AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION for AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

Agriculture AGR

Monitored issues related to Farm Bill development, including energy audits, and service territory issues for rural utilities.

Contacted: Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); White House Office; Energy, Dept of; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Executive Office of the President (EOP); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Treasury, Dept of; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Supported the continued use of tax-exempt financing for municipal/public power purposes, and opposed provisions, like those included in the Administration's FY 2014 budget proposal, to tax municipal bonds. Support H. Res. 112, highlighting the value of tax-exempt financing, and authored by Reps. Terry and Neal. Monitored impacts of sequestration on Build America Bonds (BABs). Opposed S.Con.Res. 8 because of proposal that could lead to limiting tax-exempt financing.

Contacted: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); White House Office; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Energy, Dept of; Surface Transportation Board (STB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Treasury, Dept of; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); SENATE; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Bills named: H.Res. 112 (113th), S.Con.Res. 8 (113th)

Telecommunications TEC

Monitored the issue of "retransmission consent" with regard to access to cable programming. Monitored pole attachment rate issue. Support municipal broadband deployment, including in rural areas served by public power.

Contacted: Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Treasury, Dept of; White House Office; SENATE; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Energy, Dept of; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA)

Railroads RRR

Supported removal of the antitrust exemptions for the railroads, and reforms at the Surface Transportation Board.

Contacted: Energy, Dept of; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Treasury, Dept of; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); White House Office; Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN

Supported legislation, H.R. 1038, modifying final rule on swap dealers under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act regarding special entities and the $25 million ceiling on their hedging transactions -- H.R. 1038 passed the House, and is pending in the Senate. Supported more limited role in Dodd-Frank for non-profit energy end-users. Supported funding for CFTC as part of debate on H.J.Res. 59.

Contacted: Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); White House Office; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Energy, Dept of; Treasury, Dept of; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); SENATE; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Bills named: H.R. 1038 (113th), H.J.Res. 59 (113th)

Utilities UTI

Expressed concerns about or opposition to markets issues related to regional transmission organizations, including proposed energy imbalance market and existing mandatory capacity markets; supported S. 1353, Senate Commerce Committee cyber bill; monitored development of executive order on cyber security and engaged in NIST process; monitored issues related to electric vehicles, particularly regarding funding issues. Support revised Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill, S. 1392, pending on Senate floor.Monitor rulemakings related to transmission policy. Worked to ensure small utilities that are defined as small businesses under SBREFA get appropriate consideration under any pending and future EPA and FERC regulations, and support H.R. 2542 to modify the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Supported Senator Klobuchar bill related to preventing copper theft. Support H.R. 1199 to delete Section 433 of EISA 2007, which mandates that all federal buildings use no fossil fuel by 2030. Also support other efforts to fix this issue. Expressed concerns at the Energy Information Administration related to a newly proposed data collection form -- EIA-930 -- that would collect load (demand) and interchange data from balancing authorities on an hourly basis. Provided questions related to FERC activities as part of Ron Binz confirmation process. Did not take position on Binz nomination itself (do not take positions on Administration Executive Branch nominees).

Contacted: Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Energy, Dept of; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Treasury, Dept of; SENATE; White House Office; Executive Office of the President (EOP); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 1199 (113th), S. 1392 (113th), S. 1353 (113th), H.R. 2542 (113th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Opposed to DOE Secretary Chu memo of March 16, 2012, to drastically change the purpose of the PMAs from marketing federal hydropower to promoting non-hydro renewables. Opposed to modifying or eliminating tax-exempt financing in any budget proposal, including FY 2014 Administration proposal to cap deductions at 28 percent for higher income earners. Oppose proposal in President's FY 2014 budget to investigate divestiture of TVA. Oppose S.Con.Res. 8 (see tax section for further explanation).

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Energy, Dept of; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); SENATE; White House Office; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Treasury, Dept of; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Bills named: S.Con.Res. 8 (113th)

Environment/Superfund ENV

Monitored issues related to the Endangered Species Act -- support efforts to review the law and improve it. Monitor TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) reform bill.

Contacted: Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Treasury, Dept of; Energy, Dept of; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Energy/Nuclear ENG

Supported bills to ensure regulatory relief for small hydro facilities, such as H.R. 678, H.R. 267, S. 306, and S. 545. Monitored Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and nuclear waste issues. Monitored issues involving the export of natural gas (liquefied natural gas or LNG).

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Treasury, Dept of; Energy, Dept of; White House Office; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); SENATE; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Bills named: S. 306 (113th), H.R. 678 (113th), H.R. 267 (113th), S. 545 (113th)

Clean Air and Water (quality) CAW

Supported legislation (H.R. 2218) re: EPA regulation of coal ash as a non-hazardous waste. Expressed concerns about parameters of effluent limitation guidelines under the Clean Water Act, pending at EPA. Concerned about air regulations on power plants being promulgated by EPA, including utility MACT (MATS). Concerned with EPA's proposed rulemaking on NSPS for greenhouse gases at future fossil-fuel fired power plants. Continue to discuss the electricity/natural gas nexus with Congress, FERC, & EPA.Monitored Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) progress, with emphasis on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reform and dam safety. Oppose Section 2014 of Senate version of WRDA bill, S. 601. Support House version of WRRDA, H.R. 3080. Support H.R. 271, Olson reliability bill.

Contacted: SENATE; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); White House Office; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Energy, Dept of; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Treasury, Dept of; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Surface Transportation Board (STB)

Bills named: H.R. 271 (113th), H.R. 2218 (113th), H.R. 3080 (113th), S. 601 (113th)