Overview
Title
An Act To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require reporting relating to certain cost-share requirements, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2025 wants someone in charge to tell Congress whenever they decide to change some money rules for special projects. This is to make sure people know what's happening and can keep track of it.
Summary AI
H. R. 359, titled the “Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2025,” proposes an amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It mandates that the Secretary of the Department responsible must report to specific congressional committees about the use of authority to reduce or eliminate cost-sharing requirements. These reports are required to be submitted at least every quarter and must be made publicly available. The bill passed the House of Representatives on March 24, 2025.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, referred to as the "Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2025," aims to introduce additional reporting requirements under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Specifically, it seeks to ensure that the Department of Energy formally reports on its use of authority to alter cost-sharing requirements for energy projects. These reports would be submitted quarterly to several key congressional committees, and they would also be made accessible to the public. The bill appears to focus on enhancing transparency and accountability within the Department's operations concerning cost-sharing adjustments.
Significant Issues
A notable issue with the bill is its failure to define specific criteria or guidelines for when and how the Department of Energy can alter cost-sharing requirements. This lack of clarity could lead to inconsistent use of the authority, and potentially even favoritism or misuse.
Additionally, while the bill mandates that reports be made publicly available, it does not specify how this will be achieved. The absence of a clear distribution or access plan could undermine the bill’s intentions of transparency.
The bill also lacks provisions for the verification or auditing of these reports. Without such measures, there is a risk that inaccuracies might go unchecked, which could lead to legal or financial repercussions.
Furthermore, the bill does not address potential conflicts of interest in how cost-sharing adjustments are administered, nor does it include measures to ensure that the power is exercised equitably and without bias.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
Broadly, the bill might positively impact public trust by attempting to introduce transparency into how cost-sharing decisions are made in energy projects. If executed effectively, repeated and clear reporting could reassure the public that decisions are being made appropriately and in accordance with legislative expectations.
However, the potential for negative outcomes exists if the lack of clear guidelines and auditing measures leads to inconsistent reporting or undisclosed conflicts of interest. Specific stakeholders, such as companies involved in energy projects, might feel uncertain about how cost-sharing decisions are made, leading to potential mistrust or dissatisfaction if they perceive the process as opaque or unevenly applied.
In the context of its implications on oversight, congressional committees may find the reports useful for monitoring executive actions. However, without specific content requirements or transparency about access, they might struggle to obtain the precise information needed for effective oversight.
Overall, while the bill attempts to improve accountability, its success will depend heavily on the implementation details that remain unspecified within the legislation. Addressing these gaps could help mitigate the risks it introduces and enhance its potential benefits to the industry and the public.
Issues
The bill mandates reporting on the use of authority to reduce or eliminate cost-sharing requirements, but fails to specify the criteria for when such actions are appropriate. This lack of clear guidelines could lead to inconsistent application or abuse of this authority, raising potential ethical concerns. [Section 2]
The requirement to make reports publicly available is mentioned, but there is no clarity on how these reports will be distributed or accessed by the public. This lack of transparency may impact accountability and public trust. [Section 2]
The bill does not include measures to verify or audit the reports submitted by the Secretary to ensure their accuracy and transparency. Without such measures, there might be legal or financial issues related to potential inaccuracies in reporting. [Section 2]
The section does not address potential conflicts of interest or checks on the Secretary's use of authority to adjust cost-sharing requirements. This oversight may lead to decisions that favor certain projects or partners without proper oversight, raising ethical and political concerns. [Section 2]
The language specifying the format or content of the reports is vague, which may lead to ambiguity in what information is required to be included. This could potentially result in inadequate reporting and hinder oversight. [Section 2]
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section specifies that the name of this law is the “Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2025.”
2. Reporting requirements Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires the Secretary of Energy to submit quarterly reports to certain congressional committees and the public, detailing how the Department uses its power to adjust cost-sharing requirements, as specified in the Act.