jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-06-04 00:00:00

Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2015

Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to extend through FY2020 the authorization for deposit and use of lease revenues under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. Makes such funds available to the Department of the Interior for FY2015 and afterwards to implement both the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970.

Directs the Bureau of Land Management to establish priority and variance areas on covered land for geothermal, solar, and wind energy projects.

Requires Interior to establish a program to improve federal permit coordination with respect to renewable energy projects carried out on public land administered by Interior and not excluded from the development of geothermal, solar, or wind energy (covered land).

Defines "variance area" as covered land that is neither an exclusion area (not suitable for development of renewable energy projects) nor a priority area.

Establishes in the Treasury the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund, to be available in regions affected by the development of wind or solar energy on federal land for: (1) protecting and restoring important fish and wildlife habitat; and (2) ensuring and improving right-of-way access to federal land and water in the impacted region for fishing, hunting, and other forms of outdoor recreation.

Requires the Department of Agriculture as well as Interior to determine the feasibility of carrying out a conservation banking program on federal land.

Denies the rental fee exemption for rights-of-way under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act to wind or solar generation projects with a capacity of 20 megawatts or more that are issued a lease, right-of-way, permit, or other authorization.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Education
Date: 2015-06-12 00:00:00

Grants for Renewable Energy Education for the Nation Act or the GREEN Act 

 Authorizes the Department of Education to award competitive grants to partnerships of local educational agencies (LEAs), postsecondary institutions, and clean and renewable energy industry representatives to develop programs of study focused on emerging careers and jobs in the fields of clean and renewable energy.

Requires a priority be given to grant applications that:

 use online learning or other innovative methods to deliver a program of study to individuals outside the partnership, and focus on low-performing students and special populations. Authorizes the Department to award competitive grants to LEAs and postsecondary institutions to promote development of career and technical educational facilities that are energy efficient and use renewable energy practices.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-06-23 00:00:00

This bill amends the Clean Air Act to revise the renewable fuel program by prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from requiring that transportation fuel contain any applicable volume of renewable fuel, advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, or biomass-based diesel, for any year after 2022, if the EPA waives at least: (1) 20% of any of the applicable volume requirement set forth for renewable fuel, advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, or biomass-based diesel for two consecutive years; or (2) 50% of such volume requirement for a single year.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Energy
Date: 2015-07-07 00:00:00

This bill requires the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Fossil Energy to carry out a research, development, and technology demonstration program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in power generation systems and to identify the technologies that will lead to gas turbine combined cycle efficiency of 65% or simple cycle efficiency of 50%.

The program must: (1) support first-of-a-kind engineering and detailed gas turbine design for megawatt-scale and utility-scale electric power generation; (2) include technology demonstration through component testing, subscale testing, and full scale testing in existing fleets; (3) include field demonstrations of the developed technology elements to demonstrate technical and economic feasibility; and (4) assess overall combined cycle and simple cycle system performance.

The goals of the multiphase program must be:

 in phase I, to develop the conceptual design of, and to develop and demonstrate the technology required for, advanced high efficiency gas turbines that can achieve at least 62% combined cycle efficiency or 47% simple cycle efficiency on a lower heating value basis; and in phase II, to develop the conceptual design for advanced high efficiency gas turbines that can achieve at least 65% combined cycle efficiency or 50% simple cycle efficiency on a lower heating value basis. In selecting program proposals, DOE must emphasize the extent to which the proposal will stimulate the creation or increased retention of jobs in the United States and promote and enhance U.S. technology leadership.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Energy
Date: 2015-07-13 00:00:00

Low-Income Solar Act

This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a loan and grant program for photovoltaic solar (a method of converting energy from the sun into electricity) installations in low-income and underserved areas for FY2016-FY2030.

Loans must be provided for: (1) community solar facilities that provide solar energy to low-income households, or (2) solar installations at federally subsidized affordable housing at multi-family complexes.

The community solar facilities must: (1) be owned by an organization of electricity consumers that own a share of the facility's solar electricity generation; (2) have a certain a nameplate rating (or power generation capacity), (3) be located in or near a community that uses the electricity generated by the facility, and (4) reserve at least 25% of the electricity generated for low-income households.

Grants must be given for: (1) solar electricity generating facilities installed on properties of eligible, low-income home owners; or (2) new solar projects for low-income households and individuals, including the costs of equipment and job training associated with solar projects.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2015-07-16 00:00:00

Empowering Our Veterans Act of 2015 

Prohibits the appropriation of funds, or the obligation or expenditure of funds by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), for any VA alternative energy generation project unless the funds for such project have been specifically authorized by law.

Directs the VA to transfer all unobligated funds that were appropriated to it before this Act's enactment for an alternative energy generation project to the VA's account funding veterans' medical care.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-07-27 00:00:00

This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to limit the total volume of cellulosic biofuel in transportation fuel under the renewable fuel standard to what is commercially available until the EPA submits to Congress a comprehensive study on cellulosic biofuel and the environmental and economic impacts of producing such fuel.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Energy
Date: 2015-07-28 00:00:00

Battery Storage Innovation Act

This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expand the categories of projects that are eligible for innovative technology loan guarantees by including a project for battery storage technologies for residential, industrial, or transportation applications.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Energy
Date: 2015-07-29 00:00:00

American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to require each retail electric supplier to submit to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) a quantity of federal renewable electricity credits that is equal to at least the annual target of the retail electric supplier established by this Act for each of 2017 through 2040. Requires the target to be equal to the product of the supplier's base amount (electricity sold) for the year and a specified annual percentage for that year, which increases from 8.5% for 2017 to 30% for 2030 through 2040.

