Energy Policy Watch

U.S. Senate to Push Forward Stalled Energy Reform Package

After being bogged down by funding amendments for Flint, MI and other issues, the "Energy Policy Modernization Act" has been resurrected and is expected to be brought up for a vote before the U.S. Senate today (Tuesday). This bill represents the first broad legislative attempt to address growing issues for the nation's energy sector since 2007. It has generally seen bipartisan support as it has made its way through committees since originally introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) last year.

Currently at 424 printed pages, there's a lot of ground covered in this package. In addition to updating language and definitions around various energy resources, the bill requires that DOE conduct new studies to answer questions about grid reliability, lays out support for workforce training programs (including those for displaced coal workers), and would require DOE to issue final determinations on LNG terminal applications within 45 days (some LNG terminal applications have been pending for more than 4 years).

Hoping to improve the Federal government's role in spurring innovation, it is also worth noting that the bill attempts to make it easier for small businesses to access the National Labs, and increases the authorizations for the Office of Science in the U.S. Department of Energy, ARPA-E, and the Army Corp of Engineers.

Access a current copy of the bill here. Read more about the anticipated amendments under consideration for this bill here.

Energy Funding Watch

POWER Initiative: $65.8M in Available Funding

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) have created the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative to stabilize and grow the economic future of coal-impacted communities through job creation, capital investment, workforce development or reemployment opportunities. Through this program, $65.8 million in competitive federal funding will be awarded to communities and regions affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries.

Register for the May 27th Regional Workshop to learn about the POWER Initiative, funding and eligibility requirements, how to identify potential projects and collaborators, and the process for developing project proposals.

Events

Reminder 2016 Energy Alliance Annual Meeting

Monday, April 25th 2016
8:30am – 10:30am
11 Stanwix Street Lobby Auditorium
Pittsburgh PA 15222
RSVP HERE

Keynote Speaker: PUC Commissioner Robert F. Powelson

We are pleased to welcome Pennsylvania Utilities Commissioner Robert Powelson as our keynote for this year's Energy Alliance Annual Meeting. Commissioner Powelson will share his perspective and answer questions about the impacts of major new policies on Pennsylvania, such as the EPA's Clean Power Plan, the start of Phase III of Act 129 (PA's electricity energy efficiency and conservation program), and other significant energy-related issues before the PUC today.

Please RSVP by Thursday, April 21st.

More information: www.alleghenyconference.com/Energy/?p=392

WPXI’s Our Region’s Business: On Location at CMU’s “Energy Week”

Catch the show on Sunday, May 1 at 11:00 a.m. on WPXI-TV

Last month, Our Region’s Business, a co-production of the Allegheny Conference and WPXI-TV, hit the road to record a special edition of the program at CMU’s inaugural “Energy Week.” The show was shot inside the newest edition to the campus, Scott Hall, the home of the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. CMU and the Scott Institute are helping to put Oakland and the Pittsburgh region at the epicenter of a revolution in energy research. Not only are we central to enormous fossil fuel reserves – both coal and natural gas – but researchers at CMU are at the frontier of wind, solar, smart grid and intelligent building design

Guests featured on the broadcast include:

Dr. Jared Cohon, former president of CMU, and now the director of the Scott Institute
Dr. Jay Whitacre, founder and CTO of Aquion Energy, and a professor at CMU
Dr. Erica Cochran, UDream program director at the Remaking Cities Institute

The show airs Sunday, May 1 at 11:00 a.m. on WPXI-TV.

News Clips

In case you missed it...

COAL - Analysts Blame Natural Gas, Not "War on Coal," for Peabody's Demise
(E&E News)

NATURAL GAS - Pitt, CMU, WVU, Case Western Unite in Pursuit of Energy Research Dollars (Tribune Review)

NUCLEAR - Carnegie Mellon University to Get $3 Million for Robotics Training Program for Nuclear Waste Sites (CMU News)

SOLAR - California-Based SolarCity Expanding into Pittsburgh (Post-Gazette)

WIND - FirstEnergy Offers Ohio Customers 100-Percent Wind-Generated Power at Standard Power Prices (Cleveland.com)

TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION - Pennsylvania Regulators Greenlight Conservation, Efficiency Plans (Utility Drive)

BUILDINGS & SYSTEMS - Efficiency, Solar and Storage Offer a Unique Opportunity to Bring Clean Energy to Affordable Housing (Greentech Media)

Keep up to date with the Energy Alliance blog

Get updates on developments like the Tri-State Shale Summit, as well as other energy news, events, and funding opportunities, by visiting the new Energy Alliance website.