Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL) announced today that the Energy Subcommittee will hold a markup on Thursday, January 9, at 10 a.m. in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The Subcommittee will mark up nine bills to improve energy efficiency, promote clean energy, increase energy sector jobs and modernize our energy infrastructure.
“The energy sector powers our modern life, and is the linchpin to tackling climate change and decarbonizing every other sector of our economy. It’s for exactly these reasons we are taking up nine bills to reduce our carbon footprint, create jobs and improve our energy infrastructure," Pallone and Rush said. “We look forward to taking another step forward in promoting clean and efficient energy for all Americans."
The Subcommittee will consider the following bills:
H.R. 5545, the “New Opportunities to Expand Healthy Air Using Sustainable Transportation Act of 2020" or “NO EXHAUST Act of 2020," introduced by Chairman Rush, would promote the domestic manufacture and use of advanced, fuel-efficient vehicles and zero-emission vehicles, encourage electrification of the transportation sector, create jobs and improve air quality.
H.R. 2906, the “Clean Commute for Kids Act of 2019," would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize and update the Clean School Bus Program. Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) introduced this bill, which broadens the Clean School Bus Grant Program to include electric vehicles and provides prioritization for applicants seeking to acquire clean school buses with low or zero emissions.
H.R. 3361, the “Reliable Investment in Vital Energy Reauthorization (RIVER) Act," introduced by Rep. David McKinley (R-WV), would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize the hydroelectric production incentives and efficiency improvement programs beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 at the existing level of $10 million per year. The hydroelectric production incentives program provides payments to owners or operators of hydroelectric facilities that are added to existing dams or conduits, while the efficiency improvements program provides payments for the purpose of making changes in a facility that improve its efficiency.
H.R. 3079, the “Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2019," introduced by Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), would amend the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to encourage the increased use of performance contracting in federal facilities. The bill also enables more renewable energy and resiliency projects by allowing agencies to utilize existing revenue streams such as rebates, grid services revenue and Renewable Energy Certificates to help fund a project.
H.R. 5518, introduced by Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA), would require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a Clean Cities Coalition Program. The Department of Energy created the Clean Cities Coalition Program to reduce dependence on petroleum fuels through the development of local government-industry partnerships to encourage the use of alternative fuels and vehicles. The legislation authorizes the program beginning in FY 2020 with $50 million, and then increasing to $100 million in FY 2024.
H.R. 5542, introduced by Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), authorizes grant funding to states to offset rate increases to low-income households and improve the safety and environmental performance of natural gas distribution systems. It does this through incentives for natural gas distribution companies to accelerate, expand, or enhance improvements to the natural gas distribution system. The bill authorizes $250 million per year for the program from FY 2021 through FY 2030.
H.R. 5541, introduced by Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), would amend the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to reauthorize programs to assist consenting Indian tribes in meeting energy education, planning, and management needs. The bill would expand certain eligibility and authorities under the programs, while authorizing $30 million annually for the programs from FY 2021 through FY 2025.
H.R. 5527, the “21st Century Power Grid Act," introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), would require the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to provide financial assistance for projects relating to the modernization of the electric grid with projects designed to improve its resiliency, performance or efficiency. The “21st Century Power Grid Act" authorizes $200 million each year for the program from FY 2021 through FY 2025.
H.R. 1426, the “Timely Review of Infrastructure Act," introduced by Reps. Pete Olson (R-TX) and Mike Doyle (D-PA), would address insufficient compensation of employees and other personnel by amending the Department of Energy Organization Act to grant the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman additional authority to adjust compensation for a category of employees and other personnel without regard to certain civil service laws.
Information for this markup, including the Committee Memorandum, electronic copies of the legislation and any amendments, and a link to the live webcast will be posted HERE as they become available.
