Bill
Bill > HR1558
summary
Introduced
03/24/2015
03/24/2015
In Committee
03/27/2015
03/27/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2015 This bill amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure that any emergency order that may result in conflict with federal, state, or local environmental law or regulations: requires generation, delivery, interchange, or transmission of electricity only during hours necessary to meet the emergency and serve the public interest; be consistent with applicable environmental law; and minimizes any adverse environmental impacts to the maximum extent practical. Any necessary action or omission in such an emergency that does not comply with federal, state, or local environmental law or regulation shall not be considered a violation of it, or subject the party involved to any related requirement, civil or criminal liability, or a citizen suit. Such emergency orders must expire within 90 days. FERC may renew or reissue an order for subsequent periods of no more than 90 days each as necessary to meet the emergency and serve the public interest. During an emergency, a municipality engaged in the transmission or sale of electricity, and not otherwise subject to FERC jurisdiction, may make temporary connections with public utilities that are subject to FERC jurisdiction, and construct necessary or appropriate temporary electricity transmission facilities, without becoming subject to FERC jurisdiction by reason of that temporary connection or construction.
AI Summary
This bill, the Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2015, amends the Federal Power Act to establish procedures for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) when issuing emergency orders that might conflict with environmental laws. Specifically, FERC must ensure such orders only allow electricity generation, delivery, or transmission during the hours needed to address the emergency and serve the public interest, while also striving to be consistent with environmental laws and minimize negative environmental impacts as much as possible. Actions taken to comply with these emergency orders, even if they don't meet environmental regulations, will not be considered violations and will not lead to legal penalties or citizen lawsuits. These emergency orders will initially last for 90 days and can be renewed for additional 90-day periods if the emergency continues. The bill also allows municipalities involved in electricity transmission or sales, who are not normally under FERC's authority, to temporarily connect to or build facilities with utilities regulated by FERC during an emergency without coming under FERC's general jurisdiction.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry, Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power. (on 03/27/2015)
Official Document
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