Sustainable energy council lauds passage of Disaster Recovery Act
The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) commended the passage of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) last week, calling it a significant improvement to disaster recovery efforts.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), was signed into law by President Trump as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act (H.R.302).
The DRRA implements broad reforms at the Federal Emergency Management Agency by increasing the federal emphasis on pre-disaster planning and mitigation. Specifically, it will shift the U.S. Government’s approach to preparing for disasters and mitigating the risk to infrastructure from simply responding in the aftermath of a disaster. It will help communities rebound faster, and reduce the cost of recovery.
“The Business Council for Sustainable Energy is pleased to see Congress pass the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, as part of the FAA reauthorization legislation. This represents the most significant improvement to federal disaster recovery programs since the post-Katrina efforts,” BSCE President Lisa Jacobson said.
Jacobson cited a report that found that society saves $6 for every $1 spent to mitigate disasters before they strike.
“The DRRA legislation recognizes these cost savings by focusing on pre-disaster mitigation measures that will ensure the United States will be better prepared for disasters by advancing electric grids, power supplies and building stock that are reliable, more resilient, agile, cost-effective, cyber-secure, and environmentally sound,” Jacobson said.
