Energy & Sustainability

The next three weeks will be full of activity in Washington D.C., as the House of Representatives and Senate are working to push their legislative agendas to garner support from their constituents ahead of an August recess and before political “silly season” officially kicks in ahead of the upcoming mid-term elections in November. Here’s our latest update on what you can expect in Congress during the July work period.

Our July 2022 Energy & Sustainability Washington Update covers the Democrats’ continued push for a revised Build Back Better Act, a letter from House Democrats to the SEC on climate risk disclosure issues, the strong growth of energy jobs, new energy & sustainability legislation, and more.

Read about energy legislation and energy policy news, including President Biden’s FY 2023 request for $48.2 billion for the DOE, the Senate Climate Change Task Force’s proposal for energy independence, and the EPA’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge.

Read about Governor Baker’s recent proposal to incentivize offshore wind development in Massachusetts.

The second half of 2021 will be a busy stretch for Congress. In addition to the typical must-pass legislation, Democrats controlling both chambers and the White House are committed to several big spending bills, too. This preview is a rundown of these bills, what’s included in them, and how we can expect them to play out.

Last week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions voted 18-4 to advance Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s nomination for labor secretary. The bipartisan approval signals a non-controversial confirmation vote of the full Senate. When that occurs, Secretary-designate Walsh will take over a department that is front and center in the nascent Biden administration. Executing White House priorities including the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the climate crisis, and reversing certain Trump era actions, will soon be Walsh’s responsibility. His experience in Massachusetts politics gives a sense of how Walsh will approach his new post.