Sets forth provisions governing the issuance, tracking, verification, trading, banking, and retirement of federal renewable electricity credits.

Authorizes alternative compliance payments in lieu of credits.

Authorizes states to set the rates for a sale of electric energy by a facility generating electric energy from renewable energy sources pursuant to a voluntary production incentive program.

Requires the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to: (1) establish a program to implement, enforce, review, and adjust performance standards for specified cumulative electricity and natural gas savings for 2017 through 2030; (2) promulgate regulations establishing performance standards for 2031 through 2040 and for subsequent years by specified deadlines; and (3) set such standards at levels reflecting the maximum achievable level of cost-effective energy efficiency potential. Prohibits standards for any year from being lower than the standard for 2030.

Requires the Secretary, at 10-year intervals, to review the most recent standards and increase them if additional cost-effective energy efficiency potential is achievable.

Requires each retail electricity and natural gas supplier to submit a report annually demonstrating that it has achieved cumulative required savings, which the Secretary shall review to verify that performance standards have been met. Authorizes suppliers to use electricity or natural gas savings purchased from another supplier, a state, or a third-party efficiency provider to meet such standards.

Provides for state administration of an energy efficiency program to meet the requirements of this Act.

Requires the Secretary to direct the state to correct deficiencies found in a review and to report to the Secretary on progress not later than 180 days after the date of the receipt of review results.

Encourages state utility regulatory commissions to review their rules and regulations to ensure that utilities can recover the direct costs of energy efficiency programs, fully recover authorized fixed costs, and earn an incentive for shareholders if the energy efficiency standards are achieved.

Requires the Secretary to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to submit a comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of the program established by this Act by July 1, 2021, and every 10 years thereafter.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2015-09-15 00:00:00

Electric Vehicle Charging Offers Modern Utility Terminals for Employees Act or the EV-COMUTE Act

This bill authorizes the head of any federal agency that owns or operates a parking area for use by agency employees to: (1) install, construct, operate, and maintain on a reimbursable basis a battery recharging station in such parking area for the use of privately-owned employee vehicles; and (2) charge a user fee to cover the costs of such station.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-09-18 00:00:00

Fuel Cell Tax Extenders Act of 2015 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2021:

 the residential energy efficient property tax credit for qualified fuel cell property, the energy tax credit for qualified fuel cell property, the alternative motor vehicle tax credit for qualified fuel cell motor vehicles, the tax credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property relating to hydrogen, and the excise tax credit for the sale or use of alternative fuels involving hydrogen.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-10-09 00:00:00

Prioritizing Energy-Efficient Renewables Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax credit for producing electricity from wind, geothermal and solar energy, hydropower, and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities; (2) repeal the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs for oil and gas wells; (3) repeal the tax deduction for income attributable to the production, refining, transportation, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any primary product thereof; and (4) repeal the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Energy
Date: 2015-10-28 00:00:00

This bill requires the Department of Energy to study and report on solar net energy metering, which allows electric consumers to offset their electricity bills for any excess electricity they do not use if that excess was: (1) generated from an eligible, on-site solar generating facility, and (2) delivered to local distribution facilities. The study must analyze the benefits of implementing solar net energy metering.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2018 the tax credit for qualified fuel cell property.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2018 the energy tax credit for investment in qualified microturbine property.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2108 the energy tax credit for investment in qualified small wind energy property (i.e., property which uses a wind turbine with a nameplate capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts to generate electricity).
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2018 the energy tax credit for investment in solar energy property.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2018 the energy tax credit for investment in thermal energy property.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2017 the tax credit for qualified fuel cell property.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2017 the energy tax credit for investment in qualified microturbine property.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2107 the energy tax credit for investment in qualified small wind energy property (i.e., property which uses a wind turbine with a nameplate capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts to generate electricity).
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2017 the energy tax credit for investment in solar energy property.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2017 the energy tax credit for investment in thermal energy property.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-11-19 00:00:00

Promoting Offshore Wind Power Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a 30% tax credit for investment in a qualifying offshore wind facility (an offshore facility using wind to produce electricity), and (2) direct the Department of the Treasury to establish a qualifying credit for offshore wind facilities program to consider and award certifications for investments eligible for such a credit to qualifying offshore wind facility sponsors.

The bill requires Treasury to review credits allocated under this Act periodically and authorizes Treasury to make additional allocations and reallocations of such credits upon determining that: (1) the limit on the total amount of megawatt capacity for offshore facilities with respect to which credits may be allocated under the program has not been attained, or (2) scheduled placed-in-service dates of previously certified facilities have been significantly delayed and the applicant for certification will not meet the required timeline.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Energy
Date: 2015-11-19 00:00:00

Vehicle Innovation Act of 2015

This bill authorizes appropriations to the Department of Energy (DOE) for research, development, engineering, demonstration, and commercial application of vehicles and related technologies for FY2016-FY2020.

