	Introduction

On September 9, 2015, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources reported S. 2012 , the Energy Policy Modernization Act, a major energy bill with provisions addressing energy efficiency, critical infrastructure, energy supplies (fossil, renewable, and nuclear), energy financing and markets, and critical minerals, among other topics. The Senate passed S. 2012 on April 20, 2016. On May 25, 2016, the House passed an amended version of S. 2012 which contains the text of H.R. 8 , as well as the text of several other energy and natural resources-related bills. The following day, the House moved to insist upon its amendment, and to appoint conferees to resolve the differences in S. 2012 . On July 12, the Senate agreed to the request for a conference, and appointed conferees. In addition to energy policy provisions, both versions of S. 2012 contain many natural resources and environmental provisions including provisions on fish and wildlife recreation and federal land conveyances. The Senate version includes permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and reauthorization of EPA's Brownfields Program, while the House version includes provisions on National Forest management and drought relief. The House-passed bill also includes provisions on the physical security of the electric grid. Key Legislative Developments

		H.R. 8—North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015

July 22, 2015: House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power approved draft text that would become H.R. 8 and several other bills) May 25, 2016: House consideration and passage, motion that House insist upon its amendment May 26, 2016: House appointed conferees July 12, 2016: Senate disagreed with House amendment, agreed to conference, and appointed conferees

	Selected Energy Issues

		Electric Grid Security6

			Comparing Grid Security Provisions in the House and Senate Versions

Both bills would authorize new emergency authority for the Secretary of Energy during grid emergencies, however they differ regarding the nature of the emergency threat or event. Subtitle A addresses energy delivery, reliability, and security. The most significant overlap is in energy efficiency in buildings. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 ( P.L. Both Title X, Subtitle D (§§10301-10331) of the Senate-passed version of S. 2012 and Division C, Title I (§§1001-1135) of the House-passed version of S. 2012 address issues related to management of specific federal water projects, as well as federal water activities at regional and national levels.
Congress most recently enacted major energy legislation in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-140). The 114th Congress is currently considering new legislation to address broad energy issues. On April 20, 2016, the Senate passed an amended version of S. 2012, the Energy Policy and Modernization Act. On December 3, 2015, the House passed an amended version of H.R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015. On May 25, 2016, the House passed an amended version of S. 2012 which contains the text of H.R. 8, as well as the text of several other energy and natural resources-related bills. The following day, the House moved to insist upon its amendment, and to appoint conferees to resolve the differences in S. 2012. On July 12, the Senate agreed to the request for a conference, and appointed conferees.
Both versions of S. 2012 would address a variety of energy topics, including
Energy efficiency in federal buildings, data centers, manufacturing, and schools; Water conservation/efficiency; Electric grid cybersecurity; Nuclear energy and carbon sequestration research and development; Amendments to hydropower licensing provisions; Liquefied natural gas exports; and Energy workforce development.
The House version also contains provisions on
Electric grid physical security; A North American energy security plan; and A study of wholesale electricity markets.
The Senate version also includes provisions on
Review of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; Geothermal energy development on federal lands; Vehicle research and development; Electric grid energy storage; Renewable energy supply and incentives; and Loan programs.
Both versions of S. 2012 also contain major non-energy provisions including fish and wildlife recreation and federal land conveyances. Differences include permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) (Senate); reauthorization of the EPA Brownfields Program (Senate); National Forest management (House); and federal water project operations and drought relief (House).
This report provides a short discussion of key topics addressed in the House and Senate-passed versions of S. 2012.