Budget Crunch Time in House

Friends,

Out early this morning because I am at the Chamber/Real Clear Energy Summit at the Chamber. Get over here if you can as there are a bunch of great speakers including FERC Chair Mark Christie and S&P Global’s Dan Yergin.  It was a great Preakness, (unsurprisingly Journalism proved strongest) although wasn’t able to attend because I was in Ocean City at the Boardwalk Rock Festival, which was very cool.  Lots of great bands from the past including one of my favorites, Detroit’s own Alice Cooper. And, again, Scottie Scheffler just ran away with the second major of the year, the PGA Championship.

This week is crunch time for the House budget package. The package has been on and off the rails a couple of times.  With the smell of jet fumes revving up Thursday, look for Congress to get this done however necessary.  Other floor actions this week include a likely CRA overturning the EPA’s “once in, always in” Clean Air Act regulation in the House and a potential CRA disapproval vote on the California waiver in the Senate. 

While the budget reconciliation drama unfolds, it is also budget week for energy and environment policy. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum heads to the Hill on tomorrow (House I/E Approps) and Wednesday (Senate I/E Approps). Secretary Wright heads to the Senate Approps Energy panel on Wednesday. And finally, Administrator Zeldin heads to Houser Energy and Commerce tomorrow and the Senate Environmental Committee on Wednesday.  Other hearings include House Energy looking at critical minerals and House Resources looking at Federal lands on Wednesday. 

As mentioned, this morning and throughout the day, the Chamber and Real Clear host the Energy Summit.  Also in Phoenix, ACP is holding its annual CLEANPOWER event. Finally on Wednesday, Heatmap News holds an exclusive briefing unpacking the Republican Budget bill, what it means for clean energy and what other permitting legislation might follow.

Finally, it is the Memorial Day weekend, when we honor those who gave their lives for our freedom. Also, remember to mark your calendars for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. after Memorial Day when AGA leaders will hold an event to discuss the first 100 days and the current golden opportunities for natural gas.

Call with Questions.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932                                                                                                                                       

FRANKLY SPOKEN   

“Nobody’s seen this report. My personal opinion is that it’s all bullshit.”

A career employee at the Interior Department (who Canary Media granted anonymity to speak freely for fear of retribution) in a story discussing the NOAA report that may sideline Equinor’s Empire wind project.

“While many of these provisions reflect a commitment to American energy dominance through an all-of-the-above energy strategy, we must ensure certainty for current and future energy investments to meet the nation’s growing power demand and protect our constituents from higher energy costs.”

12 House Republicans wrote on Wednesday, asking for gentler treatment of energy tax credits in the GOP reconciliation bill.

ON THE PODCAST

Bracewell Lobby Shop Talks Budget Politics – In this episode of Bracewell’s The Lobby Shop, Liam Donovan provides an update on the budget reconciliation process in Congress, and the team dives into the proposed House cuts to energy programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, proposed Medicaid reductions, and the ongoing debate over SALT deductions—along with the challenges the legislation faces in the Senate and a tight legislative timeline. Josh and Paul also examine the current state of the Trump Administration’s tariffs, including the temporary easing of the U.S.–China trade war, multiple Section 232 investigations, and the complex policy landscape companies must navigate amid evolving tariff rules.

Jenkins Podcast Talks Budget Bill – The fight over the future of the Inflation Reduction Act is the focus this week on a special SHIFT KEY, host Jesse Jenkins walks through the budget reconciliation process and break down the biggest provisions in the House budget bill with former Senate and Treasury advisor Luke Bassett.

FUN OPINIONS

Trumps Nuclear Revival Needs Tax  Incentives, Loan Program – In an opinion piece in the Washington Post, infrastructure policy experts Thomas Hochman and Pavan Venkatakrishnan write that a nuclear renaissance could be in jeopardy if the House Budget bill guts existing DOE programs and tax incentives to boost it. 

Rep. Bacon CRES Highlight Key Role for Hydrogen – In a recently published an op-ed in RealClearEnergy, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions and (CRES) President Heather Reams outline the importance of hydrogen as a key solution for American energy dominance. Maintaining U.S. policy support for advanced hydrogen will be critical to asserting America’s competitive edge in this emerging sector. To fully achieve an American energy expansion, we must focus on policies that encourage private-sector investment in innovative technologies, like advanced hydrogen, and remove barriers to building new energy infrastructure—such as much-needed permitting reforms—that the previous administration failed to address.

