The
hearing
will focus on how Congress can create financial incentives and make
smart investments to help families afford clean energy and energy
efficiency technologies, to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission
cars and trucks, and to create good-paying jobs across America. These
incentives and investments include clean energy tax credits; clean
vehicle tax credits; tax credits for domestic manufacturing; and a clean
energy and sustainability accelerator, which can help support
state-level green banks.
Witnesses:
Duanne Andrade, Chief Financial and Strategic Officer, Solar and
Energy Loan Fund (SELF). Andrade leads development of innovative
financing programs at SELF, which helps
low-and-moderate income Floridians make their homes more sustainable
through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience.
She previously worked as a consultant for start-ups focused on
environmental justice, sustainability, and clean energy finance models
John Larsen, Director, Rhodium Group. Larsen leads Rhodium Group’s
U.S. power sector and energy systems research, specializing in
analysis of clean energy policy and market trends. Previously, he
worked for the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Policy and
Systems Analysis as an electric power policy advisor
Zoe Lipman, Director, Manufacturing & Advanced Transportation,
BlueGreen Alliance (BGA). Lipman leads BGA’s
policy and advocacy on clean technology manufacturing, advanced
vehicles and transportation, and related economic topics. A former
trade union official, she previously led the National Wildlife
Federation’s program on fuel economy and advanced and electric
vehicles and headed the organization’s Midwest climate policy program
Rich Powell, Executive Director, ClearPath. Powell leads ClearPath,
whose mission is to develop and advance conservative policies that
accelerate clean energy innovation. Rich served as a member of the
2019 Advisory Committee to the Export Import Bank of the United
States. He is also on the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center’s
Advisory Group
On Wednesday, July 28, at 10:00 AM ET, the
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a
hearing
to examine the benefits of investing in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
water infrastructure projects.
S. 2297, International Pandemic Preparedness and
COVID-19 Response Act
S. 812, A bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy
to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization,
and for other purposes
S.Res._, Expressing solidarity with Cuban citizens demonstrating
peacefully for fundamental freedoms, condemning the Cuban regime’s
acts of repression, and calling for the immediate release of
arbitrarily detained Cuban citizens
NOMINATIONS:
Gentry O. Smith, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(Diplomatic Security)
Ms. Monica P. Medina, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of
State (Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs)
Rena Bitter, of the District of Columbia, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be an
Assistant Secretary of State (Consular Affairs)
Mr. Marc Evans Knapper, of California, a Career Member of the Senior
Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Brian Nichols, of Rhode Island, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(Western Hemisphere Affairs)
FSO LISTS:
Jeanne Frances Bailey, et al., dated April 13, 2021 (PN 359)
Russell Anthony Duncan, et al., dated April 27 2021 (PN 477)
Marc Clayton Gilkey, dated April 27, 2021 (PN 478)
Gabriel J. Allison, et al., dated June 22, 2021 (PN 724)
Danielle R. Andrews, et al., dated June 22, 2021 (PN 727)
Kenneth Lee Salazar, of Colorado, to be Ambassador to the United
Mexican States
Jessica Lewis, of Ohio, to be an Assistant Secretary
(Political-Military Affairs)
Donald Lu, of California, to be Assistant Secretary for South Asian
Affairs, all of the Department of State, * Marcela Escobari, of
Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development
On Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. ET, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, the
Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, will hold a hybrid
hearing
to examine the security of the U.S. electric grid in light of the recent
uptick in cyber incidents targeting government and critical
infrastructure systems.
The U.S. electric grid is a priority target for state and non-state
cyber adversaries, and a successful attack could have devastating
consequences for U.S. national security and economic interests. Although
President Biden has taken decisive action to strengthen our national
cyber defenses and protect U.S. critical infrastructure—including the
electric grid—there are still vulnerabilities that must be addressed.
The hearing will also consider whether additional regulations and policy
initiatives are needed to mitigate growing cybersecurity threats to
distribution systems, utility vendors, and global supply chains that
support the U.S. electric grid.
Witnesses
Eric Goldstein, Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity,
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, on behalf of
Department of Homeland Security
Puesh M. Kumar, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of
Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, on behalf of
Department of Energy
Joseph H. McClelland, Director, Office of Energy Infrastructure
Security, on behalf of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent agency
within the Department of Energy, led by five commissioners. It regulates
the interstate transmission and sale of electricity and natural gas, as
well as the rates for transportation of oil by pipeline.
FERC also oversees the permitting of
interstate natural gas pipelines and related facilities, reviews
proposals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, and licenses
hydroelectric projects. It is also responsible for the safety and
inspection of dams associated with
FERC-licensed projects. In addition to its
licensing and ratemaking authorities, FERC
oversees the wholesale electricity markets, protects the reliability of
the electric grid, and reviews mergers, acquisitions, and corporate
transactions by electricity companies, among other things. President
Biden named Commissioner Richard Glick as FERC
Chairman on January 21, 2021.
Witnesses
Richard Glick, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Neil Chatterjee, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
James Danly, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Allison Clements, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Mark C. Christie, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission