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
H.R. 359 is a bill that wants to make sure everyone knows how money is being shared for energy projects by having important reports written regularly and shared with people who care about it, so it's fair and clear for everyone.
Summary AI
H.R. 359 aims to modify the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by introducing new requirements for reporting on cost-sharing arrangements. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Energy must provide reports, at least quarterly, to several Congressional committees detailing how the Department of Energy uses its power to alter cost-share requirements. This report must also be made publicly accessible. The initiative seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in how the Department handles these financial arrangements.
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AnalysisAI
The proposed legislation, titled the "Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2025," aims to introduce amendments to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This bill seeks to increase transparency and accountability in how cost-sharing requirements are managed by the Department of Energy. The core of the bill mandates regular reporting on the use of authority to modify cost-sharing requirements for certain energy projects.
General Summary of the Bill
The primary objective of the bill is to ensure that the Secretary of Energy produces quarterly reports detailing the Department’s use of authority to either reduce or eliminate cost-sharing obligations. These reports are intended for submission to key congressional committees, such as the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Appropriations of both the House and Senate, and are to be made publicly accessible.
Summary of Significant Issues
One of the primary issues with the bill is the absence of defined criteria or guidelines to determine when it is appropriate to reduce or eliminate cost-sharing requirements. This lack of specificity can lead to inconsistency and potential misuse of the authority granted to the Department. There is also no specified format or content requirements for the report itself, leaving room for ambiguity and potentially incomplete reporting.
Additionally, the bill does not include any mechanism for verifying or auditing the reports submitted by the Secretary. Without such measures, there is an increased risk of reporting inaccuracies and reduced transparency. Moreover, while the Act requires that reports be made "publicly available," it does not clarify how this will be achieved, potentially undermining public access and accountability.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
For the general public, the bill's requirement for public reporting could lead to increased transparency regarding energy funding and decision-making processes. However, without clarity on how the public will access these reports, this potential benefit might not be fully realized.
For stakeholders within the energy industry, the legislation could either promote fairness or favoritism, depending on how cost-sharing reductions or eliminations are applied. Energy companies benefiting from reduced cost requirements might have more opportunities to engage in joint projects with the Department of Energy, fostering innovation. Conversely, lack of oversight could lead to biased decision-making that favors certain projects or partners without sufficient justification, potentially disadvantaging smaller or less connected stakeholders.
Overall, while the bill aims to bolster accountability, these identified gaps suggest a need for additional measures to ensure the effective implementation of its provisions. Addressing these issues could strengthen the potential positive impacts of the legislation, ensuring that it serves its accountability and transparency goals effectively.
Issues
The section on 'Reporting requirements' (Section 2) mandates the submission of reports on the use of authority to reduce or eliminate cost-sharing requirements but lacks criteria or guidelines for determining when such reductions or eliminations are appropriate. This could lead to inconsistent application or abuse of this authority.
In Section 2, although the reporting is mandated to several key committees, the format or content of these reports is unspecified, which may result in ambiguity about what information must be included.
There are no measures in place within Section 2 to verify or audit the reports submitted by the Secretary, which could compromise accuracy and transparency of the reported data.
The requirement in Section 2 for public availability of the reports is stated, but there is no clarity on the method of distribution or accessibility, impacting public accountability.
Section 2 does not address potential conflicts of interest or provide checks on the Secretary's authority to adjust cost-sharing requirements, raising concerns about potential favoritism or lack of oversight in decision-making.
The 'Short title' section (Section 1) contains no substantive provisions to identify significance or issues, limiting its practical impact or relevance in the overall bill evaluation.
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.