In this issue:
DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS ACT OF 2012 INTRODUCED IN SENATE
Late last month, Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) outlined his new legislation, the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act of 2012 (DEJA). DEJA is a wide-ranging package of 13 diverse energy bills, addressing both traditional and renewable development. The bill is designed to streamline and simplify regulations, boost domestic energy supplies, and build American energy infrastructure and safeguard America’s supply of critical minerals used in modern high-tech manufactured products such as cell phones and computers.
"The Domestic Energy and Jobs Act takes a comprehensive approach to developing our nation’s vast energy resources, both traditional and renewable, and that includes developing critical infrastructure like safe and efficient pipeline systems,” Senator Hoeven said. “The nation is blessed with an abundance of energy resources and the entrepreneurial talent to develop them, but robust delivery systems, as well as the right kind of legal, tax and regulatory environment, are essential to harnessing our resources."
Key provisions of DEJA include the following:
- Establish an American Energy Development Plan: Requires the Interior Secretary to establish an “all-of-the-above” energy program for federal lands by reviewing the nation’s energy needs and then establishing goals for federal land energy production to meet those needs from all energy sources, including oil, natural gas, coal and renewables;
- Approve of the Keystone XL Pipeline: Deems the environmental review process complete and allows TransCanada to construct the northern leg of the pipeline immediately except in Nebraska, while the state continues its routing process within the state; and,
- Establish a Critical Minerals Policy Act: Directs the U.S. Geological Survey to establish a list of minerals critical to the U.S. economy and sets forth a comprehensive set of policies that will bolster critical mineral production, expand manufacturing and promote recycling and alternatives – all while maintaining strong environmental protections.
For a more detailed summary of the bill, go to: http://hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=846199ab-d051-4d73-b00f-204f59c5b411
A similar measure was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last month.
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
SENATOR BINGAMAN INTRODUCES THE "NUCLEAR WASTE ADMINISTRATION ACT OF 2012"
On August 1, 2012, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced S. 3469, the "Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2012," a bill to implement the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future. The Blue Ribbon Commission (http://www.brc.gov/) was appointed by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, at the request of President Obama, in March 2010. The purpose of the Commission was to examine the nation’s nuclear waste management policy, consider alternatives, and recommend a new approach. The Commission was made up of 15 distinguished members, and co-chaired by former Representative Lee Hamilton and General Brent Scowcroft.
The Commission made eight recommendations. Principally, it recommended that the U.S. adopt a new, consent-based approach to siting nuclear waste management facilities, and that it establish a new organization to manage the nuclear waste management program. It affirmed the need to build one or more geologic repositories in which nuclear waste can be permanently buried, and it endorsed the need to build one or more temporary storage facilities in which nuclear waste can be stored until it can be permanently disposed of in a repository. It also emphasized the importance of giving the new organization access to the funds needed to implement the program and made useful recommendations on the transportation of nuclear materials, the importance of continued support for nuclear research and development, and the need for strong international nuclear non-proliferation programs.
"Put simply," the Commission said, "this nation’s failure to come to grips with the nuclear waste issue has already proved damaging and costly. It will be even more damaging and more costly the longer it continues...."
In introducing the bill, Chairman Bingaman said, "The Commission has performed a very valuable service to the nation in showing us a way forward. Its recommendations merit our careful consideration and deserve our approval. I have attempted to put them into legislative form so that they can be enacted and implemented. I recognize that will not happen this year. It will take a great deal more time and work. But it must begin and I hope it will continue in the next Congress."
Senator Bingaman is not running for re-election in 2012.
To read S. 3469, go to: http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=08fe92a7-b583-47b0-a0a7-d0b4cbd8833a
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
HOUSE APPROVES BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ELECTRIC RELIABILITY
On August 1st, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 4273, the "Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts" Act. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representatives Pete Olson (R-TX) and Mike Doyle (D-PA), will assist America’s power companies in complying with Department of Energy emergency orders to maintain grid reliability without facing penalties for violating potentially conflicting environmental laws.
The Federal Power Act authorizes the Department of Energy to order electric generating facilities to continue operating in order to avoid potential reliability-related emergencies. However, compliance with such an emergency order could trigger a violation of environmental laws and regulations, potentially exposing the generator to penalties and lawsuits. The Act clarifies the Federal Power Act, so that utilities will not be subject to penalties when working with DOE to keep the lights on.
"States are being warned by electricity regulators that reserve margins could dip dangerously low. Extreme hot weather across the U.S. and a massive blackout in India demonstrates the dangers of power shortages," said Representative Olson. "My bill fixes an important glitch in federal law that puts power generators in the unenviable position of choosing which federal law they will violate - a DOE emergency order or environmental laws that expose them to citizen lawsuits. The bipartisan support this bill has received is proof that we can find common ground when working to address a critical glitch in federal law, protect the environment and provide a reliable energy supply to all Americans."
