House Set to Fast-Track Energy Bills This Week: House leadership has placed a number of energy and natural resources bills with bipartisan support on the Floor suspension calendar ahead of the upcoming preelection recess. Included in the slate are the Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act, Building Chips in America Act, Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act, and Milestones for Advanced Nuclear Fuel Act. Many of the bills would streamline permitting regulations on manufacturing and power projects across those aforementioned energy sectors.  

Energy Research Amendments Left Out of NDAA Package: Last Thursday, the Senate Armed Services Committee released their “manager’s package” of bipartisan amendments for the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. The "Water Resources Development Act of 2024," introduced as an amendment by retiring Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Tom Carper (D-Del.), was excluded. It passed the Senate by unanimous consent last month.

DOE Announces $3 Billion for EV and Grid Supply Chain: Last Friday, the Department of Energy announced $3 billion for 25 projects to bolster the electric vehicle and grid battery supply chain. The funding draws from $7 billion authorized in the IIJA to boost domestic battery projects. It’s the second round of awards from the funding.

House Energy and Commerce Forwards Resolutions to Overturn EPA Rules: Last Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a markup of sixteen bills, passing three resolutions to overturn contentious EPA regulations. Passed along party-line votes, the three resolutions specifically target EPA's power plant, particulate matter and heavy-duty vehicle tailpipe rules. Lawmakers also passed H.J. Res. 136, from Rep. John James (R-MI), which would block stricter emissions standards EPA finalized in April for light- and medium-duty vehicles.

Speaker Johnson Open to Keeping Some Green Energy Tax Credits: In remarks made at the America First Policy Institute last Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Republicans would reap major savings by repealing the full Inflation Reduction Act and rescinding unspent funds. However, he said he had no desire to gut the IRA’s entire suite of clean energy tax incentives, saying he would take a “scalpel” rather than “sledgehammer” approach. In August, eighteen House Republicans sent a letter urging Johnson not to target the tax credits in a potential partisan tax bill next Congress.

‍