List of United States energy acts explained

This is a list of statutes enacted by the United States Congress pertaining to the energy industry.

Year	Title	Summary
1920	Federal Water Power Act	Created Federal Power Commission to coordinate federal hydroelectric projects
1935	Federal Power Act	Put electricity sale and transportation regulation under Federal Power Commission
1935	Public Utility Holding Company Act	Regulated size of electric utilities, limiting each to a specific geographic area
1936	Rural Electrification Act	Funded electric cooperatives to bring electricity to underserved rural areas
1938	Natural Gas Act	Gas pipelines regulated under Federal Power Commission
1946	Atomic Energy Act	Put development of nuclear weapons and power under civilian control (instead of military)
1954	Atomic Energy Act	Opened way for civilian nuclear power program
1974	Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1974	Created the Solar Energy Coordination and Management Project Created the Solar Energy Research Institute (the predecessor to NREL)
1975	Energy Policy and Conservation Act	Created Strategic Petroleum Reserve Established first automobile fuel economy standards Banned crude oil exports (repealed in 2015)
1977	Department of Energy Organization Act	Created Federal Department of Energy (DOE)
1978	National Energy Act, incorporating: National Energy Conservation Policy Act Power Plant and Industrial Fuel Use Act Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act Energy Tax Act Natural Gas Policy Act	Encouraged conservation efforts in homes, schools, and other public buildings Restricted new power plants using oil or natural gas (repealed in 1987) Opened electric markets to alternative power producers Taxed "gas guzzlers", gave income tax credits for alternative fuel use Phased deregulation of gas wellhead prices
1978	Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1978	Accelerated solar power generation technologies
1980	Energy Security Act, incorporating:^[1] U.S. Synthetic Fuels Corporation Act Biomass Energy and Alcohol Fuels Act Renewable Energy Resources Act Solar Energy and Energy Conservation Act Geothermal Energy Act Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act	Created Synthetic Fuels Corporation to market fossil fuel alternatives Provided loan guarantees for biofuels and alcohol fuels projects Revised the Defense Production Act of 1950 to allow federal improvements to energy supply. Created financing regulations for solar, geothermal, and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) energy.
1982	Nuclear Waste Policy Act	First comprehensive nuclear waste legislation
1992	Energy Policy Act	Required alternative fuel vehicle use in some private/government fleets
2005	Energy Policy Act	Provided tax incentives for conservation and use of alternative fuels
2007	Energy Independence and Security Act, incorporating: America COMPETES Act^[2]	Increased fuel economy requirements Phased out incandescent light bulbs Encouraged biofuel development Created ARPA-E
2008	Public Law 110-343,^[3] incorporating: Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008^[4] Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008	Promoted biofuels Created tax incentives for electric vehicles Extended and modified renewable energy tax incentives and defined electricity as a clean fuel
2009		Provided funding for an electric smart grid Created and modified renewable energy tax cuts Weatherized modest-income homes Incentivized federal building energy efficiency Funded development of carbon capture and storage, electric vehicle battery manufacturing, and biofuel and fossil fuel research Reduced the nation's nuclear footprint by nearly 70 percent
2009	Defense Production Act Reauthorization	Modified the Defense Production Act to promote renewables and the smart grid
2015	Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016	Extended renewable energy tax cuts Lifted crude oil export ban
2020	Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, incorporating: Energy Act of 2020	Incentivized federal building energy efficiency Funded development of carbon capture and storage and fossil fuel research Weatherized modest- and low-income homes Promoted water efficiency and grid battery storage
2021		Expanded funding for DOE research and development into carbon capture and storage, hydrogen economy tech, battery recycling, and grid battery storage Promoted smart grid deployment and resiliency, and workforce development Extended tax breaks to nuclear power industry Created ARPA-I
2022		Expanded funding for DOE research, development and national security initiatives
2022		Provided funding for a smart grid and forgave debts held by utility cooperatives Extended and modified renewable energy tax cuts Weatherized low-income homes Provided tax incentives for electric vehicles and new appliances Prioritized oil exploration ahead of renewables for federal land leases

See also

• List of United States federal environmental statutes
• Fossil fuel regulations in the United States

References

External links

• Department of Energy timeline
• GovEnergy Workshop and Trade Show

Notes and References

1. Energy Security Act (1980; 96th Congress S. 932) - GovTrack.us
2. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070809-6.html Fact Sheet: America Competes Act of 2007
3. http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_6049.html WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 6049, The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008
4. Web site: Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, U.S. Government Printing Office .