House committee passes energy, outdoor recreation bills

Republican energy poverty legislation generated the most debate.

January 17, 2024

 The House Natural Resources Committee approved legislation Wednesday to address Republican concerns about energy poverty, in addition to a major outdoor recreation package and a bipartisan geothermal permitting bill.

Wyoming Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman’s "Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act," H.R. 5482, would require federal agencies to publish studies on potential increases in home heating, electricity or gas prices before finalizing any energy policy.

The legislation would also mandate those studies on all existing energy policies. The committee passed the bill 18-17 along party lines.

“This bill is about transparency. It's about the federal government doing its part to let the American people know just exactly what federal rules and regulations mean to them,” said Hageman.

“America must have accessible and affordable energy, and coal, oil and gas, and uranium are three of the most important resources we have to meet our demands,” she added.

Democrats said the bill's studies would be slanted to benefit fossil fuel producers and don't include crucial elements like climate change and health impacts.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said the bill amounts to using “vulnerable communities as props to advance the craven agenda of big oil and gas."

“This bill assumes that more dirty energy production will save the day against energy poverty. … Despite the record oil and gas production, home energy prices are still rising. If drilling everywhere and exalting fossil fuels was the solution, you would think we would have lower energy prices right now, but we don't,” he said.

The committee rejected three Democratic amendments, including one from ranking member Raúl Grijalva of Arizona to include analysis of the health impacts of energy projects on low-income communities.

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By:  Nidhi Prakash
Source: E&E News