Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., insisted he will work across the aisle to move a bill that provides federal assistance for state energy planning and a separate broader infrastructure bill.
Upton spoke about the need to work with Democratic colleagues on a stopgap budget, infrastructure spending and a bill funding state energy planning. The veteran legislator from southwestern Michigan, who chairs the Subcommittee on Energy in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, was the opening speaker on Feb. 7 at the National Association of State Energy Officials' 2018 Energy Policy Outlook conference in Washington, D.C.
A bill that Upton introduced last year, H.R. 3050, the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2017, is "what we need to have to provide the assurance and reliability of the grid," he said. It would provide financial assistance for states to adjust their energy security plans to mitigate risks to resilience and emphasize cybersecurity.
Though the bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., is awaiting Senate approval, members of the National Association of State Energy Officials, including energy officials from Utah and Texas, told Upton it would help prompt a focus on resilience across states. Resilience has gained attention due to the impacts of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in 2017 and a U.S. Department of Energy grid reliability study released in August 2017. The grid study found risks to the U.S. power grid from continued retirements expected among coal and nuclear power plants.
"We're anxious to see the Senate move our bill. As I said in my introduction, I have always been bipartisan," Upton said. The bill was received by the Senate on July 19, 2017, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Part of Upton's focus on resilience comes from storms he has witnessed. Upton recounted a helicopter flyover he took to evaluate damage to Puerto Rico's power grid. His district in Michigan also faces "some pretty big storms," Upton said.
His bill helps to make sure states and regions are prepared for interruptions to the grid. "We want to make sure all the tools are in the toolbox to make sure our citizens are okay," Upton said.
Infrastructure
Though Upton did not discuss infrastructure in his address, he told S&P Global Market Intelligence on the side of the conference, "There is a potential infrastructure bill moving forward. … That is an area where I can be of assistance again because of my background being bipartisan."
In a Feb. 7 email, a House Republican aide said the federal government's contribution to infrastructure under the proposal is between $150 billion and $200 billion.
Climate Solutions Caucus
Upton said H.R. 3050 will address grid restoration and resilience issues, so he can focus his time in the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus on energy efficiency.
"I think energy efficiency is certainly something I am going to focus on," he said.
Upton said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., last summer asked him to join, and on Jan. 26 they did, as the caucus only adds members if two from different parties are paired. The group formed in 2016 and now has 68 members to find solutions to address climate change.
"I have never been a denier," Upton said regarding climate change.
