As 2018 begins to kick into high gear, we are starting to see more energy bills being discussed, specifically natural gas related legislation. Below are two pieces of legislation that are being discussed. Please take a look at the bills and contact APGA if you have any comments or if we should support, oppose or stay neutral. As 2018 begins to kick into high gear, we are starting to see more energy bills being discussed, specifically natural gas related legislation. Below are two pieces of legislation that are being discussed. Please take a look at the bills and contact APGA if you have any comments or if we should support, oppose or stay neutral.
1. Improving Energy Grid Resilience Act Senate Bill: This bill is being drafted by Senator Shaheen (D-N.H.), but has not been published. The bill addresses several key areas;
• Requires the federal government to prepare an “After-Action” report on Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria regarding energy emergencies, energy resiliency, and mitigation actions that could lessen the impact of future energy system disruptions;
• Conduct regional energy emergency preparedness exercises—what is different with this proposal is this is the first time natural gas providers will be included in the exercise; and,
• Develop an energy resilience pilot program—once again what is unique is the use of natural gas systems as referenced several times has something should be considered when developing state and multi-state energy resiliency programs.
2. Hospital Energy Conservation Act House Bill 4788 (H.R. 4788): This bill has been introduced by Congressman Engel (D-N.Y.) and it directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a pilot grant and loan guarantees program for hospitals for energy efficiency and encouraging onsite power generation and energy storage, capable of operating independent of the grid, and providing sufficient onsite emergency backup power for essential hospital functions. Read
House Bill 4788 (H.R. 4788).
For questions on this article, please contact Dan Lapato of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at
dlapato@apga.org.