Tradeable Energy Performance Standards Act
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Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
ID: C001117
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Bill Summary
(sigh) Oh joy, another bill that's going to "save the planet" while lining the pockets of special interests. Let me dissect this mess for you.
HR 2177, the Tradeable Energy Performance Standards Act, is a regulatory nightmare masquerading as an environmental solution. It creates a new framework for tradeable energy performance standards, because what could possibly go wrong with creating a market for carbon credits?
**New regulations:** The bill establishes a new title in the Clean Air Act, Title VII, which will govern the distribution and trading of emission allowances. Because we all know that more bureaucracy is the answer to our environmental problems.
**Affected industries:** Large electricity generators and thermal energy users are the primary targets of this bill. But don't worry, they'll just pass on the costs to consumers. It's not like they have a history of doing that or anything.
**Compliance requirements:** Covered facilities will need to submit emission allowances or make alternative compliance payments (read: bribes). The bill also establishes a bilateral purchase agreement program, because who doesn't love a good shell game?
**Timelines:** The Administrator (aka the EPA) has 18 months to finalize regulations, and covered facilities have 3 years to comply. Plenty of time for lobbying and regulatory capture.
**Enforcement mechanisms and penalties:** Ah, the fun part! Facilities that don't comply will face penalties, including fines and revocation of emission allowances. But let's be real, these penalties are just a cost of doing business.
**Economic and operational impacts:** This bill is a job killer, plain and simple. It will increase energy costs, drive businesses out of the country, and create a new market for carbon credits that will inevitably be gamed by special interests. But hey, at least we'll have a new revenue stream for politicians to tap into.
In conclusion, HR 2177 is a classic case of regulatory capture, where politicians and bureaucrats collude with industry insiders to create a system that benefits everyone except the environment and taxpayers. It's a disease, and I'm here to diagnose it: Corruption-itis, with symptoms including greed, stupidity, and a complete disregard for the well-being of the American people.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch politicians pretend to care about the environment while they line their pockets with cash.
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Project 2025 Policy Matches
This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document. Higher similarity scores indicate stronger thematic connections.
Introduction
— 378 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise Budget The FY 2023 budget request for FECM was approximately $893.2 million.40 FECM’s requested appropriation can be compared to the more than $4.0 billion requested for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.41 The disparity in funding demonstrates how DOE’s research activities and substantial portions of its organizational structure are now focused entirely on the reduction of CO2 emissions rather than energy access or energy security. OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (EERE) Mission/Overview The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy traces its roots to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975,42 but most of its programs today are rooted in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.43 Under the Biden Administration, EERE’s mission is “to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of technologies and solutions to equitably transition America to net- zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050” and “ensure [that] the clean energy economy benefits all Americans.”44 The office is made up of three “pillars”: energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation. Needed Reforms l End the focus on climate change and green subsidies. Under the Biden Administration, EERE is a conduit for taxpayer dollars to fund progressive policies, including decarbonization of the economy and renewable resources. EERE has focused on reducing carbon dioxide emissions to the exclusion of other statutorily defined requirements such as energy security and cost. For example, EERE’s five programmatic priorities during the Biden Administration are all focused on decarbonization of the electricity sector, the industrial sector, transportation, buildings, and the agricultural sector.45 l Eliminate energy efficiency standards for appliances. Pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 as amended, the agency is required to set and periodically tighten energy and/or water efficiency standards for nearly all kinds of commercial and household appliances, including air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters, stoves, clothes washers and dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, light bulbs, and showerheads. Current law and regulations reduce consumer choice, drive up costs for consumer appliances, and emphasize energy efficiency to the exclusion of other important factors such as cycle time and reparability. — 379 — Department of Energy and Related Commissions New Policies l Eliminate EERE. The next Administration should work with Congress to eliminate all of DOE’s applied energy programs, including those in EERE (with the possible exception of those that are related to basic science for new energy technology). Taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidize preferred businesses and energy resources, thereby distorting the market and undermining energy reliability. l Reduce EERE funding. If EERE cannot be eliminated, then the Administration should engage with Congress and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on EERE’s budget. EERE’s budget was around $1.5 billion a year when the advances were made that led to dramatic cost decreases in wind, solar, and battery technology. In recent years, Congress has appropriated many billions of dollars in excess of EERE’s normal budget (DOE requested more than $4.0 billion for FY 2023).46 It should rescind these excess monies so that DOE is not required to spend them. If funding cannot be reduced, then it should be reallocated to more fundamental research and less toward commercialization and deployment. l Focus on fundamental science and research. If EERE cannot be eliminated, then the Administration should focus on broader and more fundamental energy research, consistent with law. The Biden Administration is too focused on deploying technologies instead of relying on the private sector. Moreover, under the Biden Administration, EERE is too focused on decarbonization and not at all on the cost of energy. l Eliminate energy efficiency standards for appliances. The next Administration should work with Congress to modify or repeal the law mandating energy efficiency standards. Before (or in lieu of) repealing the law, there are steps the agency can take to refocus on the consumer by giving full force to the provisions already in the law that serve to limit regulatory overreach and protect against excessively stringent standards. For example, the Trump DOE prioritized the relatively few appliance regulations that were likely to save consumers the most energy and refrained from those whose modest benefits are unlikely to justify the costs. It also took steps to ensure that any new standards do not compromise product quality or eliminate any features. These and other consumer protections are in the statute but have often been ignored.
About These Correlations
Policy matches are calculated using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text. A score of 60% or higher indicates meaningful thematic overlap. This does not imply direct causation or intent, but highlights areas where legislation aligns with Project 2025 policy objectives.