Climate Change Solutions - July 25, 2023

The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R.2670). The House version of this annual “must-pass” legislation includes investments in energy conservation, grid resilience, and nuclear energy, while blocking implementation of several of the Biden-Harris Administration’s climate initiatives. 

The Nuclear Fuel Security Act of 2023 (S.452) passed to the Senate floor from the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), would establish a nuclear fuel security program under the Department of Energy. A House version of the bill (H.R.1086) is waiting to be reviewed in Committee. EESI’s briefing, The State of Play for Nuclear Energy in the United States, examined policies and programs through which Congress and the executive branch are supporting the country’s existing nuclear reactor fleet and moving research and technological innovations forward to meet clean energy goals.

The Senate saw support for agricultural research from both sides of the aisle. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and six of his Democratic colleagues introduced a bill (S.2317) that would expand research on organic farming via the Agricultural Research Service. EESI and the Natural Resources Defense Council recently hosted a briefing that discussed the climate, health, and economic benefits of organic agriculture. Meanwhile, Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) introduced the Land Grant Research Prioritization Act (S.2316). The bill, which has a counterpart in the House (H.R.4162), would make priority research grants available via the U.S. Department of Agriculture for land-grant universities to research issues like precision agriculture and artificial intelligence technologies.

Reps. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), and Marc Veasey (D-Texas) introduced the Facilitating America's Siting of Transmission and Electric Reliability (FASTER) Act (H.R.4689) in the House. The bill would expedite review and permitting processes for some electric transmission facilities, with the ultimate goal of strengthening the energy grid and increasing access to affordable, readily accessible electricity. Rep. Peters highlighted the national need for clean and reliable energy at last week’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO, where panelists discussed grid resilience as a vital component of national security. The bill’s Senate companion (S.1804) was introduced last month by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).  

The M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act (S.776), introduced by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), passed out of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and onto the Senate floor. The bill protects segments of the Gila River system by adding them to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Check out EESI’s article on the importance of Wild and Scenic designations to both ecosystems and riparian communities.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for July 10-14 and July 17-21.

EESI is tracking recent announcements and updates about the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)

• The Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the availability of $185 million in funding for wildland fire management and planning. 
• DOI also announced the availability of $120 million in funding for Indigenous communities to adapt to the effects of climate threats.
• The Department of Energy announced the awarding of $90 million in funding for states, cities, tribes, and partner organizations to update buildings to meet the latest energy efficiency standards

• The Environmental Protection Agency announced $20 billion in funding under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for a nationwide clean energy financing network.
• DOE announced $150 million in funding for states to train, test, and certify residential energy efficiency contractors. 
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $300 million in funding for greenhouse gas emission monitoring, measuring, reporting, and verification.