2020 Legislative Agenda: Climate Bills Begin to Ramp Up
There is a general consensus that climate legislation efforts underway now are preparations for post-2020 action. While targeted energy bills range the gamut, from energy efficiency to storage, and broader concepts and agreements, such as the Green New Deal and the Paris Agreement, garner significant attention, we are starting to track the more comprehensive climate and energy bills that we’ll want to watch in the new year. To that end, Plurus Strategies has identified three categories of energy legislation to watch in 2020.
Big Bold Measures
Congressional Democrats are planning for policymaking beyond 2020, as evidenced by the list of broad energy and climate measures introduced in 2019 and those anticipated in the second half of the 116th Congress. With an eye to the near miss of then-Congressman Markey on climate legislation a decade prior, members are gearing up for an active 2021 with the unveiling of a wide range of big, bold measures in 2019 and 2020. Most of the bills thus far have been introduced by congressional Democrats, though in some cases, they have been joined by a Republican co-sponsor. Passage of legislation such as this is going to necessitate a Democratic House and Senate at the least. For those keeping track, please find below the current running list of such measures.
H.R. 763: Energy, Innovation, and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019. Introduced by Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Francis Rooney (R-FL) on January 24, 2019.
The bill would impose a fee on the carbon content of fuels. The fee would be imposed on carbon producers and importers and is equal to the greenhouse gas content of the fuel multiplied by the carbon fee rate ($15 in 2019, increases by $10 each year, subject to further adjustments).
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (1/25/2019).
H.Res. 109 / S. Res. 59: Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to Create a Green New Deal. Introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey on February 7, 2019.
The resolution calls for the creation of a Green New Deal with the goals of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions; establishing millions of high-wage jobs and ensuring economic security for all; investing in infrastructure and industry; securing clean air and water, climate and community resiliency, healthy food, access to nature, and a sustainable environment for all; and promoting justice and equality. It calls for the accomplishment of these goals through a 10-year national mobilization effort. It also enumerates the goals and projects of the mobilization effort, including building smart power grids (i.e., power grids that enable customers to reduce their power use during peak demand periods); upgrading all existing buildings and constructing new buildings to achieve maximum energy and water efficiency; removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation and agricultural sectors; cleaning up existing hazardous waste and abandoned sites; ensuring businesspersons are free from unfair competition; and providing higher education, high-quality health care, and affordable, safe, and adequate housing to all.
The resolutions have been referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce; Science, Space, and Technology; Education and Labor; Transportation and Infrastructure; Agriculture; Natural Resources; Foreign Affairs; Financial Services; Judiciary; Ways and Means; and Oversight and Reform and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (2/7/19).
S. 940 / H.R. 1960: The Healthy Climate and Family Security Act. Introduced by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) on March 28, 2019.
The bill would cap the emissions of greenhouse gases through a requirement to purchase carbon permits and to distribute the proceeds of such purchases to eligible individuals.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means (3/28/2019).
S. 1128: American Opportunity Carbon Free Act of 2019. Introduced by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) on April 10, 2019.
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emission fees, provide tax credits to workers, and deliver additional benefits to retired and disabled Americans.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance (4/10/2019).
S. 1288: Clean Energy for America Act. Introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on May 2, 2019.
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for increased investment in clean energy.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance (5/2/2019).
S. 1359 / H.R. 2597: Clean Energy Standard Act of 2019. Introduced by Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Tom Udall (D-NM) and Reps. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Ann Kuster (D-NH), and Julia Brownley (D-CA) On May 8, 2019.
The bill would establish a federal Clean Energy Standard to put the U.S. on a path to net-zero electricity emissions. Under the plan, every company selling retail electricity would be asked to increase the amount of clean energy provided to its customers, with the recognition that different regions will be starting the clean energy transition at different benchmarks. This bill would establish a CES credit trading market, which would allow retail electricity sellers to cost-effectively achieve clean energy targets without taxes or other federal revenues. It would encourage companies to bring cost-effective, emission-free technologies to market. The bill would further incentivize development and deployment of zero-emission technologies, including long term storage, that can be turned on or off at any time and help balance the electric grid as the transition to clean energy continues. Additionally, it would significantly reduce emissions and benefit public health and the environmental. Scientific modeling of this plan shows that it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electrical generators by nearly 80 percent by 2035 (compared to 2005 levels) and lead to thousands of fewer deaths every year.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Science, Space, and Technology (5/8/19).