To read H.R. 4273, go to: http://thomas.loc.gov, and search by bill number.
To view the video of Rep. Olson’s floor statement in support of the bill, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4YHRpk5wLk&feature=youtu.be
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
ENERGY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES AWARDS TO PROJECTS ADVANCING INNOVATIVE CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the selection of eight projects to advance the development of transformational oxy-combustion technologies capable of high-efficiency, low-cost carbon dioxide capture from coal-fired power plants. DOE’s $7 million investment, leveraged with recipient cost-share to support approximately $9.4 million in total projects, will support the development and deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) by focusing on further improving the efficiency and reducing the costs associated with carbon capture.
As a promising near-term technology, oxy-combustion applied at facilities using pulverized coal-fired boilers for power or industrial applications will support CCUS efforts and result in ultra-low emissions. The oxy-combustion process replaces the air used for combustion with a mixture of oxygen and recycled plant emissions, or “flue gas,” and/or water for temperature control. The remainder of the flue gas that is not re-circulated is rich in carbon dioxide and water vapor - and is easily separated - producing a stream of carbon dioxide ready for utilization or sequestration.
The selections announced are part of a two-phase effort to evaluate and develop advanced oxy-combustion projects that yield cost-competitive options for CCUS, aiming to achieve at least 90 percent carbon dioxide removal while delivering carbon dioxide at a capture cost of less than $25 per ton. The Phase 1 projects will focus on an engineering and economic analysis of the technologies while identifying the Phase 2 research and development needs to bring the technology closer to commercialization. The selection of Phase 2 projects will occur next year based upon Phase 1 results.
For information on the specific project awards, visit: http://www.doe.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-awards-projects-advancing-innovative-clean-coal-technology
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
WITNESSES CHAMPION INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COLLABORATIONS TO PROMOTE U.S. ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
On August 1st, the House Science, Space and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to examine partnerships and collaborations between industry and research universities. Witnesses discussed the challenges and opportunities they face in fueling the research necessary for American economic prosperity and ensuring that universities are adequately preparing the future workforce to meet the needs of industry.
"The fundamental basic research taking place at U.S. research universities is essential to the future prosperity of our Nation,” noted Subcommittee Chairman Mo Brooks (R-AL). “Collaboration between business and academia helps fuel research necessary for American innovation and helps prepare a workforce that meets the needs of industry. Both are critical components to future economic prosperity and job growth."
The hearing follows a Subcommittee hearing on June 27th featuring representatives from research universities who discussed how their universities affect national prosperity. The National Academies’ Committee on Research Universities reconfirmed that a gap exists in industry research needs. Industry is shifting away from conducting its own transformational and translational research and development (R&D), and is turning to relationships with academic institutions for this R&D support.
Witnesses at the August 1st hearing discussed the recommendations, as they relate to industry and the collaborations between industry and universities that can support the future of U.S. research universities. Mr. William Green, Executive Chairman of Accenture, said that "having the talent to compete is what keeps CEOs up at night. The companies -- and the countries -- with the best talent win." Green continued, "Our national research universities are our secret weapons. They are a national asset we have invested in for decades."
Saying that research universities have the potential to "energize the next renaissance in American economic activity," Green compared the economic benefits of immediate job creation to that of research. "You get a shovel-ready project, you get a swimming pool, you get a bridge; you get a research-ready project, you change how the world works and lives… The return in shovel-ready is three-X, five-X, the return in research-ready could be one thousand-X."
To read the hearing charter as well as the prepared testimony of all of the hearing’s witnesses, go to: http://science.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-research-and-science-education-%E2%80%93-relationship-between-business-and-research
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related research and development issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
NSF RESEARCH ALLIANCES BEGIN NEW EFFORTS TO ACCELERATE INNOVATION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded nearly $6 million for eight emerging-technology projects that may result in technologies poised for commercialization. The grants, issued as part of NSF's Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR) program, will go to projects that aim to create innovative products, processes and systems. Each project will seek to solve problems for various industries, ranging from energy and weather to healthcare and information technology.
Academic researchers will collaborate with private-sector partners as they begin the development of new technology concepts. In addition, the AIR Research Alliance competition requires researchers to obtain an equal commitment of resources for their projects from a company; a venture capital firm; an individual "angel" investor or a federal, state or local government--or a combination of these.
Fiscal 2012 AIR awards were granted to three engineering research centers, three industry/university cooperative research centers and two partnerships for innovation sites.
"These projects are expected to not only result in new technologies and start-up businesses," said AIR program director Karlene Hoo, "they also will provide opportunities for students to learn about innovation, entrepreneurship and the technology translation process."
For links to the specific awards, visit: http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=125026&org=NSF&from=news
Melissa Carl covers public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education issues for ASME. She can be reached at carlm@asme.org
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
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