Leaders in the News

EnVerid Systems, a Houston-based developer of energy-saving HVAC technologies, is one of four companies selected to receive up to $6 million of Department of Energy funding to help businesses cut energy costs through improved efficiency. enVerid’s project will involve retrofitting building ventilation systems with modules that remove indoor air pollutants such as carbon dioxide, resulting in significant energy savings. For more information on the project, please see the Department of Energy’s press release.

We would also like to congratulate our client, Sanergy, for their recent receipt of the Fonds Suez Environnement Initiatives — Institut de France Prize. Sanergy was selected from over 30 finalists in the “Social Enterprise Award” category, given to entrepreneurs in the fields of water access, water treatment, and waste management. Sanergy designs and manufactures low-cost, high-quality sanitation facilities throughout Africa and converts waste into useful byproducts, such as fertilizer, and other renewable energy sources. For more on Sanergy’s innovative model and work on sanitation.

Washington Update

On July 10, the House passed its fiscal year 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. This measure would increase funding for the Department of Energy’s fossil energy programs while reducing renewable energy spending by about $111 million. Before passing the bill, House representatives included several amendments that would oppose President Obama’s energy agenda. The legislation is currently under consideration by the Senate.

Furthermore, on July 15, the House Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal year 2015 spending bill for the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies. The measure would increase Interior Department funding for oil and gas permitting and inspections on Bureau of Land Management land as well as funding for fighting and preventing wildfires. The package would reduce the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget by $717 million, about 9%. The overall bill would amount to $30.2 billion, a $162 million increase from the fiscal year 2014 enacted level.

Both the Senate and the House have also seen the introduction of a number of energy-related pieces of legislation. For example, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced legislation (S. 2573) on July 9 to increase and extend the tax credit for properties with hydrogen vehicle refueling stations and to increase the investment credit for more efficient fuel cells. In addition, on July 10, Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act (H.R. 5072). The measure would establish a federal renewable electricity standard for retail electricity suppliers and a federal energy efficiency resource standard for electricity and natural gas suppliers.

Congress will be in recess for the month of August.