WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Energy and Power Subcommittee, chaired by Ed Whitfield (KY-01), on Thursday advanced twelve energy bills to the full committee. These initiatives demonstrate the committee’s ongoing commitment to advancing thoughtful legislative solutions to strengthen and modernize our energy infrastructure, create jobs, and protect manufacturers and businesses from harmful rules and regulations. Chairman Whitfield issued the following statement during the markup:
“Each of these bills may be considered small standing alone but together they represent an important step in the direction of a more sensible energy policy and a brighter economic future for this nation.”
LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
H.R.___, Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns (BRICK) Act, introduced by committee member Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH):
• Would extend compliance requirements under the EPA’s “Brick MACT” rule until judicial review has been completed, protecting businesses and consumers from undue costs before legality of the rule has been determined.
H.R. 2984, the Fair RATES Act, introduced by committee member Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA):
• Amends the Federal Power Act to provide opportunities for rehearing of orders affecting rates, even in instances where rates become effective by operation of law.
H.R. 3021, AIR Survey Act of 2015, introduced by committee member Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS):
• Amends the Natural Gas Act to clarify that data collected by aerial survey may be accepted for federal reviews of natural gas pipelines.
H.R. 4427, a bill to amend section 203 of the Federal Power Act, also introduced by Rep. Pompeo:
• Amends the Federal Power Act to expressly include a minimum monetary threshold of $10,000,000 for acquisitions of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission jurisdiction facilities.
H.R. 4416, a bill to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Jennings Randolph Dam, introduced by committee member Rep. David McKinley (R-WV):
• Reinstates the license to start construction of West Virginia’s Jennings Randolph Dam project for six years.
H.R. 4444, EPS Improvement Act, introduced by committee member Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC):
• Exempts certain lighting technologies from the definition of “External Power Supplies” (EPS) included in the Department of Energy’s EPS efficiency standard.