S. 2284 / H.R. 4051: Climate Action Rebate Act of 2019. Introduced by Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Thomas Suozzi (D-NY) on July 25, 2019.
The bill would impose a carbon fee on the use, sale, or transfer of certain fossil fuels and fluorinated gases that emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by producers/importers and deposits the fee in a Climate Action Rebate Fund; establishes a gradual emission reduction schedule to achieve 100% reduction by 2050; requires payment of an equalization fee by fossil fuels and carbon-intensive imported goods at the border and provides for refunds of comparable export; rebates up to 70% of net revenues from the fund to low-income individuals as a monthly dividend, with remaining revenue invested in infrastructure, energy innovation, and assistance for workers and communities to transition to a cleaner energy economy.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance (7/25/2019) and the House Energy and Commerce Committee (8/14/2019).
H.R. 4058: The Stemming Warning and Augmenting Pay Act of 2019 (SWAP Act). Introduced by Reps. Francis Rooney (R-FL) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) on July 25, 2019.
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a tax on greenhouse gas emissions accordingly and reduce tax rates on payroll.
The bill has been referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce; and Science, Space, and Technology (7/25/2019).
H.R. 3966:The Raise Wages, Cut Carbon Act of 2019. Introduced by Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and Francis Rooney (R-FL) on July 25, 2019.
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce social security payroll taxes and to reduce the reliance of the United States economy on carbon-based energy sources.
The bill has been referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce; Education and Labor; and Rules (7/25/2019).
H.R. 4142: America Wins Act. Introduced by Reps. John Larson (D-CT), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) on August 2, 2019.
The bill would impose a carbon tax to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, provide a consumer rebate to the American people, assist coal country, and reduce harmful pollution.
The bill has been referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means; Transportation and Infrastructure; Energy and Commerce; Agriculture; Education and Labor; Natural Resources; Science, Space, and Technology; and Financial Services (8/2/2019).
H.R. 4520: The Market Choice Act. Introduced by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Francis Rooney (R-FL), and Scott Peters (D-CA) on September 26, 2019.
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate certain fuel excise taxes and impose a tax on greenhouse gas emissions to provide revenue for maintaining and building American infrastructure (Highway Trust Fund), and for other purposes: 70% of revenue sent to infrastructure; carbon tax beginning in 2021 would start at $35 per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, rising by 5% per year (plus an adjustment for the consumer price index).
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (9/27/2019).
H.R. 4732: To establish a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy, to authorize the admission of climate-displaced persons, and for other purposes. Introduced by Reps. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Grace Napolitano (D-CA) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) on October 17, 2019.
The bill would establish a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy and would authorize the admission of climate-displaced persons.
The bill has been referred to the House Committees on Foreign Affairs; Judiciary; and Energy and Commerce (10/17/2019).
H.R. 4737: Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act. Introduced by Reps. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL) on October 18, 2019.
The bill would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the DHS to research and evaluate existing Federal Research regarding approaches to mitigate climate change on homeland security, to identify areas for further research within the department, and research and develop approaches to mitigate the consequences of climate change on homeland security.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security (10/18/2019).
The Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment Act. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) plans to introduce soon; she released a detailed summary October 30, 2019.
The bill would create the nation’s first federal clean-energy standard designed to cut carbon emissions from the country’s electricity-producing utilities in half by 2030 and to net-zero by 2050, including by creating a system that awards power plants with clean energy credits for each MWh electricity produced without emitting carbon into the atmosphere and awarding credits for the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. Companies may then sell excess credits earned in a particular year to other companies, while companies may also purchase credits from the Department of Energy (DOE) at a pre-designated price, thus creating a cap on the price of credits to prevent market disruptions. Revenues collected by DOE would be placed in a trust fund and used for funding the most cost-effective projects aimed at reducing the country’s carbon emissions.
