Hearing on Energy Accountability and Reform Legislation
- S. 15, Protecting States' Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act
- S.454, to amend the Department of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 to improve the high-end computing research and development program of the Department of Energy, and for other purposes
- S.784, to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish microlabs to improve regional engagement with national laboratories
- S.1033, to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to replace the current requirement for a biennial energy policy plan with a Quadrennial Energy Review, and for other purposes
- S.1054, to improve the productivity and energy efficiency of the manufacturing sector by directing the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the National Academies and other appropriate Federal agencies, to develop a national smart manufacturing plan and to provide assistance to small- and medium-sized manufacturers in implementing smart manufacturing programs, and for other purposes
- S.1068, to amend the Federal Power Act to protect the bulk-power system from cyber security threats
- S.1181, to expand the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program to include commercial trucks and United States flagged vessels, to return unspent funds and loan proceeds to the United States Treasury to reduce the national debt, and for other purposes
- S.1187, to improve management of the National Laboratories, enhance technology commercialization, facilitate public-private partnerships, and for other purposes
- S.1216, to amend the Natural Gas Act to modify a provision relating to civil penalties
- S.1218, to establish an interagency coordination committee or subcommittee with the leadership of the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior, focused on the nexus between energy and water production, use, and efficiency, and for other purposes
- S. 1221, to amend the Federal Power Act to require periodic reports on electricity reliability and reliability impact statements for rules affecting the reliable operation of the bulk-power system
- S.1223, to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to improve the loan guarantee program for innovative technologies, and for other purposes
- S.1229, to require the Secretary of Energy to submit a plan to implement recommendations to improve interactions between the Department of Energy and National Laboratories
- S.1230, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program under which the Director of the Bureau of Land Management shall enter into memoranda of understanding with States providing for State oversight of oil and gas productions activities
- S.1241, to provide for the modernization, security, and resiliency of the electric grid, to require the Secretary of Energy to carry out programs for research, development, demonstration, and information-sharing for cybersecurity for the energy sector, and for other purposes
- S.1256, Advancing Grid Storage Act of 2015
- S.1258, Local Energy Supply and Resiliency Act of 2015
- S.1259, National Laboratory Technology Maturation Act of 2015
- S.1263, Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2015
- S.1274, to amend the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to reauthorize Federal agencies to enter into long-term contracts for the acquisition of energy
- S.1275, Job Creation through Energy Efficient Manufacturing Act
- S.1277, Federal Energy Savings Enhancement Act of 2015
- S.1293, to establish the Department of Energy as the lead agency for coordinating all requirements under Federal law with respect to eligible clean coal and advanced coal technology generating projects, and for other purposes
- S.1306, Energy Independence Investment Act of 2015
- S.1310, Deficit Reduction Through Fair Oil Royalties Act
- S.1311, Oil Spill Deterrent Act
- S.1312, to modernize Federal policies regarding the supply and distribution of energy in the United States, and for other purposes
- S.1338, To amend the Federal Power Act to provide licensing procedures for certain types of projects
- S.1340, COAL Reform Act of 2015
- S.1346, To require the Secretary of Energy to establish an e-prize competition pilot program to provide up to 4 financial awards to eligible entities that develop and verifiably demonstrate technology that reduces the cost of electricity or space heat in a high-cost region
- S.1363, To require the Secretary of Energy to submit to Congress a report assessing the capability of the Department of Energy to authorize, host, and oversee privately funded fusion and fission reactor prototypes and related demonstration facilities at sites owned by the Department of Energy
- S.1398, To extend, improve, and consolidate energy research and development programs, and for other purposes
- S.1405, To require a coordinated response to coal fuel supply emergencies that could impact electric power system adequacy or reliability
- S.1407, PL Renewable Energy Development Act
- S.1408, Vehicle Innovation Act
- S.1420, Energy Markets Act of 2015
- S.1422, To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a comprehensive program to improve education and training for energy- and manufacturing-related jobs to increase the number of skilled workers trained to work in energy and manufacturing-related fields, and for other purposes
- S.1428, To amend the USEC Privatization Act to require the Secretary of Energy to issue a long-term Federal excess uranium inventory management plan, and for other purposes
- S.1432, Carbon Fiber Recycling Act of 2015
- S.1434, To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish an energy storage portfolio standard, and for other purposes
- S.1449, To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to add certain medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles to the advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program
- H.R.35, Low-Dose Radiation Research Act of 2015
Archived Webcast
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Ms. Karen Harbert
President and Chief Executive OfficerInstitute for 21st Century Energy -
Mr. Mark Mills
Senior FellowManhattan Institute for Policy Research
Opening Remarks
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Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
ChairmanSenate Energy & Natural Resources CommitteeOpening Remarks
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
Calling to order the Energy Committee. We are here today to consider our fourth and final legislative hearing related to the broad energy bill that we have been assembling here.
