SAFE Pathways Act

Discussed the Cybersecurity and Information Security Agencys (CISA) work to implement the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (passed as Division Y of P.L. 117-103) - provisions regarding the scope of the rulemaking and harmonization of cyber incident reporting with other reporting mandates. Discussed support for reauthorizing the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant and Technical Assistance (RMUC) Program as authorized in section 40124 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Discussed support for H.R. 7266, the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act (all provisions) to reauthorize the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant and Technical Assistance (RMUC) Program as authorized in section 40124 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Discussed support for S. 2983, the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act (all provisions), to reauthorize the Cybersecurity Information Security Act of 2015 (CISA 2015). Discussed support for a replacement to the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council at the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate interaction between governmental entities and representatives from the community of critical infrastructure owners and operators. (no legislation). Discussed support for H.R. 7258, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act, to elevate the Department of Energys energy emergency and cybersecurity responsibilities by requiring those critical functions to be led by a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary (all provisions). 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 general APPA support for hydropower licensing and relicensing reform, including amending section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 USC ch. 12) to limit mandatory conditions and fishway prescriptions and section 241 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58) to extend trial-type hearing rights to alternative conditions under section 33 of the Federal Power Act (no legislation). Discussed the need to amend sections 4(e) and 18 of the Federal Power Act so that mandatory conditions and fishway prescriptions address only direct project effects, like those from the construction, operation, or maintenance of the licensed project (no legislation). Discussed support for S. 3518, the Fair Licensing for Operations of Water Structures (FLOWS) Act of 2025, to amend the Federal Power Act to address certain alterations in, and the maintenance and repair of, project works, to provide for the licensing of micro hydrokinetic energy projects (all provisions). Discussed support for H.R. 2072, the Build More Hydro Act, to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects (all provisions). Discussed H.R. 7940, the Safeguarding Aquatic Fisheries and Ecosystem (SAFE) Pathways Act, to amend the Federal Power Act to require the consideration of invasive species when prescribing fishways. Discussed the need for permitting reform, including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental statutes, to help expedite the siting and permitting of energy projects to meet rising electricity demand (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 under section 201(f) of the Federal Power Act. Discussed how interregional transmission planning should be left to each region of the country rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all federal mandate for each region to maintain a minimum level of transfer capability with its neighbors (no legislation). Discussed maintaining the existing beneficiary-pays cost allocation principle for transmission under the Federal Power Act to require the costs of a transmission project to be allocated to beneficiaries in a way that is roughly commensurate with the estimated benefits (no legislation). Discussed general support for legislation that would remove duplicative NEPA requirements for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation and siting processes (no legislation). Discussed H.R. 7786, the SPEED & Reliability Act (all provisions), from the 118th Congress, to remove duplicative NEPA requirements for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation and siting processes. Discussed concerns with H.R. 5600, the SPEED & Reliability Act (all provisions), to remove duplicative NEPA requirements for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation and siting processes. Discussed support for H.R. 3616/S. 3034, the Reliable Power Act, to give FERC the authority to determine and mitigate the significant reliability impacts of major federal regulations (all provisions). Discussed the role of grid enhancing technologies in transmission and virtual power plants (no legislation). Discussed grid enhancing technologies and their potential ability to improve grid reliability but should only be deployed where there are clear reliability and consumer benefits (no legislation). Discussed H.R. 7977, the transmission provisions in the Energy Bills Relief Act. Discussed support for joint ownership of transmission facilities to help facilitate transmission development while keeping costs affordable for electricity customers (no legislation). Discussed S. 3947, the REWIRE Act, section 3, to provide categorical exclusions for transmission projects that increase grid capacity in existing rights-of-way by reconductoring, using grid enhancing technologies, and deploying energy storage, and section 4, to increase return on equity for reconductoring using advanced conductors. Provided feedback on draft transmission legislation to make changes to the Federal Power Act that would, among other things, expand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions authority over public power utilities and increase costs for their customers. Discussed H.R. 7329, the Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets (FREEDOM) Act, to amend the Energy Act of 2020, the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Mineral Leasing Act to streamline the leasing and permitting processes of federal agencies for certain energy and mineral projects, to clarify federal authorization requirements for certain projects on non-federal land, to establish enforceable federal authorization timelines and expedited judicial remedies, to limit federal actions halting fully permitted projects, to create a de-risking compensation program. Discussed the need for permitting reform efforts to be technology neutral (no bill). Discussed draft legislation, the Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act, to reduce permitting delays and create a more predictable environment for infrastructure development (all provisions). Discussed Light Up Navajo project to get electricity to unserved families of the Navajo Nation (no legislation). Discussed ongoing grid hardening activities by public power utilities and needed additional investments (no legislation). Discussed potential federal funding for critical infrastructure hardening. Discussed the impact tariffs are having on public power utilities (no legislation). Discussed the impact of supply chain issues on public power utilities (no legislation). Discussed the impact from data centers on electricity prices to customers in communities that dont have data centers (FERC Docket RM26-4). Discussed strategies to address the growing burden of transmission costs, including joint ownership and the elimination of transmission incentives. Discussed wholesale electricity market development efforts in the West. Discussed the public power business model and FERCs jurisdiction over public power utilities under the Federal Power Act.