H.R. 5221: 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019. Introduced by Rep. Don McEachin (D-VA) on November 21, 2019.
The bill would direct federal agencies to draw up plans to slash greenhouse gas emissions to meet the 100% clean economy goal, calling for plans within six months of enactment; task the EPA with reviewing the plans, submitting an annual emissions report to Congress, and set up an advisory committee to make recommendations for interim greenhouse gas targets.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (11/21/2019).
S. 3032: Renewable Energy Transferability Act. Introduced by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) on December 12, 2019.
The bill allows tax credits for renewable energy to be transferred to project partners. The bill applies to the tax credits for renewable electricity production, investments in renewable energy property, and carbon oxide sequestration.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.
H.R. 5435: American Public Lands and Waters Climate Solution Act of 2019. Introduced by Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Deb Haaland (D-NM), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Don McEachin (D-VA), and Diana DeGette (D-CO), as well as Del. Kilili Sablan (D-NMI) on December 16, 2019.
The bill would require net-zero emissions from the nation’s public lands and oceans by 2040. It would establish intermediate targets at 2025 (35 percent from the 2014 baseline), 2030 (60 percent), and 2035 (80 percent) for the Interior Department and USDA’s Forest Service to hit the net-zero mark by 2040 and would pause new fossil fuel leases for a minimum of one year while they develop a strategy to reduce emissions. Agencies would be required to publish strategies, subject to public comment, every four years outlining details plans for hitting the targets. It would increase royalty rates for onshore coal, oil, and natural gas to allow for the creation of a new Federal Energy Transition Economic Development Assistance Fund that would assist communities as they transition away from fossil fuel production, while fifty percent of the collected funds would separately be returned to the state where the extraction occurred.
The bill has been referred to the House Committees on Natural Resources; Agriculture; and Education and Labor (12/16/19).
H.R. 5457: The Carbon Reduction and Tax Credit Act. Introduced by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) on December 17, 2019.
The bill would impose an excise tax on fuel based on the carbon content of such fuel. Specifically, it would price carbon at $40 per ton and index the price to inflation. It would then create a tax credit up to $1,000 for each taxpayer and each dependent.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means (12/17/2019).
H.R. 5523: Energy Sector Innovation Credit Act of 2019. Introduced by Reps. Tom Reed (R-NY), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and David Schweikert (R-AZ) on December 19, 2019.
The bill would create a tax incentive for new and innovative energy technologies, called the Emerging Energy Technology Credit, which scales down as production scales up. The credit is technology-neutral, meaning new technologies and advanced retrofits may access the credit.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means (12/19/2019).
Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act. Representatives Paul Tonko (R-NY) and Bobby Rush (D-IL) released the legislative framework on January 8, 2020.
The plan adopts the goal of achieving a 100 percent clean economy by 2050 via sector-specific – power, building, transportation, industrial – and economy-wide solutions. It establishes a national climate target for federal agencies, sets a national climate standard in each state by 2050, creates a national climate bank, and provides environmental justice guidance and grant programs. It includes proposals to remove barriers to clean energy, reduce super pollutants, and investments in grid modernization and energy efficiency programs.
Complementary Non-Congressional Action Plans
As Congress is putting together legislation, others off the Hill are putting together their own climate plans. Below includes a list of non-governmental organizations’ and other entities’ climate plans that we will continue to build out as they are released:
World War Zero is a bipartisan coalition organized to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and to create clean energy jobs in the process.
Amazon has partnered with Christiana Figueres’ Global Optimism to launch The Climate Pledge, to achieve the goal of net zero carbon of the Paris Agreement ten years earlier by 2040. Companies that comply would be required to: measure and report greenhouse gas emissions regularly; implement decarbonization strategies in line with the Paris Agreement; and neutralize any emissions with additional offsets.
