Energy Security and Infrastructure – Passage

Passage of the bill that would revise national energy efficiency standards, require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to designate at least 10 corridors across federal lands in the Eastern U.S. where pipelines could be built, and require the Department of Energy to expedite decisions on applications to export liquefied natural gas. As amended, the bill would create a permitting process for cross-border infrastructure projects, allow U.S. export of crude oil, prohibit U.S. officials from imposing or enforcing restrictions on U.S. crude oil exports, require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to satisfy regulatory planning and review requirements, place a filing deadline on judicial cases involving energy projects on federal lands, require studies on barriers to the export of natural energy resources and on the shipment of crude oil, and incentivize community solar projects. As further amended, the bill would modify the hydrokinetic energy regulatory process, establish privacy standards for smart meters, establish a youth energy enterprise competition, modify racial terminology, and require the Energy Department to report to Congress on smart meter security, permit voluntary vegetation management around electrical structures, and repeal an EPA rule on residential wood heaters.