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ARTICLE · 13 JANUARY 2016

Energy Update - January 2016

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In December 2015, President Obama signed into law H.R. 22, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), authorizing budgetary resources for surface transportation programs for fiscal years 2016-2020...

United StatesEnergy and Natural Resources
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Transportation and Government Funding Bills Address Federal Energy Policy: Fate of Omnibus Energy Legislation Is Unclear

by Donna J. Bobbish and Monica Lamb

In December 2015, President Obama signed into law H.R. 22, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), authorizing budgetary resources for surface transportation programs for fiscal years 2016-2020, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Appropriations Act), an omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government through September 30, 2016. The FAST Act also contains provisions intended to improve the federal permit review process for major infrastructure projects, including energy projects, and the Appropriations Act lifts the 40-year-old ban on exports of US- produced crude oil and extends wind and solar tax credits for three years. While the FAST Act evidences bipartisan support for accelerating review of energy projects, and the Appropriations Act evidences congressional willingness

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