the bill.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 2020
End Polluter Welfare Act of 2020 This bill limits or eliminates certain fossil fuel subsidies for oil, coal, and natural gas companies, including by eliminating the authority of the Department of Energy to carry out the Fossil Energy Research and Development Program; expanding the definition of crude oil for purposes of the excise tax on petroleum and petroleum products to include any oil derived from a bitumen or bituminous mixture (tar sands), any liquid fuel derived from coal, and any oil derived from kerogen-bearing sources (oil shale); limiting the financial assistance that such companies may receive from programs that provide relief to businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; terminating certain tax incentives relating to fossil fuels, including the percentage depletion allowance and capital gains treatment for royalties from coal; and increasing the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund financing rate.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 2020
Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2020 This bill (1) provides a mechanism for states, tribal and local governments to play a role in the development of post-shutdown decommissioning activities regarding the shutdown of a nuclear facility; and (2) establishes a grant program to support community advisory boards that aim to foster communication between a licensee involved in decommissioning activities and members of a community that may be affected by such activities.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2020
Rural Wind Energy Modernization and Extension Act of 2020 This bill expands the energy tax credit to include qualified distributed wind energy property. The bill defines qualified distributed wind energy property to include property that uses one or more wind turbines used to produce electricity in a single project with a total nameplate capacity not exceeding 10 megawatts.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2020
Increasing Nuclear Safety Protocols for Extended Canister Transfers Act or the INSPECT Act This bill requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to assign a resident inspector to each commercial nuclear power plant that has permanently ceased operation. The inspector must (1) conduct inspections of decommissioning activities and spent nuclear fuel transfer activities, and (2) remain at the plant until all fuel is transferred from its spent fuel pools.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2020
Sustainable International Financial Institutions Act of 2020 This bill establishes requirements to promote clean energy and climate justice globally through international financing mechanisms. Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. Executive Directors of specified international financial institutions to use the voice and vote of the United States to (1) advance the cause of reducing carbon emissions and transitioning the global economy to a clean energy economy, and (2) oppose any loan or extension of financial or technical assistance to a country or entity to create new capacity for fossil fuel activity. The Department of the Treasury must reduce the yearly U.S. contribution to a financial institution by the amount of any loans or assistance provided by the institution to a country or entity to create new capacity for fossil fuel activity during that year. Further, the bill prohibits the United States from providing any loan, insurance, guarantee, or extension of financial or technical assistance to a country or entity for any fossil fuel activity.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 2020
HACKED Act This bill expands and coordinates federal agencies' cybersecurity recruitment and education initiatives. Specifically, the bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to (1) support efforts to identify cybersecurity workforce skill gaps in public and private sectors; (2) facilitate efforts for federal programs to advance cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development; and (3) consider any specific needs of the cybersecurity workforce of critical infrastructure. NIST is authorized to award grants of up to $200,000 for cooperative agreements between the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) and regional alliances or partnerships for cybersecurity education and workforce. Additionally, NIST must identify and develop standards and guidelines for improving the cybersecurity workforce for agencies as part of the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. The bill also expands the National Science Foundation (NSF) Federal Cyber Scholarship-for-Service Program by allowing up to 10% of scholarship recipients to fulfill their service obligation as educators in the field of cybersecurity at qualified institutions of higher education. Further, the NSF must give priority to cybersecurity education when awarding grants for (1) computer science education research, (2) scientific and technical education, and (3) low-income scholarship programs. The Department of Energy may carry out a program to support the development of a cybersecurity workforce, and NIST must establish national cybersecurity challenges in order to achieve high-priority breakthroughs in cybersecurity.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 2020
Energy Resilient Communities Act This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a program that awards grants to make critical energy infrastructure more resilient to climate change hazards, such as grants for developing clean energy microgrids that support critical community infrastructure or customers of electric utilities with special energy needs due to medical conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2020
Analyzing Disaster Vulnerabilities and Applicable National Capabilities for Emergencies Act or the ADVANCE Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct national hazard preparation and response exercises and to report to Congress on such exercises and to report annually on the impact of natural disasters or public health emergencies on critical infrastructure. Specifically, DHS, in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE), must at specified intervals conduct an exercise to test the modeling, simulation, and analysis capabilities and their utility for emergency response of the United States with respect to significant natural disasters or public health emergencies impacting critical infrastructure. Each exercise shall be coordinated through the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center and the DOE National Laboratories and Technology Centers.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 2020
Tradeable Performance Standard Act This bill establishes the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Program, which creates (1) enforceable targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cogeneration facilities, electric facilities, and thermal facilities; (2) a system to allow such facilities to achieve the targets through a voluntary emission trading program; and (3) a thermal energy reporting program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2020