FROG BLOG

Breakthrough: Correcting Nuclear Misconceptions – With potential action on nuclear power from the White House this week, former NYT energy reporter and NEI writer Matt Wald and Breakthrough Institute expert Adam Stein write about seven more things you thought you knew about nuclear energy in a blog post on Breakthrough Journal.

FUN FACTS

China, Brazil Deals Spell Trouble:  Among 30-plus deals signed between the two countries on a visit to Beijing this week by Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, several hinged on energy, including a $1 billion plan to produce sustainable aviation fuels and new agreements on clean energy deployment. China has also been stepping up its investments in Brazil’s critical mineral sector.

IN THE NEWS

Offshore Wind NOAA Report Missing – Canary Media reports that a New York offshore wind project may soon be abandoned mid-construction due to a mysterious NOAA report that few people in Washington appear to have seen except Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, one Fox News reporter and the scientists who apparently wrote it. The lack of clarity raises questions about the basis of the Interior Department’s initial decision, and what, exactly, its ongoing review is looking at. Desperate for an answer, Equinor has resorted to filing a Freedom of Information Act request for the report. That route could take months or years to deliver — time the project simply can’t afford. The delays have created an ​“urgent, unsustainable situation,” according to one Empire Wind executive, who told the Associated Press last week that the company was days away from giving up on the renewable energy project. 

DOE Looks to Reduce Regs for Savings – Late last week, DOE announced new actions to increase accountability and promote responsible stewardship of American taxpayer dollars. In a Secretarial Memorandum entitled, “Ensuring Responsibility for Financial Assistance,” Energy Secretary Wright outlined DOE’s policy for evaluating financial assistance on a case-by-case basis to identity waste of taxpayer dollars, protect America’s national security and advance the commitment to unleash affordable, reliable and secure energy.

Drilling Rigs Fall – Baker Hughes reported on Friday that the total number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas in the United States slipped again this week, following a 6-rig decrease last week. The total rig count in the US fell by 6 to 578 rigs, according to Baker Hughes, down 25 from this same time last year. The number of oil rigs fell by 1 to 473 after falling by 5 during the previous week—and down by 24 compared to this time last year.

BCSE Comments on Congressional AI Working Group –  The Business Council for Sustainable Energy provided feedback to the AI and Energy Working Group of the U.S. House of Representatives. These comments were submitted in response to Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND-At Large)'s Request for Information to address AI’s growing energy demands. The comments build upon an industry roundtable discussion BCSE hosted with Aspen Technology and Enchanted Rock in March 2025, which brought together leaders from industry, academia, and government in Washington, DC.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

CLEANPOWER Conference Set for AZ – ACP holds CLEANPOWER 2025 in Phoenix, AZ today through Thursday.  CLEANPOWER is the industry’s premier event and connects policymakers, experts and corporate leaders at this pivotal time of industry growth. Southern Company CEO is a key speaker. 

FERC Chair Christie Headlines Chamber, RealClear Forum – The 2^nd annual Energy Future Forum hosted by the US Chamber’s Global Energy Institute and RealClear is today at the US Chamber. The event will address energy security, affordability, and reliability—key challenges in an evolving landscape.  With elections, rising energy demand, and geopolitical shifts at play, the Energy Future Forum offers candid discussions with energy leaders and experts. The speaker line up is great, including FERC Chair Mark Christie, S&P Oil expert Dan Yergin, NERC’s Jim Robb, Georgia Power’s Kim Greene, Westinghouse’s Dan Lipman, Devon Energy ‘s Clay Gasper and GE Vernova’s Eric Gray. 

Mining Forum Set at CO School of Mines – The Colorado School of Mines, the Payne Institute for Public Policy, and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe will hold the for the 2^nd annual Native American Mining and Energy Sovereignty Symposium (NAMES), tomorrow and Wednesday at the Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio, Colorado. The event will bring together tribal leaders, federal and state government, industry, academia, and finance to discuss and share thoughts on how to support decision making and energy and mining development and finance in Indian country. This approach will be founded on tribal sovereignty as its core principle.

