AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION for AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

Environment/Superfund ENV

Monitored issues related to the Endangered Species Act -- support efforts to review the law and improve it.

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

Utilities UTI

Expressed concerns about or opposition to markets issues related to regional transmission organizations, including proposed energy imbalance market and mandatory capacity markets; supported H.R. 624, CISPA (cyber information sharing); monitored development of executive order on cyber security and responded to NIST request for information; monitored issues related to electric vehicles, particularly regarding funding issues. Monitored development of revised Portman-Shaheen energy efficiency bill.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. Interfaced with DOE and DHS on recovery and resilience, as recommended by the National Infrastructure Advisory Committee (NIAC), and in handling Hurricane Sandy recovery. Supported Senator Klobuchar bill related to preventing copper theft. Asked FERC to grant rehearing of its definition of bulk electric system.

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

Bills named: H.R. 624 (113th)

Railroads RRR

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

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

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 transactions. Support more limited role in Dodd-Frank for non-profit energy end-users.

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

Bills named: H.R. 1038 (113th)

Agriculture AGR

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

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

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) and related issue of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds.

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

Bills named: H.Res. 112 (113th)

Telecommunications TEC

Monitored smart grid programs and their intersection with the telecommunications industry, and responded to requests for meetings and information on the subject to DOE. Supported the need to allow electric utilities to access spectrum for wireless; monitored implementation of S. 911 at NTIA. Monitored the issue of "retransmission consent" with regard to access to cable programming.

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

Bills named: S. 911 (113th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Opposed 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.

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

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). Gave feedback to Senator Murkowski's staff on her Energy 20/20 plan.

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

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

Clean Air and Water (quality) CAW

Supported legislation (HR 2273, S. 1751/1971) 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. Concern about air regulations on power plants being promulgated by EPA, including utility MACT (MATS). Monitoring EPA's pending rulemaking on NSPS for greenhouse gases at existing 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 Corps reform and dam safety.

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

Bills named: H.R. 2273 (113th), S. 1751 (113th)