Securing America's Nuclear Waste Act This bill addresses storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in the United States. Specifically, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the risks to current storage locations for spent nuclear fuel, including spent nuclear fuel from civilian nuclear power reactors, and high-level radioactive waste, including risks that are related to global weather patterns and geography; the Office of Management and Budget to report on the economic benefits of consolidated interim storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, including economic benefits associated with job growth and redeveloping sites of decommissioned civilian nuclear power reactors; and the Department of Energy to study and report on an auction process or other system for selecting and entering into contracts with nonfederal entities for consolidated interim storage facilities that are located at a site without an operating nuclear reactor, and for which such entities will hold a license issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2020
Incentivize Energy-Saving Improvements Act This bill makes the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings permanent.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2020
Power Line Resiliency Act This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a five-year program to provide grants to electric utilities to (1) improve the performance or efficiency of a power line, (2) make a power line more resilient to an extreme weather event, or (3) otherwise ensure that an end-user has access to electricity during an extreme weather event. DOE must prioritize providing grants to electric utilities that sell electricity in an area that has a history of extreme weather events.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2020
Energy Opportunity Zones Act of 2020 This bill designates energy opportunity zones for areas that are within 120 miles of a nuclear or coal power plant used to generate electricity that has ceased operations or is scheduled to cease operations within 6 years, or areas that can demonstrate how changes in the nuclear or coal economy have resulted or may result in job losses. The bill modifies or extends the new energy efficient home tax credit, the nonbusiness energy property tax credit, the investment tax credit, and the tax credit for production of electricity, and establishes a new tax credit for offshore wind and energy storage. The bill also extends through 2050 the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 1 October 2020
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2020
Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act This bill addresses energy poverty (i.e., insufficient access to affordable energy) in at-risk communities. An at-risk community is a community that is low-income, minority, rural, elderly, or Native American. The Department of the Interior must submit to Congress a report that (1) identifies barriers to the ability of at-risk communities that live on or near federal land or tribal land to access reliable and affordable energy, including how the presence of adequate energy transmission infrastructure affects such access; and (2) recommends actions that it and the Forest Service may take to reduce such barriers. The Congressional Budget Office must report how a bill or resolution will affect the cost of energy for at-risk communities. The Government Accountability Office must (1) analyze federal energy and environmental laws and regulations, and state renewable portfolio standards, to determine how such laws, regulations, and standards affect electricity prices, home heating prices, gasoline prices, motor vehicle prices, natural gas prices, and household appliance prices in at-risk communities; and (2) develop criteria to determine whether an at-risk community is experiencing energy poverty. The Office of Management and Budget must review each applicable energy regulation to determine if any regulation imposes, relative to the general population, disproportionate costs on at-risk communities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2020
Cyber Sense Act of 20 20 This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a voluntary Cyber Sense program to test the cybersecurity of products and technologies intended for use in the bulk-power system. The bulk-power system includes facilities and control systems necessary for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network, and electric energy from generation facilities needed to maintain transmission system reliability.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020
Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines Act of 2020 This bill requires the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to report on foreign interference in U.S. elections and requires the President to impose sanctions if such interference occurred and the government of Russia was responsible. Such sanctions shall include (1) blocking the assets of certain Russian state-owned financial institutions; (2) prohibiting new investments by a U.S. entity or individual in Russia's energy sector or any Russian energy company, and imposing sanctions on a foreign entity or individual that makes such an investment; (3) blocking the assets of entities in Russia's defense and intelligence sectors; (4) prohibiting U.S. entities and persons from engaging in transactions in Russian sovereign debt; (5) blocking the assets of certain senior political figures and oligarchs in Russia who contributed to such interference; and (6) excluding such political figures and oligarchs from entering the United States. Additionally, the President must make various reports, including on foreign interference in elections and the net worth of certain Russian officials.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020
Prioritizing Clean Energy and Climate Cooperation with India Act of 2020 This bill establishes the U.S.-India Clean Energy and Power Transmission Partnership, which shall serve as the primary forum and funding mechanism for U.S.-India cooperation on clean energy and energy transmission technology matters. The U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of State shall report to Congress a comprehensive multiyear strategy for implementing the partnership. The bill requires programs to promote U.S.-India partnerships in (1) research and innovation for clean energy technologies and expanded power transmission and distribution, (2) initiatives for promoting clean energy technology financing in India, (3) initiatives for providing technical assistance for grid improvement and energy efficiency in India, and (4) initiatives to develop new renewable energy generation capacity in India. The U.S. government shall also work cooperatively with India's government on integrating scientifically supported climate change risk reduction and building resilience capacities in India. The President shall report to Congress on the scope and nature of U.S. participation in Mission Innovation, an India-led global initiative to increase the pace of clean energy innovation.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020
This resolution designates October 7, 2020, as Energy Efficiency Day.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020
Advanced Energy Technologies and Grid Efficiency Act of 2020 This bill addresses advanced energy technology implementation, including by requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to coordinate with the Department of Energy to establish the Advanced Energy Technology Research Initiative to research and provide recommendations on how to improve the modeling, operational, and planning practices used for the bulk electric system.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020
