North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

16 September 2015

Last action

7 December 2015 · Introduced

Status

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Summary

North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015 This bill amends the Natural Gas Act to revise procedures for consideration by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of applications for federal authorization of the exportation or importation of natural gas, including a deadline for a final decision on a federal authorization within 90 days after FERC issues its final environmental document. The Federal Power Act (FPA) is amended to require FERC, in resolving environmental and grid reliability conflicts, to ensure that any emergency order which may result in conflict with federal, state, or local environmental law or regulations: requires electric energy generation, delivery, interchange, or transmission only during hours necessary to meet the emergency; is consistent with environmental law or regulation; and minimizes adverse environmental impacts. The Department of Energy (DOE) shall: adopt procedures, among other things, to improve communication and coordination between DOE's energy response team, federal partners, and the oil and natural gas industry regarding enhanced emergency preparedness for natural disasters; and order emergency measures to protect the reliability of either the bulk-power system or the defense critical electric infrastructure in the event of an imminent grid security emergency. DOE shall submit to Congress a plan to establish a Strategic Transformer Reserve for the storage of spare large power transformers in numbers sufficient to temporarily replace critically damaged large power transformers. DOE may also establish a Strategic Transformer Reserve in accordance with the Plan. DOE shall establish a voluntary Cyber Sense program to identify and promote cyber-secure products intended for use in the bulk-power system. The bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to require each electric utility to: develop a plan to use resiliency-related technologies and other approaches designed to improve the resilience of electric infrastructure, mitigate power outages, continue delivery of vital services, and maintain the flow of power to critical facilities; develop and implement a plan for deploying advanced energy analytics technologies; and adopt or modify policies to ensure that such electric utility incorporates reliable generation into its integrated resource plan. DOE shall implement a comprehensive education and training program for underrepresented groups to increase the number of skilled workers in energy and manufacturing-related jobs. DOE must report to Congress on: (1) recommended U.S. energy security valuation methods; and (2) a recommended framework and implementation strategy for a North American energy security plan to improve planning and coordination with Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean and Central American partners. DOE shall convene at least two energy security forums to promote the collective energy security of the United States, its allies, and its trading partners. DOE must conduct a long-range strategic review of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and transmit to Congress an implementation schedule specifying near-term and long-term roles of the SPR relative to U.S energy security and economic goals and objectives. The bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to require federal agency coordination with the Office of Management and Budget, DOE, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop an implementation strategy for federal maintenance, purchase, and use of energy-efficient and energy-saving information technologies. DOE shall: involve information technology industry and other key stakeholders in the voluntary national information program for energy efficient data centers, maintain a data center energy practitioner program that leads to certification of energy practitioners qualified to evaluate energy usage and efficiency opportunities in federal data centers, establish an open data initiative for federal data center energy usage, participate in efforts to harmonize global specifications and metrics for data center energy and water efficiency, and report to Congress on the impact of thermal insulation on energy and water use systems for potable hot and chilled water in federal buildings. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended to treat certain thermal energy projects as renewable energy with respect to the federal electric energy purchase requirement. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) is amended to require: FERC to initiate a rulemaking to consider making prominent a special note on the Energy Guide label for any product that includes Smart Grid capability, DOE and EPA to rely upon testing conducted by recognized voluntary verification programs to verify compliance with energy conservation standards and Energy Star specifications, and DOE to publish a final rule on whether the standards for non-weatherized natural gas furnaces and mobile home gas furnaces should be amended. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is amended to require institution of higher education-based industrial research and assessment centers to: (1) assess sustainable manufacturing goals and information technology advancements for supply chain analysis, logistics, system monitoring, and industrial and manufacturing processes; and (2) engage in outreach activities to inform small- and medium-sized manufacturers of available information, technologies, and services. The National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA) is amended with respect to the use of energy and water efficiency measures in federal buildings. DOE shall report to the President and Congress on the status of: (1) each agency's energy savings performance contracts, (2) utility energy service contracts, (3) the investment value of such contracts, (4) the guaranteed energy savings for the previous year as compared to the actual energy savings for the previous year, (5) the plan for entering into such contracts in the coming year, and (6) an explanation why any previously submitted plans for such contracts were not implemented. Under NECPA, furthermore, a federal agency, in entering energy savings performance contracts, may not limit the recognition of operation and maintenance savings associated with implementation of energy and water conservation measures, but it may sell or transfer energy savings and apply the proceeds to fund such a contract. The EPCA is amended to direct DOE to establish a clearinghouse to disseminate information regarding available federal programs and financing mechanisms that may be used to help initiate, develop, and finance energy efficiency, distributed generation, and energy retrofitting projects for schools. The FPA is further amended to to rename the FERC Office of Public Participation as the Office of Compliance Assistance and Public Participation. The Government Accountability Office shall study whether and how current market rules, practices, and structures of each regional transmission entity produce rates that are just and reasonable by performing certain activities.

