BUSINESS COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

BCSE has been engaged in the following activities and on the following issues during Q1 2024 Advocacy in support of BCSE 2024 Federal Priorities on federal permitting and siting legislation, and FY 2024 appropriations. Advocacy for clean energy programs in FY2024 appropriations bills, including Agriculture, Homeland Security, Defense, Housing and Urban Development, Interior and EPA, Energy and Water, and State and Foreign Operations. Informational meetings with congressional staff and Members of Congress regarding economic recovery and infrastructure bills and advocacy to support enactment of federal permitting and siting legislation The Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN), an independent initiative of the BCSE, also engages in lobby activity and in building awareness before Congress on examples of small and medium-sized businesses across the nation contributing to the clean energy economy. The CEBNs lobbying activities and expenditures are included in the BCSEs quarterly LD-2 filings. CEBNs activity includes information gathering, direct advocacy, and grassroots advocacy support (including group and individual letters and group lobby visits to Capitol Hill) on appropriations for the Department of Energy, protecting clean energy tax incentives against repeal, restoring immediate expensing for the Section 174 R&D tax deduction, clean energy programs in the Farm Bill, and reforms to federal grant programs such as SBIR. The BCSE also provides administrative service to the Federal Performance Contracting Coalition (FPCC), a coalition of federal energy services contract holders. The FPCC's lobbying activities and expenditures are included in the BCSE's quarterly LD-2 filings. Cascade Associates is a lobbyist for the FPCC. The FPCC contacted: The U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, Department of Energy, Council on Environmental Quality, Department of Veterans Affairs, General Services Administration, the White House, Departments of Navy, Army, and Air Force, and the Offices of the Secretary of Defense. The FPCC is working with Members of Congress in developing complementary policy for Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC). Specifically, they met with congressional offices to support funding in appropriations for infrastructure in federal facilities to be used in conjunction with performance contracting. This includes funding for the AFFECT grant program at DOE, funds at GSA and VA, and ERCIP at the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The FPCC also engaged with Members of Congress and Executive Offices of the President on the implementation of Exec. Order No 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, as it relates to performance contracting and the Climate Smart Buildings Initiative, and the Federal Building Performance Standard. They have met with members of the Energy and Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, Appropriations, Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Environment and Public Works committees. Additionally, they have met with representatives of the DOE, Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, Department of the Air Force, GSA, and Executive Offices of the President (DPC and CEQ). ENG-related legislative efforts including, but not limited to: - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, implementation of provisions related to the AFFECT grant program for energy efficiency improvements, and other energy efficiency-related provisions. - Energy Act of 2020, implementation of provisions related to performance contracting requirements for federal agencies. - Forthcoming reintroduction of the Open Back Better Act, provisions of the legislation, particularly those related to the Federal Energy Management Program. - Forthcoming reintroduction of the Federal Building Clean Jobs Act, provisions related to energy and water efficiency goals and performance contracting. - S.3753 - Improving State and Local Government Access to Performance Contracting Act of 2024, provisions related to supporting the energy performance contracting industry. - H.R.5783 - The Blue Collar and Green Collar Jobs Development Act, provisions related to supporting the energy efficiency workforce. Lobbied: U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Army - Dept of (Other), Energy - Dept of, Defense - Dept of (DOD), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Veterans Affairs - Dept of (VA), Navy - Dept of, Air Force - Dept of, General Services Administration (GSA), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Office of Management and Budget (OMB)