FEDERAL ISSUES
Energy Bill
Under the 111th Congress, Chairmen Waxman and Markey released an energy and climate bill, The American Clean Energy and Security Act.
(11.2.09) Senate Environment and Public Works Comittee updated climate legislation on October 23.
(10.7.09) On September 30, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released text for climate legislation. SEIA has updated its side-by-side comparing House and Senate energy and climate legislation.
(9.25.09) The Green Bank Coalition has provided a summary of the benefits and importance of a Green Bank/ Clean Energy Deployment Administration
(7.17.09) The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee released the language for S.1462, the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009.
(6.26.09) The U.S. House of Representatives voted and passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act by a vote of 219-212. SEIA created a summary of the solar provisions in ACES. Here is the CRS analysis and summary of H.R. 2454.
(6.22.09) House Energy and Commerce Committee released a revised American Clean Energy and Deployment Act. Here are the changes made to the bill. The environmental community sent a letter to the House urging passage of this bill.
SEIA is pushing Congress to adopt a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for federal entities.
(5.21.09) ACES was passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee by a vote of 33-25. This bill stimulates the deployment of solar energy by allocating carbon allowances for renewable energy and energy efficiency, applying triple renewable energy credits (REC's) for distrbited generation including solar- solar water heating systems are included as an energy efficiency measure. Amendments creating a Clean Energy Bank and establishing net metering and interconnection standards for federal facilities that install solar were also inserted into this bill.
(5.20.09) Members from the House Energy and Commerce Committee offered amendments to ACES. Congressmen Dingell, Inslee, and Gordon offered an amendment to create a Clean Energy Bank that would aid the deployment of renewable technologies including solar. This amendment was agreed to be inserted into ACES.
(5.20.09) 26 companies and organizations signed this letter in support of zero energy homes.
For more information on this bill, please see the following links:
Top Priorities
Our Government Affairs staff works with Congress and the Administration to advocate for policies beneficial to the solar industry. Currently, we are focused on several key areas:
- Economic Recovery Legislation
- Developing Global Warming Legislation
- Establishing a Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
- Ensuring Strong Transmission
- Improving Access with Interconnection
- Net Metering Standards
- The Solar Investment Tax Credit (Passed on Oct. 3, 2008!)
Other Federal Issues
Appropriations
SEIA works with industry partners to secure more funding for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Program through the Congressional Appropriations process.
Research and Development
DOE-supported research and development helps bring new solar technologies to market. SEIA works with the DOE to advance solar research and help expand solar's presence in our national energy mix.
Restrictive Covenants/HOA Rules
Across the country, local zoning laws and homeowners' associations govern the approved uses of a property. SEIA works with federal authorities to eliminate zoning laws and HOA rules prohibiting the installation of solar technologies.
See Restrictive Covenants/HOA Rules
Plant Siting
SEIA supports the use of federal land for solar project development and is actively engaged in the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for solar energy.