When we first started this process some weeks ago, we weren’t sure exactly how these hearings would go. But I am very pleased with the strong participation from our members, the generally collegial spirit that has marked our discussions, and really the number of bills we have been able to consider throughout this process.
Counting the 42 bills that we are reviewing today, the Committee will have reviewed a total of 114 over the past several weeks. That’s a significant accomplishment and the work that went into it I think will provide us with a better understanding of the many ideas for our nation’s energy policy, as we sit down to craft our larger bill.
Our focus today is on a crucial area that does not always receive the attention it deserves and that is accountability and reform of our energy laws and programs.
This is an authorizing committee, and we are responsible for conducting oversight of the federal agencies within our jurisdiction. Since the last major energy bill back in 2007, we have conducted numerous oversight hearings, many of us have also discharged oversight responsibilities through initiatives within our own offices. In addition, a number of studies and reports on agency activities have been released from both the federal government and third-party entities.
Many of the bills included in this hearing reflect members’ hard work on oversight – as well as our desire to ensure that federal agencies are operating effectively, efficiently, and with the highest degree of accountability.
But we will also be taking stock of our own actions here at the Committee in the coming weeks. In particular, we will be evaluating the accumulation of authorizations, programs, studies, reports and other contributions to the U.S. Code that we have made over the course of the years. In many cases, what made policy sense years ago has perhaps become outdated, been rendered duplicative, or is serving to bury federal agencies in requirements that they cannot reasonably be expected to meet. Before all is said and done, I intend to make sure that we fix those issues, and we will continue working closely with the agencies to be sure that we’ve done a good job.
I think as far as all the issues that we have taken up, the various policy aspects of this larger broader energy bill. An area that I believe deserves very close attention is what we already have on the books and is it doing that which we intended it to. So this opportunity for scrutiny and oversight is critically important.
With a total of 42 bills, today’s hearing covers a wide range of topics. We’re looking at things like addressing energy exports; permitting; our national labors; electric grid reliability; manufacturing; and loan programs just to mention a few of them.
One topic of particular importance is the ability of the United States to export its oil. As the members of this committee know, our nation is now the top oil producer in the world. Included in today’s hearing is a bipartisan bill that I have introduced to lift our outdated oil exports ban.
Lifting the ban will bring an array of benefits to our nation: more jobs, more revenues, more production, more security, and more diplomatic leverage on the international stage. And you don’t have to take my word for that; you can also look at the growing list of experts and studies that agree with my analysis.
In support of this bill, today, I am releasing a report that been prepared by the Committee staff that’s entitled, “Rendering Vital Assistance: Allowing Oil Shipments to U.S. Allies.” It has a pretty good looking cover on it. I don’t think I have it with me. But it would commit it to each of the committee members here as with the other white papers that we have released. It is imminently readable. It is factually stable and sound and really lays it out in a clean and forthright measure.
The report further develops an argument that I have been making: that even while Congress works to remove the export ban, the Administration already has authority, explicitly delegated to it by Congress, to allow for greater oil exports.
In addition to this opportunity to modernize our nation’s energy policies, we’ll spend time looking at:
- Interagency coordination on the so-called energy-water nexus;
- Protecting electric grid reliability during agency rulemakings;
- Reforming the innovative but – at times – mismanaged loan programs at DOE;
- Making sure our National Labs are operating in the most effective manner;
- Ensuring greater cooperation between the States and Feds on energy development; as well as
- Lowering energy costs in regions that face above-average prices.
We’ve got a great panel before us this morning with a great breadth of knowledge and experience to speak on these and many other topics. So I thank you all for the time to be here with us this morning and am grateful for your input.
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Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)
Ranking Member
Witness Panel 1
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The Honorable Lynn Orr
Under Secretary for Science and EnergyU.S. Department of Energy -
The Honorable Colleen M. McAleer
CommissionerPort of Port Angeles, Washington -
Mr. Norman Augustine
Board MemberBipartisan Policy Center -
The Honorable Karen Harbert
President and Chief Executive OfficerInstitute for 21st Century Energy -
Mr. Duane Highley
President, CEO, and Chief Accountability OfficerElectric Cooperatives of Arkansas -
Mr. Mark Mills
Senior FellowManhattan Institute for Policy Research
