AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION for AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION
What was lobbied
11 issue areas, each in the filer's own words, with who lobbied on it and where.
Budget/Appropriations BUD
Opposed any efforts to change the purpose of the PMAs from marketing clean federal hydropower to promoting non-hydro renewables -- still monitoring DOE activities on the PMAs. Opposed to modifying or eliminating tax-exempt financing in any budget proposal, including FY 2016 Administration proposal to cap deductions at 28 percent for higher income earners. Monitored appropriations allocations for the Department of Energy, the federal Power Marketing Administrations, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOY DITTO | — |
| JOHN GODFREY | — |
| AMY THOMAS New | — |
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX
Supported the continued use of tax-exempt financing for municipal/public power purposes, and opposed provisions and legislation to tax municipal bonds. Monitored impacts of sequestration on Build America Bonds (BABs).
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOY DITTO | — |
| JOHN GODFREY | — |
| AMY THOMAS | — |
| DESMARIE M WATERHOUSE | — |
Railroads RRR
Support removal of the antitrust exemptions for the railroads, and support reforms at the Surface Transportation Board in order to ensure that rail customers are not the subject of monopoly shipping rates. Monitored S. 808 STB Re authorization Act of 2015, , which passed the Senate Commerce Committee. Supported S. 853.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| AMY THOMAS New | — |
Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN
Worked to re-introduce the Public Power Risk Management Act - 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. Supported more limited role in Dodd-Frank for non-profit energy end-users. Supported funding for CFTC.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOHN GODFREY | — |
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. Encouraged oversight of FERC more generally. Monitored issues related to electric vehicles, particularly regarding funding issues. Continued support of revised Senate energy efficiency bill, S. 535, H.R. 906, H.R. 873 and S. 720 Discussed potential legislation to ensure that federal agencies take electric reliability into consideration when developing regulations. Discussed potential comprehensive energy legislation with House and Senate staff. 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. Monitored H.R. 527, which modified the Regulatory Flexibility Act and passed the House. Supported efforts to delete Section 433 of EISA 2007, which mandates that all federal buildings use no fossil fuel by 2030. While not a federal issue, discussed issues surrounding distributed generation (namely, rooftop solar) with DOE staff and with some offices on Capitol Hill. Discussed the Quadrennial Energy Review (and its focus on distribution, transmission and storage of energy) with DOE and the White House and submitted statements and other materials related to that process. Discussed the need for enhanced liability protection for electric utilities who are subject to a cybersecurity attack. Briefed Senate and House staff on the physical security of the electric system, and opposed additional legislation resulting in greater regulation. Discussed the issue of the availability of spare transformers with DOE and others. Monitored information sharing legislation such as Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, S. 754. Expressed support for Pompeo pipeline permitting bill - HR 161, which passed the House
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOY DITTO | — |
| AMY THOMAS | — |
| CORY TOTH | — |
| DESMARIE M WATERHOUSE | — |
Telecommunications TEC
Monitored the issue of "retransmission consent" with regard to access to cable programming. Also monitored the issues of program access and video competition. Monitored pole attachment rate issue. Support municipal broadband deployment, and educated House and Senate staff these issues as they begin to the House Telecommunications Subcommittee begins rewrite the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOY DITTO | — |
| DESMARIE M WATERHOUSE | — |
Copyright/Patent/Trademark CPT
Monitored efforts in Congress to address abuse of the patent system by patent assertion entities (PAEs), commonly known as patent trolls.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| DESMARIE M WATERHOUSE | — |
Environment/Superfund ENV
Monitored issues related to the Endangered Species Act -- support efforts to review the law and improve it.
Aviation/Airlines/Airports AVI
Monitor issues related to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), including use of UAV for utility related operations (Docket FAA-2015-0150). Monitoring FAA re-authorization legislation for related developments.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOHN GODFREY | — |
Energy/Nuclear ENG
Supported bills to ensure regulatory relief for small hydro facilities. Monitored agency implementation of hydro bills that passed in the 113th Congress (H.R. 678, H.R. 267) Monitored Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and nuclear waste issues (S. 854: Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2015). Monitored issues involving the export of natural gas (liquefied natural gas or LNG).
Clean Air and Water (quality) CAW
Support legislation (H.R. 1734, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015) re: EPA regulation of coal ash as a non-hazardous waste. Opposed to EPA proposed Clean Power Plan and briefed House and Senate staff on financial impacts of the proposed rule. Discussed concept of reliability safety valve for proposed rules that will impact grid reliability. Opposed to EPA's proposed Waters of the U.S. rule under the Clean Water Act.
| Lobbyist | Covered position, as disclosed |
|---|---|
| JOY DITTO | — |
| DESMARIE M WATERHOUSE | — |
Shown as published by the Senate Office of Public Records and the House Clerk under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The official filing is the record; open it for the full form.