Vietnam Veteran Commemoration Fund Act of 2025

Discussed the public power business model. Discussed the role of the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC) and the need for Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) protections that allow the ESCC to be operational. Discussed the importance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordinating the response to federal disasters and the restoration of electricity after such disasters. Discussed the upcoming hurricane season and the importance of the Department of Energy (DOE) as a partner in the mutual aid response given federal waivers and exemptions authority primarily resides in the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response within DOE. Discussed APPAs involvement with the Energy Threat Analysis Center. Discussed support for the reauthorization of the Cybersecurity and Information Security Act of 2015 (passed as Division N of P.L. 114-113) and provisions to maintain public power utilities inclusion in the definition of private entity in section 102(15)(B) and maintaining public power utilities inclusion in section 104(B) - Exemption from Disclosure. Discussed the importance of the Rural and Municipal Advanced Cybersecurity Grant Technical Assistance Program (section 40124 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, P.L. 117-58) to help smaller public power utilities with their cybersecurity posture. Discussed concerns with proposed rescissions of funding for the RMUC Program (section 40124 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, P.L. 117-58). Discussed how public power utilities are utilizing the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program to enhance grid reliability and affordability in their communities. Discussed APPA support for the GRIP Program and protecting obligated funds from potential rescissions (no legislation). Discussed support for S. 448, the Credit Incentives for Resilient Critical Utility Infrastructure and Transformers (CIRCUIT) Act to provide tax credits to the manufacturers of distribution transformers (all provisions). Discussed support for reintroduction of H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act in the 119th Congress (all provisions). Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed the importance of hydropower to the electric grid and reliability. Discussed support for H.R. 2160/S. 1183, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act, to establish tax credits environmental and safety upgrades at non-federal hydropower projects (all provisions). Discussed draft appropriations report language for DOE to study the feasibility of federal technical assistance and regional planning to meet local and regional energy goals. Discussed the need for permitting reform, including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental statutes, to help expedite the siting and permitting of energy projects to meet rising electricity demand (no legislation). Discussed congressional oversight of the interconnection queue process (no legislation). Discussed the need for more flexibility for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and regional transmission organizations in prioritizing interconnection queues based on regional needs rather than resource attributes. Discussed H.R. 1047/S. 465, the GRID Power Act, to direct FERC to reform the interconnection queue process for the prioritization and approval of certain projects (all provisions). Discussed support for H.R. 3616, the Reliable Power Act, to give FERC the authority to determine and mitigate the significant reliability impacts of major federal regulations (pre-introduction and post-introduction of legislation). Discussed draft legislation, the State Energy Accountability Act, to create a new Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) section 111(d) must-consider requirement to require state regulatory authorities that implement an intermittent energy policy to considering conducting and making public an evaluation of the policys impact on reliability, including during extreme weather, and affordability, among other impacts. Discussed draft legislation, the State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act, to require utilities to establish sufficient reliable generation facilities to ensure the availability of electric energy over a 10-year period as part of integrated resource planning. Discussed the importance of maintaining grid reliability and resource adequacy issues. Also discussed the importance of electricity affordability for all customers (no legislation). Discussed public powers concerns about transmission affordability, including transmission incentives. Discussed FERCs concerns about resource adequacy and the results of recent capacity auctions. Discussed the importance of reliability, including coordination between the gas and electricity sectors. Discussed the impact of changing tariffs on supply chains for electric utilities (no legislation). Discussed the importance of the Tennessee Valley Authority in providing affordable and reliable power to the Tennessee Valley.

Client expense: $270,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Discussed the public power business model. Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed the implementation of Rural and Municipal Advanced Cybersecurity Grant Technical Assistance Program (section 40124 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, P.L. 117-58). Discussed support for S. 448, the Credit Incentives for Resilient Critical Utility Infrastructure and Transformers (CIRCUIT) Act to provide tax credits to the manufacturers of distribution transformers (all provisions). Discussed support for reintroduction of H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act in the 119th Congress (all provisions). Discussed the importance of improving the hydropower licensing and relicensing process (no bill). Discussed draft language to not require licensees to obtain approval for non-substantive alterations or additions at hydropower facilities, routine maintenance, or replacement of hydropower projects that are in response to circumstances beyond their reasonable control. (no legislation). Discussed support for S. 1183, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act, to establish tax credits environmental and safety upgrades at non-federal hydropower projects (all provisions). Discussed energy tax credits for hydropower (no legislation). Discussed concerns with Form EIA-112, Residential Utility Disconnections Survey (no legislation). Discussed concerns with sections 401 and 402 in S. 4753, the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, which would expand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions jurisdiction over non-jurisdictional entities, and support for amendments 58 and 45 that would exempt Federal Power Act section 201(f) entities from sections 401 and 402 of the legislation. Discussed the need for permitting reform, including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental statutes, to help expedite the siting and permitting of energy projects to meet rising electricity demand (no legislation). Discussed interconnection queue reform efforts (no legislation). Discussed H.R. 1047/S. 465, the GRID Power Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reform the interconnection queue process for the prioritization and approval of certain projects (all provisions). Discussed concerns with transmission affordability and rising transmission costs, and support for policies, such as joint ownership and eliminating unnecessary incentives, that would reduce transmission costs (no legislation). Discussed the importance of maintaining grid reliability and resource adequacy issues. Also discussed of electricity affordability for all customers (no legislation). Discussed the potential impact of federal funding freezes (no legislation). Discussed APPAs involvement in the Navajo Tribal Utility Authoritys (NTUA) Light Up Navajo effort.

Client expense: $280,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Energy, Dept of, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE