Morgan Meguire News

Legislators are in high gear, particularly on energy, climate and appropriations matters, as Congress tries to finish its work before the scheduled two-week Thanksgiving recess that begins on November 17.  Leadership in both chambers has announced Members will return on a limited basis during the month of December to consider only ...

Currently, House and Senate leaders are proceeding with an informal, "non-conference" strategy, because of limited time and strategic disagreements in the Republican Party.  Closed-door discussions between key House and Senate Members and staff are ongoing, with leadership and those Members meeting to strategize and discuss ...

The federal transmission "backstop" siting authority, approved by Congress in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, continues to draw opposition from Members of Congress whose districts or states are part of the two areas identified as "National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors" by the Department of Energy (DOE).  Sen. ...

On November 1, Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) introduced the "Rural Clean Energy Superhighways Act" (H.R. 4059) that would create "National Renewable Energy Zones" (NREZs)  to help renewable energy projects, particularly in remote areas, gain access to the U.S. transmission grid.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has ...

On October 30, the Senate Commerce Committee approved S. 1853, the Community Broadband Act of 2007.  The bill, sponsored by Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and John Kerry (D-MA), would prohibit states from precluding municipal governments from offering telecommunication services.  Prior to the ...

On November 1, the Senate Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection approved S. 2191, the America's Climate Security Act of 2007, by a vote of 4-3 and sent it to the full Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) for consideration.  The bill is cosponsored by Subcommittee ...

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Joseph Kelliher's re-nomination hangs in the balance as Senators attempt to conclude the 1st session of the 110th Congress.  Kelliher must be approved by the Senate before it adjourns for the session (expected in mid-December).  The Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee ...