American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 14
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IndustryDigest
House Passes Bills
On Alternative Energy
And Cybersecurity
WASHINGTON-The U.S. House of
Representatives in late September passed
a bill to boost alternative energy that
some oil and gas advocates deem the
wrong approach at the wrong time. The
month also saw the House approve
legislation intended to prevent successful
cyberattacks against the country's power
grid and other energy infrastructure.
The House passed HR 4447, the
Clean Energy Jobs and Innovation Act,
on Sept. 24. According to its sponsor,
Representative Tom O'Halleran, D-Az.,
the legislation aims to invest in electric
grid modernization and security,
increase the availability and
affordability of renewable energy and
storage technology, and make targeted
workforce investments as the country
transitions toward renewable energy by:
· Creating and funding a career
skills program through the U.S.
Department of Energy to train workers
for constructing and installing energyefficient building technologies;
· Streamlining available federal
energy efficiency programs and
financing to help improve efficiency and
lower energy costs for schools;
· Directing the secretary of energy
to accelerate critical research,
development and demonstration
programs to increase the availability of
renewable energy and storage
technologies to increase power
generation from solar, wind, geothermal
and hydropower resources; and
· Allocating $15 million in grants
for advanced and innovative technology
regarding optimal use of water,
wastewater, water reuse systems and
energy, while directing the secretary of
energy to establish an energy-water
advisory committee.
American Petroleum Institute Vice
President of Policy, Economics and
Regulatory Affairs Frank Macchiarola
says HR 4447 leaves much to be desired.
"This is a missed opportunity to
advance bipartisan solutions to
address the real risks of climate
change and ensure long-term
availability of affordable, reliable and
cleaner American energy," he
assesses. "There was a chance to pass
a bill that took an important step
forward in promoting carbon capture
14 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER
technology, and yet here we are taking
two steps backward with provisions
that hurt consumers in the middle of a
global pandemic.
"A serious effort to tackle energy and
climate challenges would focus on
making measurable progress rather than
ramming through a 900-page bill that
dramatically redefines the nation's
regulatory system without any hearings
or time for debate through regular
order," Macchiarola insists.
The cybersecurity legislation came in
the form of four bills, all of which passed
the House in the final days of September:
· HR 359, the Enhancing Grid
Security Through Public-Private
Partnerships Act, sponsored by
Representatives Robert Latta, R-Oh.,
and Jerry McNerney, D-Ca.;
· HR 360, the Cyber Sense Act,
also by Latta and McNerney;
· HR 362, the Energy Emergency
Leadership Act, sponsored by
Representatives Bobby Rush, D-Il., and
Tim Walberg, R-Mi.; and
· HR 5760, the Grid Security
Research and Development Act by
Representatives Ami Bera, D-Ca., and
Randy Weber, R-Tx.
According to press accounts, all four
bills were passed by unanimous voice
vote. Among those lauding their success
are Energy and Commerce Committee
ranking member Greg Walden, R-Or.,
and Energy Subcommittee ranking
member Fred Upton, R-Mi.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has
underscored the importance of
stopping supply chain threats,
including ensuring the security of our
electric grid. From electricity to WiFi,
a secure, reliable grid is vital to all
Americans," says a joint statement
from Walden and Upton. "We thank
our House colleagues for supporting
three bipartisan bills that will bolster
our energy security and keep our grid
safe from cyberattacks, and we urge
our Senate colleagues to take swift
action to keep our electric grid safe
and running." r
EPA Finalizes Procedure
On Guidance Documents
WASHINGTON-The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on
Sept. 14 finalized a new set of
guidelines and procedures it proposed in
May pertaining to agency guidance
documents (AOGR, June 2020, pg. 14).
As described by the Texas Independent
Producers & Royalty Owners
Association, the new regulation "will
provide the public new levels of
transparency and ensure that EPA is not
creating new regulatory obligations
through its guidance documents."
In a speech he gave on the day the
regulation was finalized, EPA
Administrator Andrew Wheeler said
consistent requirements and
procedures for issuing guidance
documents was critical. "Today's
action is perhaps the biggest change in
administrative procedures in a
generation," he affirmed. "This
historic rule guarantees the
transparency the public deserves when
engaging with the agency. This is a
massive step forward for EPA,
bringing these legal documents into
the light."
According to the agency, the final
rule, among other elements, will:
· Establish the first formal petition
process for the public to request that
EPA modify, withdraw or reinstate a
guidance document;
· Ensure that the agency's guidance
documents are developed with
appropriate review and are accessible to
the public; and
· Allow public participation in
developing significant guidance
documents.
Senator James Inhofe, R-Ok., is
among the policymakers lauding the
agency's move, and says it puts into
the Federal Register changes that he
has previously sought through
legislation. "After previous
administrations abused the guidance
process to initiate regulatory changes
that they could not achieve through
the permissible regulatory process, I
fought for reform of our federal
regulations and guidance transparency
for years," Inhofe says. "Fortunately,
Andrew Wheeler and President Trump
agree with me and continue to strive
for transparency while cutting
unnecessary red tape."
Before the rule was finalized, EPA
notes, the agency debuted an online
guidance portal for public access to its
guidance documents. In doing so, EPA
says it has, for the first time, placed
more than 9,000 guidance documents
onto a searchable database at
www.epa.gov/guidance. r
http://www.epa.gov/guidance
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020
Contents
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - Intro
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 1
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 2
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 3
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 4
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - Contents
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 6
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 7
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 8
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 9
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 10
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 11
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 12
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 13
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 14
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American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 17
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 18
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 19
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 20
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 21
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 22
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 23
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 24
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 25
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 26
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 27
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 28
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 29
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 30
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 31
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American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 33
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 34
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 35
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 36
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2020 - 37
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