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Timeline

16 September 2015
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Education and the Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Source: IntroReferral
16 September 2015
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Education and the Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Source: IntroReferral
16 September 2015
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
16 September 2015
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
18 September 2015
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
Source: Committee
29 September 2015
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
30 September 2015
Vote
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 20.
Source: Committee
30 September 2015
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
19 November 2015
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 265.
Source: Calendars
19 November 2015
Discharge
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
Source: Discharge
19 November 2015
Committee
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
Source: Committee
19 November 2015
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-347, Part I.
Source: Committee
19 November 2015
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-347, Part I.
Source: Committee
30 November 2015
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 539 Reported to House. Resolution provides for one hour of general debate only on H.R. 8; resolution provides for one hour of general debate on S.J. Res. 23 and S.J. Res. 24 as well as one motion to commit on each joint resolution.
Source: Floor
1 December 2015
Floor
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 8 as unfinished business.
Source: Floor
1 December 2015
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 542 Reported to House. Resolution provides for further amendment consideration of H.R. 8 and also provides for consideration of the conference report to accompany S. 1177.
Source: Floor
1 December 2015
Floor
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 8.
Source: Floor
1 December 2015
Floor
The Speaker designated the Honorable Evan H. Jenkins to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Source: Floor
1 December 2015
Floor
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 539 and Rule XVIII.
Source: Floor
1 December 2015
Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 539. (consideration: CR H8839-8846)
Source: Floor
2 December 2015
Floor
Mr. Upton moved that the Committee now rise.
Source: Floor
2 December 2015
Floor
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Source: Floor
2 December 2015
Floor
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 8 as unfinished business.
Source: Floor
2 December 2015
Passed
On motion that the Committee now rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Source: Floor
2 December 2015
Floor
Resolution provides for further amendment consideration of H.R. 8 and also provides for consideration of the conference report to accompany S. 1177.
Source: Floor
2 December 2015
Floor
The Speaker designated the Honorable Robert J. Dold to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Source: Floor
2 December 2015
Floor
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 542 and Rule XVIII.
Source: Floor
2 December 2015
Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 542. (consideration: CR H8875-8884,H8894-8951, H8952-8965; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H8984-8919)
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Vote
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 249 - 174 (Roll no. 672).
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Floor
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 8.
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 249 - 174 (Roll no. 672).
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Passed
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (consideration: CR H8985)
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Floor
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 8.
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Floor
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unvinished business was on adoption of amendments, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Floor
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Floor
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8983-8988)
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Vote
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 180 - 243 (Roll no. 671).
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Floor
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H8986)
Source: Floor
3 December 2015
Floor
Mr. Cartwright moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (consideration: CR H8986; text: CR H8986)
Source: Floor
7 December 2015
Introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Referred in Senate · 7 December 2015 · Download file
Engrossed in House · 3 December 2015 · Download file
Reported in House · 19 November 2015 · Download file
Introduced in House · 16 September 2015 · Download file

Documents

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Referred in Senate (text)

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Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN · 7 December 2015
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Referred in Senate (PDF)
Referred in Senate · EN · 7 December 2015
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 3 December 2015
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Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 3 December 2015
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 3 December 2015
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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 19 November 2015
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Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 19 November 2015
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 16 September 2015
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 16 September 2015
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 16 September 2015
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Related records

related to ← Thermal Insulation Efficiency Improvement Act
related to ← Energy Efficient Government Technology Act
related to ← Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2015
related to ← Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2015
related to ← To establish a Strategic Transformer Reserve program, and for other purposes.
related to ← To require the Federal Trade Commission to consider including Smart Grid capability on Energy Guide labels for products.
related to ← Critical Electric Infrastructure Protection Act
related to ← National Energy Security Corridors Act

Showing 8 of 63 related records.

Sources

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Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/8
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/114/hr/8
us · 114-hr-8 · source updated 24 March 2026