Energy and Commerce Committee chair highlights energy reform opportunities, partnership with states

Published on February 13, 2017 by Debra Flax


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Greg Walden

Greg Walden, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered remarks on the committee’s agenda on Monday at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Winter Conference, emphasizing stronger relationships between the federal government and state authorities.

“This Congress I’m excited to work with an administration that, frankly, understands the importance of achieving greater energy independence and security,” Walden said. “With the unified government, we have a rare opportunity to enact reforms that build on our nation’s energy abundance, modernize our energy infrastructure, and promote domestic manufacturing and job growth – reforms that truly make a difference at the local level.”

Walden said the committee’s main goal this year is to focus on issues that matter most to consumers by putting customers first in decision and policy making.

“For too long the promises of job growth and innovation through a modernized energy infrastructure were held back by the administration’s Washington-centric regulatory environmental agenda,” Walden said. “It’s time we bring the power back to the people and to the states.”

For environmental efforts, Walden said the Subcommittee on Environment, led by U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), will focus on ushering in a new era of American ingenuity that capitalizes on our energy abundance.

“We will focus early efforts on energy infrastructure improvements and expansion,” Walden said. “And we will work to bring greater transparency, accountability and predictability to the nation’s environmental laws.”

Environmental efforts will also include working with state and local governments to identify new ways of cleaning up old waste sites, ensuring federal environmental laws are working better to protect public health, and placing the power to protect the environment back with the states.

“[State] citizens are more accountable to environmental and mitigation efforts than our bureaucrats here in Washington,” Walden said. “But let there be no misunderstanding. Whether regulation and enforcement comes from Washington D.C. or from the states, we remain committed to making sure our drinking water is safe, our waterways are cleaned up, and we continue to improve air quality.”

The committee also plans to engage in an extensive review and reauthorization of the Department of Energy (DOE), which will include addressing the country’s nuclear waste management policy. Such a review of the DOE has not taken place since the 1980s.

“Clearly the nation’s energy and national security landscape is substantially different today than it was 30 years ago, so we need a 21st century Department of Energy,” Walden said.

Beginning this week, the committee’s energy infrastructure-focused initiatives will hold two hearings that will explore the many challenges and opportunities the energy market faces today. The committee will hear from energy producers, builders, laborers, contractors and utilities, who all play a valuable role in both the traditional and new, digital economy of energy and electricity.

There is recognition in how states and utility commissioners have a critical role to play in protecting and modernizing our energy infrastructure, Walden said. Engaging in communication and coordination with those authorities will improve strategies that enhance resilience for the government and will help state commissioners see a stronger commitment from the federal government in supporting shared or delegated responsibilities.

“We will be looking to NARUC and utility commissioners across the country for help in consultation along the way as we advance both our short term and longer-term agenda,” Walden said.

For the committee’s plan involving telecommunication policy and development, Walden addressed the need for stronger cybersecurity policies across the public and private sectors.

“Government alone cannot stand up to this challenge, nor should it try,” Walden said. “In order to establish this functional framework that protects Americans, we need coordination between the experts in every sector. We need to facilitate the exchange of ideas from the best minds in the security, academic, technology, defense and intelligence communities, along with the experts from our federal agencies and policymakers in Congress in order to successfully address these very real threats.”

The chairman also expressed the committee’s interest in creating legislation to encourage a more widespread broadband infrastructure deployment. Currently, telecommunication companies that attempt to install networks and towers for wireless service often run into an unwieldy review process at the state, federal and local levels, which leads to long, costly delays for companies before they even get a response to their permit application.

“Parts of our country are being left behind and we must work to bring them the tools they need to succeed,” he said. “Not only is this good for consumers, but also it’s good for creating jobs and creating the potential for sustainable economic growth on the local level. We have to work together to lower the cost of implementation of broadband infrastructures for every American community.”