What a week in Washington: Updates on new CR, DOE org structure, funds for EVs
ECA Staff | 2/10/2022
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Short-term CR passed in House
On Tuesday, lawmakers in the House passed a bill to extend federal government funding and avoid a government shutdown by a 272-162 vote. The measure, another Continuing Resolution (CR), would approve funding through March 11, 2022. At that point, policymakers must either pass another CR or complete work on remaining appropriations bills to avoid another potential shutdown. The House has passed 9 out of its 12 appropriations bills, while the Senate has
passed none. The latter chamber released its remaining appropriations bills in October 2021, setting the stage for negotiations with the House on a full FY22 spending bill in the coming weeks.
Following Senate approval, this will mark the third time Congress has passed a short-term spending bill to keep the federal government running since the fiscal year began in October.
The CR continues funding at FY 2021-approved levels. Under the FY21 enacted budget, the Department of Energy (DOE) received $39.59 billion and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) received $19.73 billion.
House and Senate leaders from both parties have claimed that an agreement on appropriations is close, but that more time is needed for negotiations.
For more details on FY22 funding requests for DOE and NNSA, please visit ECA's website.
DOE reshuffles org chart
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced yesterday a shift in leadership structure in order to effectively spend the $62 billion allocated to the Department by the Infrastructure Law. The change comes in the form of two new undersecretary positions, “one focused on fundamental science and clean energy innovation and the other focused on deploying clean infrastructure,” according to DOE’s website.
“The Under Secretary for Infrastructure (formerly Under Secretary for Energy) will focus on deploying clean energy solutions,” the site states. “The existing offices moving to the new Under Secretary include DOE’s Loan Programs Office, Office of Indian Energy, Office of Clean Energy Demonstration, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), and the Federal Energy Management Program.”
DOE is also launching three new offices to support infrastructure funds deployment: the Grid Infrastructure Office, the State and Community Energy Program, and the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains.
The new role of Under Secretary for Science and Innovation (formerly the Undersecretary for Science and Energy) “will continue their world leadership in driving research and development of energy technologies, with connected demonstration and deployment activities. Through the realignment the Office of Science, DOE’s applied energy offices, and DOE’s 17 National Labs will continue their core discovery science and innovation missions.”
The new DOE organizational chart may be viewed here.
Biden launches $5 bil for EV charging
Today, the Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Energy (DOE) announced nearly $5 billion will be available to create a national EV charging network, made possible by the Infrastructure Law.
Dubbed the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, the initiative will provide funds over the course of five years to help create a network of EV charging stations along designated “Alternative Fuel Corridors, particularly along the Interstate Highway System,” according to a DOT press release.
“The total amount available to states in Fiscal Year 2022 under the NEVI Formula Program is $615 million,” according to the press release. “States must submit an EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan before they can access these funds. A second, competitive grant program designed to further increase EV charging access in locations throughout the country, including in rural and underserved communities, will be announced later this year.”
DOE and DOT also recently announced a new Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. In order to access the new infrastructure funds for EV charging, each state must submit their Deployment Plan to this office.
Information on state-by-state NEVI funding for Fiscal Years 2022-2026 may be found here.
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Join ECA for a Virtual Budget Briefing
On THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24 from 2pm - 3pm ET, join ECA for a virtual budget briefing + Q&A.
Participants will get an overview of the budget and appropriations process, hearing specifically about the Department of Energy (DOE) budget from Steve Trischman, Director of the
Office of Budget and Planning for DOE's Office of Environmental Management.
There will also be a Q&A session at the end of the meeting.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
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MARCH 1 & 2, 2022
The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Board) will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, and Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to review information on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) activities related to spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW). Specifically, the meeting will cover research and development (R&D) on SNF and
HLW storage, transportation, non-site-specific disposal, DOE’s integrated waste management system, and its consent-based siting process to identify federal interim storage facilities.
Details for joining and viewing the meeting will be available on the Board’s website (www.nwtrb.gov) approximately one week before the meeting. The meeting will begin on both days at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST) and is scheduled to adjourn at approximately 5:00 p.m. EST.
The meeting will be open to the public and there will be opportunities for public comments.
MARCH 4, 2022
The Department of Energy (DOE) has released a Request for Information (RFI) on how to site Federal facilities for the temporary, consolidated storage of spent nuclear fuel using a consent-based approach.
Responses to the RFI will inform development of a consent-based siting process, overall strategy for an integrated waste management system, and possibly a funding opportunity. DOE especially welcomes insight from people, communities, and groups that have historically not been well-represented in these discussions.
Responses must be received by March 4, 2022 by 5:00pm ET and may be submitted electronically to consentbasedsiting@hq.doe.gov, including “RFI: Consent-Based Siting and Federal Interim Storage” in the subject line of the email
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Tanks for listening! New all-Hanford edition of 'Gone Fission'
ECA Staff | 2/10/2022
The 'Gone Fission Nuclear Report' podcast recently released an all-Hanford Site episode spotlighting David Reeploeg, Vice President for Federal Programs for the Tri-City
Development Council (TRIDEC) and Executive Director for Hanford Communities, as its featured guest. Reeploeg is also a member of the Energy Communities Alliance.
'Gone Fission' provides listeners with information on developments across the Department of Energy (DOE) complex. The series also provides commentary and insights to help listeners gain a better understanding of the impact of developments discussed in each episode.
In the most recent episode of the podcast, Reeploeg provided insight on the current community perspective of cleanup at DOE's Hanford Site.
"I think that the community is generally pretty encouraged by what's happening with the cleanup effort at Hanford today," he said. "The cleanup has been going on now for over 30 years. There's been a number of fits and starts, and a significant evolution both in terms of getting an understanding from all parties - including the community - of what cleanup looks like and how it's going to be done."
Reeploeg also commented on the community's initial perspective at the start of the site's cleanup program.
"When you flash back 30 years, there was a lot of trepidation and concern, both in terms of the impact on the local economy...and about what cleanup was going to do in the transition from production to cleanup," he said. "Hanford had historically been a very large employer and a key economic driver in the community - and it still is today - but there was a lot of uncertainty. That was one of the reasons, I believe, that groups like
Hanford Communities were formed at the time."
Despite the initial uncertainty in the community, according the Reeploeg, the tank waste treatment mission at Hanford is "progressing really well" and "will be the enduring work that will take a lot of time and effort for the next half-century."
The episode also includes coverage on the first large-scale treatment of radioactive and chemical waste at the Tank-Side Cesium Removal System, the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste program, and more topics.
To listen to the full episode of 'Gone Fission Nuclear Report' and to view an archive of episodes, please visit here: www.gonefissionnuclear.com/.
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Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments.
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