WASHINGTON — Senators told state regulators they had little hope of passing comprehensive cybersecurity legislation or finding a solution for the nuclear waste stalemate this year.
Four members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee gave the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners an update on the prospects for legislation affecting the grid and made their cases on subjects including the wind Production Tax Credit, greenhouse gas rules and Norman Bay, President Obama’s nominee for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairmanship. (See sidebar: Senators Cite PJM in Reliability Concerns.)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who replaced Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden as chair of the energy panel, promised “a very balanced and common sense” approach that she said reflects her state’s role as both a big producer and — due to its industrial production — consumer of energy.
Also speaking was Arkansas Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor, a mentor to NARUC president Colette Honorable.
Pryor, who serves on the Communications, Technology and the Internet Subcommittee, said he no longer expects Congress to pass a single, comprehensive cybersecurity bill. “I think it’s more likely we’ll do it section by section, committee by committee,” he said, referring to committees with jurisdiction over energy, banking and telecommunications. “I’m hoping we can get some of that done this year.”
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) spoke out against extending the PTC, which expired Jan. 1, saying it contributed to negative energy prices, which undercut the viability of nuclear power. “It props up renewable energy at the expense of reliable energy,” Alexander said.
Carbon Capture
Alexander also called for simplifying the tax code, eliminating fuel-specific energy subsidies and doubling spending on energy research, which he said could make carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) cost competitive.
Sen. Joseph Manchin (D-W.Va.) touted a bill he sponsored with North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven that would essentially bar the Environmental Protection Agency from requiring CCS in new coal-fired generators. The bill would instead base emission standards on those achieved by the six cleanest coal plants currently operating. “If [the standard is] not obtainable it’s not reasonable,” Manchin said.
Norman Bay Nomination
Manchin and Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski — who helped sink Ron Binz’ FERC nomination last year — said they were keeping an open mind on the new nominee, FERC enforcement director Norman Bay. (See FERC Pick a Blank Slate.)
“Don’t know much about him. We’re going to look him up pretty good,” Manchin told reporters after his speech.
He offered unsolicited support for Honorable, the Arkansas regulator whose name had circulated in the capital earlier as a potential FERC candidate. “She has the chops to get it done,” he said, adding, “There’s a lot of good candidates.”
Murkowski, the ranking Republican on the energy panel, told reporters she was surprised Obama nominated Bay to the FERC chairmanship rather than promoting a current commissioner. “It didn’t work out so well for Mr. Binz,” she said.
She said she also has “a little concern” about Bay having to recuse himself in commission votes because of his involvement in enforcement cases.
Nuclear Waste
Murkowski expressed frustration that energy efficiency legislation, which she thought would be “low-hanging fruit,” instead “has gotten caught up in the process.”
Members are awaiting a Congressional Budget Office cost estimate on a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Murkowski and Alexander that would create a new nuclear waste administration and a consent-based process for siting waste facilities.
Alexander said the bill has reached near consensus, with “one or two things we don’t agree on.”
But Murkowski said she wasn’t optimistic it would move quickly. “It’s probably up against the clock in this 113th Congress,” she said.
Alexander said the Obama administration should also renew work on Nevada’s Yucca Mountain. But Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, speaking to the conference later, said the administration believes Yucca is “not a workable solution.” The proposed waste site, 100 miles north of Las Vegas, is opposed by many in the state, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
