In the below NREE Committee newsletter, you will find some of the latest energy, environment and agriculture policy issues NCSL is following in Washington, D.C. If you have questions about any of the stories below, please reach out to Ben Nasta (benjamin.nasta@ncsl.org) or Megan Bland (megan.bland@ncsl.org).
You are Invited to the NREE Webinar Series!
NCSL’s Natural Resources, Energy and Environment Committee is pleased to invite you to its annual Spring Webinar Series. The series consists of five webinars from March 28 through May 9. All webinars will take place on Thursdays at 3 p.m. EST. Please see the below webinar dates. Registration links will be available soon on the NCSL website. Register for as many webinars as your schedule permits.
- March 28 - The Great Outdoors: New Frontiers for Youth and Veteran Job Training
- April 11 - Energy Efficiency for Low-Income Households and Renters
- April 18 - Protecting Livestock and Wildlife: The Fight Against Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
- April 25 - Unpacking the Elements of Extended Producer Responsibility
- May 9 - GDO and Grid Modernization Efforts in the States
NCSL in DC
NCSL’s Letter to Congress on the 2024 Farm Bill
Every five years, Congress works to pass one of its most consequential pieces of legislation, the Farm Bill. This bill touches an incredible breadth of issues, including rural economic development, crop insurance, nutrition and SNAP benefits, conservation, forest management and more. NCSL has submitted a letter to Capitol Hill, calling on Congress to ensure swift bipartisan passage of this critical bill that touches the lives of millions of Americans.
NCSL’s Letter to the EPA Concerning Proposed Drinking Water Rule
NCSL submitted a comment letter on Feb. 1 to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding a proposed rule, the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Improvements (LCRI). In the comments, NCSL applauds the EPA’s efforts to address lead in drinking water and asks the agency to continue state consultation on this issue. Additionally, NCSL calls attention to the proposed rule’s unfunded mandates and asks the EPA to avoid creating such requirements. NCSL also asks the EPA to request funds from Congress to fund all proposed requirements and calls on the agency to consider state statutory timelines and revise the LCRI compliance deadlines to accommodate state needs. The EPA’s public comment period for LCRI closed on Feb. 5.
Top NREE Stories
Averting A Government Shutdown … Again
Congress averted a partial government shutdown last week by passing a fourth short-term continuing resolution to keep the relevant federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) funded in the short-term. This new continuing resolution (H.R. 7463) affects the four appropriation bills that were set to expire at midnight on March 1, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, Agriculture-FDA, Transportation-Housing and Urban Development, and Energy-Water Development. Two of the appropriation bills, Interior-Environment and Commerce-Justice-Science, retained their expiration date of March 8. The remaining six appropriation bills set to expire on March 8 were extended until March 22.
Water Infrastructure Is Getting an Upgrade
Water systems across the U.S. are about to receive a significant funding boost for needed upgrades. The administration announced the release $5.8 billion of the approximately $50 billion designated in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for drinking water and wastewater. Funds will be allocated to every state and U.S. territory, which will be responsible for distributing the funds to local projects through state revolving fund programs. Disadvantaged and low-income communities are expected to receive about half of the funding. Projects will include removing a group of chemicals known as PFAS and other contaminants, replacing lead pipes and improving wastewater and sanitation infrastructure and systems.
Stricter Soot Standards
In the recent final rule Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter, the EPA significantly updated the nation’s decade-old soot standards. Specifically, the rule decreases the allowable levels of a population’s exposure to fine particulate matter by 25% from 12 micrograms to nine micrograms daily. Under this rule, states are expected to make recommendations to the EPA and identify localities out of compliance. Those out of compliance will be required to develop air quality plans demonstrating how they will become compliant. These standards will not be fully enforceable until 2032, but legal challenges are expected. The EPA estimates the implementation of these standards will result in at least $22 billion in health benefits.