This resolution supports the recognition of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2020
Public Housing Solar Equity Act of 2020 This bill requires public housing agencies (PHAs) to take certain actions when selling or leasing assets in connection with a solar energy project. Specifically, a PHA must ensure that such a sale or lease financially benefits the residents of the public housing project as well as the budget of the PHA. Further, if a buyer or lessee intends to derive a product or service from the asset, the PHA must require that the product or service be offered and provided to residents of the public housing project before being offered and provided to nonresidents. Additionally, a PHA must include certain information regarding assets it intends to sell or lease in the upcoming year in its annual plan.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2020
Better Utilizing Innovative Low-emission Development Strategies Act or the BUILDS Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a grant program to promote reductions in transportation energy use, accelerate the adoption of new and existing energy efficient technologies for transportation applications, and enhance transportation infrastructure.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2020
Advanced Energy Technologies and Grid Efficiency Act of 2020 This bill addresses advanced energy technology implementation, including by requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to coordinate with the Department of Energy to establish the Advanced Energy Technology Research Initiative to research and provide recommendations on how to improve the modeling, operational, and planning practices used for the bulk electric system.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2020
Russian Suspension Agreement Extension Act of 2020 This bill extends limits on the importation of Russian low-enriched uranium, a fuel for nuclear reactors, and contains other related provisions. (These limits stem from a 1992 agreement with Russia to end a Department of Commerce antidumping investigation into Russian uranium imports.) The bill extends these limits, which are currently set to expire in 2020, to 2040. The bill also specifies the maximum amounts of qualifying uranium that may be imported each year for 2021-2040. The Department of Commerce shall (1) administer these import limitations, and (2) periodically review U.S. demand for uranium for nuclear reactors and adjust the limits accordingly. Currently, qualifying uranium imported for the Department of Energy inventory do not count against these limits. The bill eliminates this exception but maintains two other exceptions for uranium imported for use in the initial core of a new reactor or for reprocessing and reexportation.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2020
This resolution designates October 8, 2020, as National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2020
Energizing Technology Transfer Act of 2020 This bill establishes programs and incentives to facilitate the commercial application of clean energy technologies developed in federal laboratories.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2020
Jobs and Justice Act of 2020 This bill addresses a wide variety of domestic policy matters and focuses on economically distressed communities, opportunities for minorities and the disadvantaged, and civil rights enforcement. Included in the programs and requirements affected are those concerning the following areas: workforce development, including job training and wage standards; economic development, including through assistance to minority businesses; antipoverty measures, including programs to specifically address child poverty and persistent poverty; housing and savings matters, including housing affordability, discrimination, homelessness assistance, tenant protections, public housing funding, home ownership and foreclosure mitigation, and lead-safe housing; savings and consumer finance, including financial literacy and lending discrimination; public contracting; infrastructure development; job training for youth and older Americans; veterans' and military family benefits; health care coverage and access, including Medicare and Medicaid coverage; small business investment and commercial investment in underserved areas, including through tax benefits; elementary and secondary education, including education of girls and minorities and teacher preparation; higher education access, including through community college attendance; science, technology, and information security education; law enforcement officer conduct, resources and administration, juvenile justice, sentencing procedures, hate crimes, correctional facilities, and firearms sales and possession; election administration and voting rights; and environmental, agriculture, and energy matters, including climate change, environmental justice, and energy efficiency and transition to alternative and renewable resources.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2020
PTC Elimination Act This bill repeals the tax credit for producing electricity from renewable resources (e.g., wind, biomass, trash, geothermal or solar energy facilities). The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that such credit should be allowed to expire and should not be extended.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2020
Next Generation Nuclear Advancement Act of 2020 This bill addresses advanced nuclear energy research and development programs at the Department of Energy (DOE). Specifically, DOE must establish an Integrated Energy Systems Program to maximize energy production and efficiency; develop energy systems involving the integration of nuclear energy with renewable energy, fossil energy, and energy storage; expand the use of emissions-reducing energy technologies into nonelectric sectors to achieve significant reductions in environmental emissions; carry out a light water reactor sustainability program that includes ensuring the achievement of maximum benefits from existing nuclear generation, and promoting the use of high-performance computing to simulate nuclear reactor processes; and develop and submit to Congress a 10-year strategic plan for its Office of Nuclear Energy.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2020
Ending Natural Gas Companies' Seizure of Land for Export Profits Act This bill addresses jurisdiction of U.S. district courts over eminent domain proceedings and the use of eminent domain by the holder of a certificate of public convenience and necessity to acquire land or property with respect to natural gas pipelines. Specifically, the bill provides that U.S. districts courts shall not have jurisdiction to condemn property in which a state owns any interest, and prohibits the holder of a certification of public convenience and necessity that authorizes construction and operation of a natural gas pipeline from exercising the right of eminent domain for a pipeline designed to export liquefied natural gas to a foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2020
PTC Elimination Act This bill repeals the tax credit for producing electricity from renewable resources (e.g., wind, biomass, trash, geothermal or solar energy facilities). The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that such credit should be allowed to expire and should not be extended.