After months of negotiations and several continuing resolutions that extended funding deadlines, Congress has passed two “minibus” spending bills that fully fund the government for 2024. Public gas utilities’ priorities were well advocated for throughout the appropriations process, which resulted in positive provisions in the legislation. APGA member systems should pay particular attention to the following key funding levels and provisions that were included in the packages.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024:
• Increases in funding for the natural gas research and development programs APGA supported along with GTI Energy and other aligned stakeholders.
• Rejects policy provisions in the President’s Budget Request that would have reduced domestic energy production.
• Reduces funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by 10%.
And, Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024:
• Funds the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at $4.025 billion. This is an increase of $25 million in regular funding compared to fiscal year 2023 but is an overall decrease in funding for the program compared to previous years when supplemental funding was included.
• Prohibits the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) from enforcing any regulation to ban any type of gas stove.
Congress’ attention will now turn to regular funding for fiscal year 2025. APGA staff has already been hard at work engaging with staff on Capitol Hill and with other aligned groups to ensure that funding priorities for public gas systems are part of this conversation. Adequate funding for LIHEAP, natural gas research and development programs, and investments in emerging technologies and fuels like hydrogen are critical for APGA member systems and the community members that they serve. See below for more details on these priorities and recent efforts to share them with members of Congress.
- APGA and several public gas systems signed onto the National Energy Utility and Affordability Coalition’s (NEUAC) “All Parties Letter” addressed to Congressional Appropriators asking them to fully fund LIHEAP and continue to combat energy poverty across the country. Read the letter here.
- APGA joined efforts with GTI Energy to rally signatories among public gas systems and other industry groups on a letter asking Congress to fully fund vital natural gas research and development programs. Read the letter here. APGA would like to thank the members that signed onto this letter.
- Austin Utilities
- Knoxville Utilities Board
- Lawrenceville Natural Gas
- Memphis Light, Gas, and Water
- Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia
- National Public Gas Agency
- Northwest Alabama Gas District
- Philadelphia Gas Works
- Rinnai Southeast Gas
- City of Tallahassee
- Energy WorldNet
- UPSCO
- Shactee Engineering LLC
- APGA has joined the Combined Heat and Power Alliance (CHP) in support of funding requests for programs that will advance research and the adoption of technologies that utilize low-carbon fuels. Be on the lookout for this letter, APGA staff will share once it is sent.
- APGA, as a part of the Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition (CHFC), is reviewing the President’s budget and the Administration’s focus on hydrogen research and to ensure public gas utilities have a role to play in possibly delivering this energy. If appropriate, APGA and CHFC will engage Capitol Hill on concerns with what the White House proposed.
For questions on this article, please contact Joshua St.Pierre of APGA staff by phone at 202-407-0015 or by email at jstpierre@apga.org.