Expending $1 Billion for Superfund Cleanup
The final $1 billion of $3.5 billion allocated in the IIJA for Superfund site cleanup is being expended by the EPA. This funding will be used to start or further work at over 110 sites across the country. Approximately 80% of the funding will be used in areas that meet the administration’s environmental justice goals as prescribed in the Justic40 Initiative.
Electrifying Rural America
The IIJA allocated approximately $1 billion to the DOE’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas program (ERA) to invest in and accelerate the deployment of clean energy in rural communities. The ERA program makes $366 million available to help implement projects in communities with populations of less than 10,000. Project focuses include developing microgrids, increasing energy efficiency, upgrading transmission infrastructure and supporting renewable energy projects. Benefits from the 17 projects that have been selected so far, including lowering utility bills and decreasing emissions, will positively impact 20 states and 30 tribal communities.
Short but Sweet, More News Below!
Agriculture
- The USDA is working to strengthen resiliency in the food supply chain, especially in middle markets, by awarding $270 million to state agriculture departments through cooperative agreements. Awards will be issued by states and territories to third-party entities, including agriculture producers, through a competitive grant process. Read More.
- The FDA has revised regulatory guidance for certain animal feed additives in an effort to help reduce livestock methane emissions and to help mitigate pathogen risks in the food supply chain. However, this revision does not overhaul current FDA regulations on zootechnical animal food substances, which still classifies those animal feed additives as an animal drug. Learn More.
- The USDA’s Economic Research Service has issued a report providing an overview of American farms operated by socially disadvantaged, women and limited resource farmers and ranchers. Report findings include information about farm finances and operations across these demographics. Learn More.
Energy
- As a part of continued efforts by the administration to build out the nation’s electric transmission system, the DOE has opened Requests for Proposals from “shovel ready” transmission projects to receive $1.2 billion through the Transmission Facilitation Program. Under this revolving fund program, once transmission lines are operational the DOE would be able to purchase up to half of the electricity to then resell to other interested parties. Learn More.
- Long-term authorization for the sale of 15% ethanol gasoline blends, known as E15, has been finalized by the administration. Starting in 2025, eight midwestern states will be able to sell E15 biofuel year-round, rather than just during the summer months when fuel demand is high. Learn More.
- The Rural and Agriculture Income & Savings from Renewable Energy will be issuing $144 million, as part of a joint effort by the DOE and the USDA to implement small-scale energy projects on at least 400 farms nationwide. This funding is intended to help farming operations save money, boost rural community incomes and expand renewable energy sources. Read More.
- The DOE has opened applications for $18 million in federal funding through the Communities Sparking Investments in Transformative Energy program. This funding is intended to implement high-impact clean energy projects that are owned by tribes or municipalities in disadvantaged and tribal communities. Read More.
- To streamline and consolidate information and guidance around clean energy tax incentives, the Treasury Department has launched a website that addresses its Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) initiatives. Learn More.
Environment
- Wildfire risk management is receiving a $500 million boost from the administration through the IRA and IIJA. The funding will be distributed by the Forest Service to wildfire risk reduction projects in high-priority fire-prone landscapes and in forest-urban interface areas. Read More.
- The Clean Ports Program is being launched by the EPA as a part of the administration’s Investing in America Agenda. This $3 billion program is funded by the IRA and is intended to help improve air quality around ports and fund zero-emission infrastructure and investments. Read More.
- In a reversal of previous policy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will now allow federal hazard mitigation and disaster funds to be utilized by state and local governments to construct more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable government buildings. This policy change is a part of the administration’s larger effort to reduce greenhouse emissions and create more resilient communities. Learn More.
NCSL News and Resources
Low-income households across the U.S. have higher household energy burdens, but also typically have less access to energy efficiency services. Successfully implementing these measures in low-income communities requires careful planning and execution. Check out NCSL’s new Low Income Renter Energy Efficiency Toolkit, which provides information on resources state lawmakers can use to help achieve energy and cost-saving for low-income households.