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is committed to a its goal toward a 100% clean economy through achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Climate Registry operates a Carbon Footprint Registry, in which member organizations report their emissions to their program to help them reap the benefits of recognition and community for reducing their carbon emissions levels.
The Climate Institute has taken a variety of initiatives, including the Clean and Secure Grid Initiative to study and promote the creation of an HVDC grid overlay over the lower 48 states to transmit energy more efficiently; and the Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative, which works with small developing island states to address the damaging effects of climate change through increased renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) is a nonprofit, bipartisan alliance of business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders advocating for enhanced energy productivity to achieve economic growth, a cleaner environment, and greater energy security, affordability, and reliability. Their Energy 2030 Goal advocates doubling energy productivity in the U.S. by 2030.
The Future Coalition is a national network of youth-led organizations that provides resources and support to youth to enact change in their communities. On March 15, they organized 424 students in at least 45 U.S. states to stand in solidarity with the Global Youth Climate Strike. The Youth Climate Strike demanded that lawmakers address the climate crisis. They have subsequently organized a December 6 Climate Strike.
The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to forge practical solutions to climate change. Their Climate Innovation 2050 initiative seeks to coordinate companies to examine potential pathways for decarbonization of the U.S. economy.
Resources for the Future (RFF) improves environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. RFF scholars are informing the design and examining the impacts of carbon pricing policies, conducting research to inform the ongoing transformation and decarbonization of the electricity sector, and exploring the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of oil and gas development.
The Energy Innovation Reform Project (EIRP) promotes the development of advanced energy technologies and practices to improve the affordability, reliability, safety and security of American energy supplies. EIRP advocates for public policies and private initiatives to promote research and development of advanced energy in the areas of advanced nuclear, carbon capture, and renewable energy.
The Climate Leadership Council is an international policy institute founded in collaboration with business, opinion and environmental leaders to promote a carbon dividends framework as the most cost-effective, equitable and politically-viable climate solution. The four pillars of its Carbon Dividends Plan are: a gradually rising carbon fee, carbon dividends for all Americans, significant regulatory simplification, and border carbon adjustment.
The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) has an Energy Team focused on generating and advocating pragmatic clean energy policies through engagement with a broad set of stakeholders and experts from diverse political perspectives.
Pragmatic Approaches from Congressional Republicans
After acknowledging that the big, bold ideas are dead on arrival, at least for the next year, that they serve as messaging bills or warmups to a post-2020 debate, there is a second category of measures that could potentially move in the coming months. While much of the rank and file Republicans favor research and development efforts over wide ranging climate plans, for example, let’s consider first the most recent Republican effort demonstrating some interest in energy policymaking this congress.
House Republicans in the Energy & Commerce Committee recently introduced their “Energy and Environment Showcase,” a package of twelve bills in partnership with fifteen companies and organizations. They hope to pass these bills into law in 2020 to reduce emissions, promote clean energy, and conserve our natural resources. The package includes:
H.R. 1166: USE IT Act. Introduced by Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) on February 13, 2019.
The bill would support carbon dioxide utilization and direct air capture research, to facilitate the permitting and development of carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration projects and carbon dioxide pipelines.
The bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, in the House Committee on Natural Resources (2/28/2019).
H.R. 2607: Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2019. Introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AZ) on May 8, 2019.
The bill would expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and improve forest management activities on National Forest System lands, on public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and on Tribal lands to return resilience to overgrown, fire-prone forested lands.
The bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, in the House Committee on Agriculture (6/7/2019).
H.R. 3306: Nuclear Energy Leadership Act. Introduced by Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) on June 18, 2019.
The bill would direct the Secretary of Energy to establish advanced nuclear goals, provide for a versatile, reactor-based fast neutron source, make available high-assay, low-enriched uranium for research, development, and demonstration of advanced nuclear reactor concepts.
The bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, in the House Armed Services Committee (6/19/2019).
H.R. 3079: Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2019. Introduced by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) on June 4, 2019.
The bill would amend the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to encourage the increased use of performance contracting in Federal facilities.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (6/4/2019).
H.R. 172: New Source Review Permitting Improvement Act of 2018. Introduced by Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) on January 3, 2019.
