In conjunction with the American Public Power Association's Legislative Rally in Washington, DC, members of NEPPA went to Capitol Hill on February 26 and 27 to meet with the New England Congressional delegation. In their meetings, members discussed the need for more oversight of Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and RTO cost controls, federal energy incentives to help promote renewable development and energy efficiency, and federal climate change legislation and its impact on the region, as well as federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
In particular, NEPPA thanked their legislators for their consistent support to encourage the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and RTOs/ISOs to be more consumer-focused, and also expressed appreciation for their efforts to increase LIHEAP and weatherization funding, as well as their active support on legislation to extend and modify the Clean Renewable Energy Bond program, among other things.
The Congressional delegation, overall, was very responsive to NEPPA, with six U.S. Senators supporting S. 2660, and numerous House and Senate members actively supporting amendments to increase LIHEAP and weatherization funding (e.g. Sens. Reed (D-RI), Snowe (R-ME) & Collins (R-ME)), increase incentives for renewables and energy efficiency (e.g. Sens. Snowe, Kerry (D-MA), Reed (D-RI) and Reps. Neal (D-MA) & Markey (D-MA)) and efforts to advocate for a fair and equitable resolution to address climate change (e.g. Sens. Lieberman (I-CT), Sanders (I-VT) & Whitehouse D-RI)).