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This Month in Energy

Read on to explore major developments in the energy sector and legislation for the month of July and new OEP materials, including additions to OurEnergyLibrary, a recording of our July webinar and our new whitepaper! 

READ: New Whitepaper

Consent Based Siting for Federal Interim Nuclear Storage

The issue of nuclear waste in the U.S. has been present for decades and the federal government has struggled to finalize a long-term solution. OurEnergyPolicy (OEP) has released a new whitepaper, Consent Based Siting for Federal Interim Nuclear Storage, which summarizes feedback provided by energy leaders in response to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) regarding the establishment of a consent-based program for the siting of a federal, interim nuclear waste repository.

Click Here to Read

APPLY: Job Opportunity

Program Director

OEP is looking for someone with experience in energy and program management and an interest in policy to join us as Program Director in DC. Apply now!

Learn More and Apply Here

OurEnergyLibrary Top Resources

Interested in receiving the latest energy policy publications each month?

Sign up for our OurEnergyLibrary Monthly Digest!


The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program



BlueGreen Alliance

This report aims to support state transportation departments to deploy NEVI Formula Program funds in ways that contribute to a robust, reliable, and nationwide network of union-made, installed, and maintained EV charging infrastructure, and maximize benefits for workers and disadvantaged communities.


Future-Proofed: Protecting Infrastructure in Uncertain Times


Guidehouse

This report explores the key infrastructure resilience challenges that organizations face, the need to rethink old models of resilience in favor of a more holistic, evolutionary approach, and how best to create a strategy to build resilience.

Meeting the Moment:

How President Biden can Align the Federal Fossil Fuel Program to Deliver on Climate and Put People Over Profits

Earthjustice and

Evergreen Action

Beyond exacerbating the climate crisis, the U.S. federal fossil fuel leasing program is irreconcilable with the President’s environmental justice commitments. This paper lays out a policy roadmap for how the Biden administration can align its federal fossil fuel development decisions with the President’s climate and environmental justice commitments.

Read Here!
Read Here!
Read Here!

EXPLORE: July's Energy Developments

Department of Energy Loans General Motors and LG $2.5 billion to Build Battery Manufacturing Plants


The Department of Energy loan, part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program, will go toward production facilities in Tennessee, Ohio, and Michigan. Production is slated to begin in 2023. See below for related OurEnergyPolicy materials.  

Critical Minerals:

America's Achilles' Heel?


Experts discuss the importance of metals and minerals for energy technologies and systems, what their mining and processing means for the energy transition, and solutions for securing their supply chains. 

Electrifying Transport:

The State of Electric Vehicles


This webinar examines the evolving sector and how it can best meet federal and industry goals.

Texas Grid Falters Amid Record Demand & Extreme Heat



Extreme heat waves and record demand have resulted in calls for Texans to conserve energy as ERCOT deals with a shaky power grid. While some blame renewables, which have, so far, met state production forecasts for the year, others point out that thermal generation (fossil fuels/nuclear) have underperformed as aging power plants struggle. See below for related OEP materials.

Infrastructure: Policy

Outlook and Cybersecurity


A timely discussion of public policy related to infrastructure, cybersecurity, and the energy transition.

Extreme Weather Events:

Multi-Pathway Approaches

Within Our Grasp


Scott Sklar, president of The Stella Group, LTD, discusses the most important steps we can take to prepare for future extreme weather events and other threats.

Major Win for Climate Regulations


The June 30 ruling in West Virginia vs. EPA has severely limited the EPA’s ability to regulate climate change-causing emissions. Despite this, the Biden administration is hopeful that it will be able to enact part of its climate plan after Senator Joe Manchin announced his support for a reconciliation package on July 27 after previously saying he would not support the climate or tax provisions of the Democratic economic package. See below for related OurEnergyPolicy content.

Proposed Federal Clean

Energy Standards


A discussion on the various perspectives of the federal clean energy standard's benefits and drawbacks, as well as how and whether it should be implemented.

Regulations for a 

Clean Power Sector


A look at the EPA’s “sector-wide roadmap,” potential legal challenges, and the implications for the power industry.

July Energy Legislation

July 13 - S. 4515: No Emergency Crude Oil for Foreign Adversaries Act

Introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), this bill would require the Secretary of Energy to stipulate, as a condition on the sale at auction of any crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, that the crude oil not be exported to certain countries, and for other purposes.


July 7 - H.R. 8312: To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a Natural Diasaster Grid Mitigation Map that identifies critical electric grid infrastructure that is vulnerable to natural diasasters, and for other purposes

Introduced by Rep. Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ1), this bill would direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a Natural Diasaster Grid Mitigation Map that identifies critical electric grid infrastructure that is vulnerable to natural diasasters, and for other purposes.


July 7 - H.R. 8302: Empowering RTO Stakeholders Act of 2022

Introduced by Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL6), this bill wouldirect the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue a rule enhancing Regional Transmission Organization and Independent System Operator independence and responsiveness, and for other purposes.


July 7 - H.R. 8303: Reinforcing the Grid Against Extreme Weather Act

Introduced by Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL6), this bill would provide for minimum transfer capability requirements between transmission planning regions, and for other purposes. 

July 7 - H.R. 8314: California Clean School Bus Equity Act

Introduced by Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA45), this bill would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to remove a limitation on amounts provided under the clean school bus program, and for other purposes.


July 7 - H.R. 8311: Grid Resilience Act

Introduced by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA9), this bill would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, and the Electric Reliability Organization to jointly submit to Congress the results of a study on the need for, and feasibility of, establishing or modifying a reliability standard to ensure the reliable operation of thermoelectric power plants during droughts, and for other purposes.


July 5 - H.R. 8292: To require a report on Puerto Rico's progress toward rebuilding the electric grid and detailing the efforts the Federal Government is undertaking to expedite such rebuilding, and for other purposes

Introduced by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY15), this bill would require a report on Puerto Rico's progress toward rebuilding the electric grid and detailing the efforts the Federal Government is undertaking to expedite such rebuilding, and for other purposes.


July 1 - H.R. 8272: REEShore Act of 2022

Introduced by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI8), this bill would encourage the extraction and processing of rare earth elements and critical minerals in the United States, and for other purposes

WATCH: July's Webinar

Innovations in Energy Storage

This webinar examined the role of innovation in advancing energy storage with panelists discussing the state of new technologies, new policy approaches to support deployment and commercialization, and the role of financing in transforming the market.

Click Here to Watch

Welcome to Our New Program Associate

Liza Roberts

Prior to joining OEP, Liza worked with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as a graduate consultant and also served as a policy intern with Scenic America. Liza has a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese and Government from Georgetown University, and recently completed her MPA in Environmental Science and Policy at Columbia University. Outside of work, she enjoys hammocking, attending concerts, playing rugby, and going on walks.

Energy Events in August


For more energy events, check out our events calendar!

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