Week of Nov. 18-22
This was an exciting week for energy and conservation issues.
Five federal bills we’ve been watch were advanced by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. All of the following measures approved by the committee now advance to the Senate floor for consideration — hopefully very soon — by the full Senate:
(S. 500) The Restore Our Parks Act, introduced by Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Mark Warner (D-VA.). This is one of the #FixOurParks bills, which will help tackle the nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog at national parks. The measure was approved in a bipartisan 15-5 vote.
(S. 1081) To provide permanent, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF program supports the protection of federal public lands and waters – including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and recreation areas – and voluntary conservation efforts on private land. It was approved by the committee by a bipartisan 13-7 vote.
(S. 2657) The Advanced Geothermal Innovation Leadership Act, also known as the AGILE ACT, introduced by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), the AGILE Act boosts incentives for geothermal research and development.
(S. 2418) To amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to extend revenue sharing from offshore drilling for the first time to Alaska. The bill would also expand revenue sharing to the Gulf Coast states of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi for coastal restoration and other costs associated with the impacts of offshore activity.
(S. 2714) The committee approved by voice vote a measure from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to reauthorize the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program, which conducts research on next-generation energy technologies.
The Committee also advanced three Trump administration nominees:
Dan Brouillette, the current Deputy Energy Secretary, was approved to replace Rick Perry as Secretary of Energy. The full Senate is expected to confirm Brouillette once Perry officially steps down next month.
James Danly to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Kate MacGregor to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior Department.