Burgum Heads to Hill for Budget Funding – The House Appropriations Interior/Environment Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on the FY2026 budget for the Department of the Interior.

Zeldin Heads to House Energy – The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on the EPA’s budget with EPA Administrator Zeldin testifying.

House Science Looks at Agrichems – The House Science’s Environment Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on innovations in agrichemicals focusing on AI's hidden formula driving efficiency.

USEA Looks at Coal Waste, Critical Minerals – The US Energy Association holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on unlocking the hidden value of coal waste, looking at critical minerals recovery and extraction. This webinar will explore two transformative opportunities: extracting critical minerals from coal waste streams, and tapping into the vast potential of abandoned and existing coal mines for direct mineral extraction. Together, these strategies represent a new frontier for turning legacy coal infrastructure into sources of strategic value. Experts will explore the state of recovery technologies, environmental and economic viability, and what’s needed to transition from laboratory innovations to commercial-scale operations.

Forum Look at Public Transportation – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a  briefing tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. that will highlight federal programs and research that propel public transit forward in the United States. Panelists will discuss how federal transit investments bolster local economies, with every dollar invested in transit generating $5 in economic returns. They will also explore transit’s central role in connecting people to other forms of transportation, from walking and biking to planes and trains.

Senate Environment Hosts EPA’s Zeldin – The Senate Environment Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on the president's proposed budget request for FY2026 for EPA. EPA head Lee Zeldin will testify.

House Energy Examines Critical Mineral Supply Chains – The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s oversight panel will hold a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. looking at ways to “enhance” mineral supply chains.

House Energy Looks at AI, Energy – The House Energy and Commerce holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. looking at the AI regulation and the future of US leadership.

Senate Interior Funding Subpanel Hosts Burgum – The Senate Appropriations Interior/Environment Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. on proposed budget estimates for FY2026 for the Interior Department.

Heatmap Talks Permitting – On Wednesday at 1:00 p.m., Heatmap News holds an exclusive briefing unpacking what's in the new Republican Budget bill, what it means for clean energy, and what other permitting legislation might come down the pike this year. The event features Thomas Hochman

Director of Infrastructure Policy at the Foundation for American Innovation.

Hawley Address AI Agenda – Hillsdale College’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government will host a special lecture on the AI Agenda from Sen. Josh Hawley on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Heritage Foundation.

House Resources Looks at Federal Lands – The House Resources Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. examining the use of Federal lands to power American technological innovation.

House Energy Approps Hosts Wright – The Senate Appropriations Energy Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.  for a review of the President's FY2026 Budget Request for DOE.

IN THE FUTURE

AGA to Discuss 100 Days Progress, NatGas Leading Role for Energy Demand – On TUESDAY May 27^th at 2:30 p.m., AGA will host a presser to share an outlook from the natural gas industry on the strong future for natural gas as demand rises. The event will include on-the-record remarks from AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert followed by a background briefing with AGA regulatory, policy and market experts and ample time for question and answer. Come in person for networking and snacks following the briefing.

CA Hydrogen Event Set – The California Hydrogen Leadership Summit will be held on June 3^rd and 4^th in Sacramento to explore key policies and programs driving hydrogen’s role in meeting air quality and emissions targets, enhancing energy resilience, and supporting sustainable growth.

Crapo to Address Energy Infrastructure Council – The Energy Infrastructure Council will hold its 2025 Annual Meeting and Legislative Conference in Washington, DC on June 9^th and 10^th. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) has confirmed that he will be our luncheon keynote at the event.

POLITICO Hosts Energy Summit – On June 10^th, POLITICO hosts an energy summit featuring exclusive conversations with senior government officials, key lawmakers, and industry executives as they unpack the next era of U.S. energy policy at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center.

ACP Talks AI – In its PowerTalks Series, ACP will hold a forum on June 17^th at 1:00 p.m. to explore the high-stakes relationship between national security and the growing energy demands of AI, data centers, and the urgent need for energy solutions. AI and cybersecurity experts, Helen Toner and Harry Krejsa, will join ACP CEO Jason Grumet to analyze why clean energy must play a key role in powering AI as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy while ensuring a safer America.