The American Public Power Association's (APPA's) Legislative & Resolutions Committee approved seven policy resolutions during the association's 2021 virtual Legislative Rally. These member-sponsored resolutions will guide APPA's advocacy efforts for 2021 and beyond.
Of note were resolutions on:
- Energy Storage: APPA supports policies that bolster research and development (R&D) of energy storage technology and urges Congress and federal agencies to support this technology in a manner that recognizes state and local authority, increases reliability, and keeps costs affordable for consumers.
- Broadband Deployment: APPA supports a goal of providing every American with access to affordable broadband services. The association will continue to oppose any actions by the Federal Communications Commission that eliminate local control and system oversight over public power pole attachments. APPA urges Congress to continue to preserve this local control.
- COVID-19 Response: APPA believes that Congress should immediately provide an emergency US$10 billion in supplemental appropriations for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Further, the Federal Emergency Management Administration should move swiftly to reimburse public power utilities for the costs of emergency protective measures in response to the pandemic.
- Direct Payment Bond Sequestration: APPA opposes federal sequestration of credit payments to Build America Bond and New Clean Renewable Energy Bond issuers. The association urges the Biden administration and Congress to take the steps necessary to prevent such sequestration.
The full texts of all seven approved resolutions (on additional topics including sequestration of direct payment bonds and federal incentives for hydrogen storage) are available here.