The bill would amend sections 111, 169, and 171 of the Clean Air Act to clarify when a physical change in, or change in the method of operation of, a stationary source constitutes a modification or construction.
The bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (1/25/2019).
H.R. 1836: Small Scale LNG Access Act of 2019. Introduced by Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) on March 18, 2019.
The bill would amend the Natural Gas Act to expedite approval of exports of small volumes of natural gas.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (3/18/2019).
H.R. 3828: Launching Energy Advancement and Development through Innovations for Natural Gas (LEADING) Act of 2019. Introduced by Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) on July 18, 2019.
The bill would require the Secretary of Energy to establish a program for the research, development, and demonstration of commercially viable technologies for the capture of carbon dioxide produced during the generation of natural gas-generated power.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (7/18/2019).
H.R. 1760: Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act. Introduced by Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) on March 14, 2019.
The bill would direct the Office of Nuclear Energy in the Department of Energy to develop and deploy high-assay low-enriched uranium for domestic commercial use and to develop a schedule for recovering costs associated with such development.
The bill has passed the House and been received in the Senate. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (9/10/2019).
H.R. 2986: Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act. Introduced by Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) on May 23, 2019.
This bill would address grid-scale energy storage systems by requiring the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish within its Office of Electricity a research, development, and demonstration program for grid-scale energy storage systems. DOE must enter into agreements to carry out not more than five demonstration projects and develop a 10-year strategic plan and cost targets for grid-scale energy storage systems.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (5/23/2019).
H.R. 4447: Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019. Introduced by Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) on September 20, 2019.
The bill would establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical assistance program.
The bill has been referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Science, Space, and Technology (9/20/2019).
H.R. 1796: Carbon Capture Modernization Act. Introduced by Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) on March 14, 2019.
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the qualifying advanced coal project credit.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means (3/14/2019).
H.R. 2114: Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2019.
The bill would address state energy security plans by authorizing the Department of Energy (DOE) to provide financial assistance to states for the implementation, review, and revision of a state energy security plan that assesses the state's existing circumstances and would propose methods to strengthen the ability of the state to have a reliable, secure, and resilient energy infrastructure. A state energy security plan must contain specified content, including a risk assessment of energy infrastructure and cross-sector interdependencies and a risk mitigation approach to enhance reliability and end-use resilience. The plan must address potential hazards to each energy sector or system, including physical threats and cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. Upon request of a state, DOE may provide information and technical assistance, and other assistance, in the development, implementation, or revision of a state energy security plan.
The bill has passed the House and has been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar No. 257 under General Orders (10/22/2019).
Targeted Efforts to Watch
A third category of bills to watch includes a lengthy list of more moderate, targeted measures. Knowing that their time together is term-limited, Senate Energy and Natural Resources leadership Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) have expressed interest in pursuing an incremental piece of energy innovation legislation, that could be formed by packaging together industrial technology, energy efficiency, advanced nuclear, battery storage, CCS, and potentially some transportation legislation. Top targets for inclusion in any sort of energy package this year might include:
Any of the 84 measures reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in 2019, as well as others forthcoming in 2020.
Moderate legislation included in Rep. Scott Peters’ (D-CA) Climate Playbook.
Other targeted bills already introduced in the House and/or Senate, particularly those with bipartisan support.
While there may be a genuine interest in the passage of a moderate, targeted energy bill, the odds are somewhat stacked against its success. Perhaps more than in any other issue area, energy bills tend to be omnibus measures. What we are seeing now with Sens. Murkowski and Manchin is something of a re-run of the effort Sens. Murkowski and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) undertook during their tenure as leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, only this time, the effort currently appears to be an attempt to push not one package, but many bills. Election year politics may further complicate the chances for moderate bill or set of bills to get through both chambers and be signed by the president.
That being said, the House is likely to advance some of their measures, which may simply join the other several hundred bills awaiting Senate action.
Once we see what the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis release in their reports the first quarter of 2020, we’ll have a better sense of where we’re going in the next several months, and what that may mean for 2021 and beyond.