The bill requires DOE to:

 conduct a program of research, development, engineering, demonstration, and commercial application activities (R&D activities) on materials, technologies, and processes with the potential to substantially reduce or eliminate petroleum use and the emissions of the nation's passenger and commercial vehicles; ensure that it continues to support R&D activities and maintains competency in mid- to long-term transformational vehicle technologies with potential to achieve deep reductions in petroleum use and emissions; conduct research, development, engineering, demonstration, and deployment activities on connectivity of vehicle roadway, vulnerable road users, traffic control systems, and transportation data systems, including technologies that allow for improved safety, reduced energy and fuel use, optimized traffic flow, and vehicle electrification; carry out a program of R&D activities on advanced vehicle manufacturing technologies and practices; carry out a program of cooperative research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities on advanced technologies for medium- to heavy-duty commercial, vocational, recreational, and transit vehicles; conduct a competitive grant program to demonstrate the integration of multiple advanced technologies on Class 8 (heavy duty) truck and trailer platforms; develop standard testing procedures and technologies for evaluating the performance of advanced heavy vehicle technologies under a range of representative duty cycles and operating conditions and evaluate heavy vehicle performance using work performance-based metrics other than those based on miles per gallon and appropriate metrics based on the work performed by nonroad systems; and undertake a pilot program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial applications of technologies to improve total machine or system efficiency for nonroad mobile equipment and to seek opportunities to transfer relevant research findings and technologies between the nonroad and on-highway equipment and vehicle sectors. DOE may construct heavy duty truck and bus testing facilities.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-12-02 00:00:00

Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to issue, and promote the purchase of, Clean Energy Victory Bonds to pay for the energy-related tax benefits established or extended by this Act.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to:

 extend through 2023 the tax credit for investment in solar energy property, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cell property, microturbine property, combined heat and power system property, and small wind energy property; allow an energy tax credit for investment in offshore wind facilities placed in service before January 1, 2022; extend through 2024 the tax credit for residential energy efficiency improvements; extend through 2023 the placed-in-service requirement for wind facilities and other renewable energy facilities for purposes of the tax credit for producing electricity from renewable resources; extend through 2023 the tax credit for nonbusiness residential energy property; allow a new tax credit, through 2024, for home energy efficiency improvements that increase energy efficiency by at least 20%; extend through 2023 the tax credit for new energy efficient homes; and increase, and extend through 2023, the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings. The bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a voluntary voucher program, through 2018, for the purchase of plug-in electric vehicles.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-12-03 00:00:00

Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the income and excise tax credits for biodiesel used as fuel to: (1) allow a $1.00 tax credit for each gallon of biodiesel produced, (2) provide for an increased income tax credit for small biodiesel producers, (3) revise the definitions of "biodiesel" and "eligible small biodiesel producer," (4) treat renewable diesel in the same manner as biodiesel for income tax purposes, and (5) extend the biodiesel income and excise tax credits through December 31, 2018.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Energy
Date: 2016-02-01 00:00:00

Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to carry out a research and development program to: (1) improve the energy efficiency, reliability, and capacity of wind energy generation; (2) optimize the design and adaptability of wind energy systems to the broadest practical range of atmospheric conditions; and (3) reduce the cost of permitting, construction, operation, and maintenance of wind energy systems.

DOE must also conduct a wind energy technology validation and market transformation program for demonstrating and validating new wind energy technologies with the potential to be cost-competitive for land-based, offshore, and distributed applications.

DOE must conduct a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities to reduce barriers to the widespread adoption of wind power. The program must support developing new wildlife impact mitigation technologies to reduce the potential impacts of wind energy facilities on wildlife species.

DOE must maintain a wind energy incubator program to support innovative technologies that are not represented in a significant way in DOE's current portfolio of wind energy research activities or in current technology roadmaps.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Energy
Date: 2016-03-02 00:00:00

Renewable Fuel Utilization, Expansion, and Leadership Act or the REFUEL Act

This bill amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Agriculture (USDA)to establish a competitive grant program for renewable and alternative energy fueling infrastructure projects.

Projects may be new or for the retrofit of existing renewable and alternative energy infrastructure and must be capable of dispensing fuel or energy not widely available.

 USDA must prioritize awarding grants for projects locatedin rural areas.

Entities that receive funding from USDA must contribute at least30% of any allotted amount towards the project and are eligible to receive a maximum of $100,000.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2016-04-20 00:00:00

Stop Animal Fat Tax Credits Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make fuels derived from animal fats ineligible for the tax credits for: (1) biodiesel and renewable diesel, and (2) alternative fuels.
Topic: Energy — Alternative & Renewable
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2016-04-21 00:00:00

Solar Expansion of Distributed Generation Exponentially Act or the Solar EDGE Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase for two years tax credits that apply to solar property with a nameplate capacity of less than 20 kilowatts. The increases apply to the investment tax credit and the tax credit for residential energy efficient property expenditures.