U.S. Senate lawmakers will work in the coming days to advance legislation to bolster grid security and support the development of advanced technologies including energy storage.
But the bills' prospects could be clouded by a fight over future nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is holding a business meeting Sept. 25 to vote on more than 20 bills. The proposals include S. 607, the Timely Review of Infrastructure Act, which would give FERC greater ability to raise compensation for certain types of employees to better retain or attract workers. The bill is aimed at addressing a shortfall of qualified engineers to help FERC process applications for LNG terminals and other infrastructure.
The committee will also consider S. 2094, the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2019. The legislation would reauthorize the U.S. Department of Energy's State Energy Program and require states to maintain a state energy security plan to improve the physical security and cybersecurity of energy fuel and electric infrastructure in order to receive program funding. The U.S. House of Representatives passed its own version of the bill, H.R. 2114, on Sept. 9.
Another bill on the meeting agenda is S. 1602, which calls to amend the United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 to establish a research, development and demonstration program for grid-scale energy storage systems.
Although the Senate energy committee looks likely to advance the bills, the timing of a Senate floor vote is less clear. Lawmakers are scrambling to pass spending legislation for the 2020 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Additionally, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York allegedly threatened to block energy committee legislation from a floor vote if Senate Republicans push through a GOP FERC nominee without a Democratic pairing, according to a Sept. 20 story from E&E News. The White House is reportedly close to nominating FERC general counsel James Danly to the commission. But the Trump administration appears unlikely to announce a Democratic pick for the agency despite Senate Democrats' support for their presumptive nominee, Allison Clements, a program director for clean energy markets at the Energy Foundation.
FERC is split between two Republicans and one Democrat following former commissioner Cheryl LaFleur's exit in late August.
A spokesperson for Schumer did not confirm whether he has threatened to prevent energy legislation from reaching the Senate floor without a Democratic FERC nomination.
More spending bills on tap
The Senate Committee on Appropriations will vote this week on a fiscal year 2020 appropriations bill for the U.S. Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency. The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a markup of the legislation Sept. 24, followed by a full committee vote Sept. 26.
Time is short for Congress to approve spending bills for all federal agencies before the start of the 2020 fiscal year, once again requiring the approval of short-term spending measures to keep the government open. The House passed a short-term continuing resolution Sept. 19 that will fund the government through Nov. 21.
The Senate is expected to take up and pass the resolution the week of Sept. 20.
UN climate summit
The United Nations is holding a Climate Action Summit in New York City on Sept. 23 that is meant to highlight the willingness of countries to increase their emissions-related targets or to pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The summit will feature international dignitaries as well as the CEOs from Danish power company Ørsted A/S and Spanish utility Iberdrola SA and the governor of the Bank of England. Panels throughout the daylong event include climate finance, the low-carbon energy transition, and climate change adaptation.
Countries that are parties to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change have until the end of 2020 to announce their increased emissions-reduction targets and implementation plans, also known as nationally determined contributions, or NDCs. But U.N. Secretary General António Guterres has pushed for countries to consider their options ahead of that deadline and potentially announce new NDCs. A coalition of nearly two dozen countries pledged in 2018 to increase their climate ambitions by the 2020 deadline.
Studies have shown that the current NDCs of countries fall far short of achieving goals of the Paris Agreement. However, the accord was designed to have countries increase their pledges over time to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees or 2 degrees Celcius relative to pre-industrial levels.
California hits back at Trump over car standards
California and 22 other states plus the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit Sept. 20 against the Trump administration over its decision to yank California's waiver under the Clean Air Act to set its own, tougher standards for vehicle greenhouse gas.
The legal action came a day after the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a rule rescinding California's waiver, saying only the federal government can set national standards for vehicle greenhouse gas.
"Two courts have already upheld California's emissions standards, rejecting the argument the Trump administration resurrects to justify its misguided Preemption Rule," California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said. "Yet, the administration insists on attacking the authority of California and other states to tackle air pollution and protect public health."
The move to revoke California's waiver came shortly before the Trump administration is expected to finalize a rule to weaken national corporate average fuel economy standards for cars and light-duty trucks.
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| US Congress |
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| Sept. 24 | The House Committee on Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a legislative hearing titled "Fossil Fuel Development: Protecting Taxpayers and Eliminating Industry Giveaways," where the committee will mark up several bills pertaining to fossil fuel leases on federal lands. |
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| Sept. 24 | The Senate Committee on Appropriations will hold a subcommittee markup of its bill to provide fiscal year 2020 funding for the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Agencies. |
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| Sept. 24 | The House Committee on Rules' Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process will hold a hearing on "Building Resilient Communities for America's Future." |
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| Sept. 25 | The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a business meeting to vote on 21 bills, including S. 607, the Timely Review of Infrastructure Act; S. 1602, which would establish a research, development and demonstration program for grid-scale energy storage systems; and S. 2094/H.R. 2114, which would provide federal financial assistance to implement state energy security plans. |
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| Sept. 25 | The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works' Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety will hold a hearing titled "Reducing Emissions While Driving Economic Growth: Industry-led Initiatives." |
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| Sept. 26 | The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis will hold a hearing on "Solving the Climate Crisis: Reducing Industrial Emissions Through U.S. Innovation." |
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Industry events |
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| Sept. 23 | The United Nations' Climate Action Summit 2019 will take place in New York City. |
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| Sept. 23-26 | The Solar Power International conference will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah. |
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| Sept. 23-27 | National Clean Energy Week will take place in Washington, D.C., featuring a Sept. 26 policymakers symposium with FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and others. |
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| Sept. 24 | The Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., will host a presentation of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's international energy outlook for 2019. |
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| Sept. 24 | The Center for Climate and Security, in partnership with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, will host the 2019 Climate and National Security Forum, titled "A Climate Security Plan for America," at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. |
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Notable stories from last week
FERC moves to ease PURPA power purchase mandate
PJM capacity market decision hits new delay with recusal of FERC member Glick
'It's a big deal': Bans, electrification movement unsettle gas industry
US Treasury sanctions Iran's central bank over Saudi oil attacks
FERC reorganization will not 'defang' enforcement office, members say

