AN UPDATE ON NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS: The Senate Environmental and Public Works committee, along with the House Energy and Commerce Committee, are close to finalizing a nuclear legislative package meant to overhaul the nuclear sector and support the development of advanced reactors.
In a brief interview Thursday with the Washington Examiner, EPW ranking member Shelley Moore Capito said lawmakers in both chambers have reached “a pretty good consensus” on the package, and are now in search of a legislative vehicle to attach it to.
“I’m optimistic that we’ve ironed out any differences, and it’s going to be important for the development of the new advanced nuclear and small modular [reactors],” she said. “So we’re hoping to get that across the line.”
Some background: Staffers from both committees have been working on a compromise between the House’s Atomic Energy Advancement Act and the Senate’s Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act of 2023. The senator said that the package includes regulatory improvements for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, measures to aid development of nuclear sites on brownfields, and provisions to boost research and development.
One of the package’s provisions, the Price-Anderson Act, was passed in appropriation bills last month.
The difficulty: It’s unclear what legislation will be coming onto the Senate floor – and if a package like this can be attached to the vehicle.
Welcome to Daily on Energy, written by Washington Examiner Energy and Environment writers Breanne Deppisch (@breanne_dep) and Nancy Vu (@NancyVu99). Email bdeppisch@washingtonexaminer dot com or nancy.vu@washingtonexaminer dot com for tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email, and we’ll add you to our list.
ADMINISTRATION MOVES TO CUT COSTS FOR WIND AND SOLAR ON PUBLIC LANDS: The Bureau of Land Management finalized a rule yesterday to cut costs for solar and wind project development on public lands, which officials said will save solar and wind developers up to 80% on project rent and production fees through 2035.
BLM’s rule comes as the Biden administration looks to attract new renewable energy investments and deliver on its goal of reaching 100% carbon-free power by 2035.
Speaking to reporters on a call previewing the rule, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said the department has now permitted more than 25 GW of clean energy projects—or enough clean energy to power some 12 million homes nationwide. It’s also double the amount of clean energy projects approved during the previous administration, officials noted.
“The previous administration did everything they could to hobble our department’s clean energy program, but we’re making up for lost time,” she said.
Officials also announced that two major solar power projects in California—the Arica and Victory Pass projects—are fully operational, adding some 465 MW of clean energy to the grid. Read more on that here.
ELECTION WATCH – BROWN CALLS FOR BAN ON CHINESE ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Sen. Sherrod Brown asked President Joe Biden yesterday to ban all sales of Chinese-made electric vehicles in the U.S., in an effort to align himself with union voters in the Buckeye State as he faces a tough battle for reelection.
In a letter to Biden, Brown described Chinese-made EVs as an “existential threat to the American auto industry,” warning that low price points for the Chinese-made vehicles, coupled with steep government subsidies from Beijing, would all but make it impossible for U.S. automakers to compete.
“If Chinese electric vehicles are allowed to enter the U.S. market, it could decimate the American auto industry,” Brown said.
There are currently no Chinese-made EVs for sale in the U.S. But the Alliance of American Automobile Manufacturers and other trade groups have raised fears about the recent influx of Chinese investments in the West—and particularly, in Mexico, where Chinese-owned BYD and others have spent millions to build out new manufacturing plants.
The background: Brown is defending his Senate seat from Republican candidate Bernie Moreno, an EV opponent and founder of the Collection Auto Group, one of the largest car dealership groups in the country. Moreno has previously attacked Brown over his support for EVs, which he described as “irrational” and said would amount to “handing over” the U.S. auto industry to China. Read more from Breanne here.
HOUSE APPROVES BILLS ON SEA TURTLE REHABILITATION AND BEACH RESTORATION: House lawmakers voted yesterday to approve two new bills aimed at protecting sea turtles and fund beach restoration projects in North Carolina.
Lawmakers approved H.R. 524, which amends the Coastal Barrier Resources Act to replenish sand at Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, and H.R. 2560, the Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Act, aimed at supporting marine turtle rescue and recovery.
“Wrightsville Beach, which is in my district, serves as one of North Carolina’s most popular beaches— hosting visitors from all across the country and driving significant job growth and economic activity for our local communities,” Rep. David Rouzer, the North Carolina Republican who sponsored the sand replenishment bill, said last year in introducing the legislation. Read more on the bills here.
NEXT WEEK – GOP HOUSE VERSUS BIDEN EFFICIENCY RULES FOR APPLIANCES: House Republicans are going to work toward passing several bills to block Energy Department efficiency rules for appliances next week.
Republicans have been on the offense for months about administration rules on appliances, most notably in the controversy over gas stoves. Meanwhile, the DOE has proceeded with a number of rules and touted its efforts as lowering emissions and saving consumers money.
The House Rules Committee is set to consider six bills Monday afternoon targeting administration rules. One, Rep. Debbie Lesko’s Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act, would broadly limit DOE’s ability to issue energy efficiency rules for appliances. Other bills would apply to refrigerators, AC, dishwashers, and clothes washers and dryers.
Meanwhile, the DOE is under renewed pressure from environmentalists to finalize appliance standards.
THREAT OF IRAN STRIKES ON ISRAEL DRIVES UP OIL PRICES: Oil prices rebounded to a near six-month high this week, amid heightened fears that Iran could attack Israel, disrupting supplies and locking in shipments from many of the world’s biggest producers.
Prices for international benchmark Brent crude saw highs reach near $92 per barrel this morning, while U.S.-based West Texas Intermediate saw prices as high above $87, a 2.7% jump.
U.S. officials said this week they expect an attack by Iran against Israel, though they note that the U.S. does not expect to be drawn into the conflict.
Fears of a supply shut-in increased mid-morning today on the news that Russian oil and oil products have been trapped at sea on Iranian oil tankers for weeks, after the U.S. announced new sanctions on certain Iranian-linked vessels.
According to Reuters, the list of vessels currently sanctioned by the U.S. include three fuel tankers, which loaded Russian oil products in February-March, and one crude oil tanker that loaded Russian Urals-grade crude earlier this month.
“The recent actions against ships tied to Iran’s military spotlight a serious shift: some of these ships, previously involved in dodging sanctions for Iran, have started dealings with Russia,” Claire Jungman, a senior official at the U.S. advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran, told Reuters.
Looking ahead: Analysts said today that the price hike could be temporary, depending on how things play out in the Middle East and on potential escalation. “We maintain our forecast for Brent to average $87 a barrel over the second quarter of this year,” ING analysts said in a market note. Read more on that here.
RUNDOWN
Reuters California battery plant is among world’s largest as power storage booms
Bloomberg Climate group in tumult over new guidelines for carbon market