To avoid governmental shutdown, the House and Senate are committed to passing a second continuing resolution (H.R. 933) before the current one expires on March 27. The new continuing resolution (CR) is expected to provide appropriations for Defense, Military Construction, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Commerce-Justice-State—five out of the twelve unfinished appropriations bills. The Senate’s version of the bill would cut Department of Energy (DOE) programs by $44 million, including:

• $11 million from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• $10 million from the Office of Nuclear Energy
• $13 from the Office of Science
• $10 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E)

Additionally, the Senate bill would reduce funding for energy-related programs in the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Interior (DOI), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In other Capitol Hill news, Congressional Democrats released a draft carbon tax bill, and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) is expected to soon reintroduce a carbon cap-and-dividend bill. For more on the latest energy and clean technology regulatory and legislative developments, please see ML Strategies’ most recent Energy and Environmental Update.