Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act

Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act This bill provides Wyoming with more flexibility to invest the principal of its permanent school fund by allowing the state to use earnings generated from investment of the fund rather than only interest. By way of background, Congress created the fund when Wyoming became a state by granting certain federal lands to be held in a trust for the state. Proceeds from school trust land sales, exchanges, or disposals are deposited into the fund to support public schools.

Crystal Reservoir Conveyance Act

This bill would authorize the construction and operation of a water conveyance system to transport water from Crystal Reservoir to communities and agricultural areas that need it. The project would affect water users, farmers, and municipalities in the region by potentially providing them with more reliable access to water supplies. The bill has been referred to congressional committees that oversee public lands and natural resources for further review.

National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act

This bill would allow private companies and investors to enter into long-term lease agreements with the National Park Service to develop and operate facilities within national parks, such as hotels, restaurants, and recreational amenities. The arrangement aims to generate revenue for park maintenance and improvements while reducing the burden on federal taxpayers, though it could affect how much public access and control citizens have over these protected lands. Park visitors and conservation groups would be the primary stakeholders affected by how these private leases are structured and managed.

Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill would extend and reauthorize a federal program that helps predict water supplies by measuring snowpack in western mountains, which is critical for planning water availability for cities, farms, and hydroelectric power plants. The program uses scientific monitoring to forecast how much water will flow into rivers and reservoirs as snow melts each spring, helping water managers prepare for droughts or floods. The reauthorization would continue funding this forecasting work that affects millions of people who depend on reliable water supplies across the West.

TAAP Act

The bill would extend and renew a program that studies shared underground water sources between the United States and Mexico, helping both countries better understand and manage these critical water resources. This affects border communities, farmers, and water utilities that depend on these aquifers for drinking water and irrigation. The program allows scientists and officials from both nations to work together on research and monitoring of these transboundary water supplies.

WIPP Economic Assistance Assurance Act of 2026

This bill would provide economic support and assistance to communities and workers affected by the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a federal nuclear waste storage facility in New Mexico. The legislation aims to help local economies and residents manage the economic impacts of the facility's operations, closures, or changes in activity levels. Workers in the region and nearby communities would be the primary beneficiaries of any assistance programs created under this bill.

A bill to authorize the use of off-highway vehicles in certain areas of the Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.

This bill makes the state law of Utah applicable to the use of motor vehicles (including off-highway vehicles) on the portions of each of Burr Trail Road, Cathedral Road, Hartnet Road, Highway 24, Notom Bullfrog Road, Polk Creek Road, Oil Well Bench Road, Baker Ranch Road, South Desert Overlook Road, Temple of the Sun and Moon Road, Gypsum Sinkhole Road, and Sulphur Creek Road that are located within the boundaries of the Capitol Reef National Park in Utah.

Pennington County Land Conveyance Act

Earth MRI Reauthorization Act of 2026

The proposal would extend funding and authorization for the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, a program that uses advanced mapping technology to identify mineral and energy resources beneath the Earth's surface. This affects mining companies, energy producers, and government agencies that rely on detailed geological data to locate valuable materials like metals and fossil fuels. The bill would ensure the program can continue operating and conducting surveys that help the U.S. understand its natural resource potential.

SECURE Grid Act

Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid Act or the SECURE Grid Act This bill extends through FY2031 and modifies requirements for state energy security plans. Under current law, states are required to submit to the Department of Energy (DOE) state energy security plans that meet certain requirements in order to be eligible to receive federal financial assistance for state energy conservation programs. The bill specifies that DOE is not required to approve the plans. The bill requires DOE to provide information, technical assistance, and other assistance in the development, implementation, or revision of a state energy security plan upon the request of a state. The bill also requires states to address additional factors in their energy security plans, such as (1) weather-related threats and vulnerabilities; (2) supply chain risks for equipment for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity; and (3) the security of local distribution systems and the bulk-power system. A local distribution system is energy infrastructure owned and operated by an electric utility at a voltage of 100 kilovolts or less. In addition, the bill directs the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on the efficacy of state energy security plans.

Geo POWER Act

The Geo POWER Act would support the development and use of geothermal energy as a renewable power source in the United States. The bill likely aims to make it easier and more affordable for companies and communities to tap into heat from beneath the Earth's surface to generate electricity and heating, reducing dependence on fossil fuels. This would affect energy companies, utilities, and consumers who could benefit from cleaner, more reliable power generation.

Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act

The federal government would fund research and development projects to improve geothermal energy technology so it can work in more types of locations and conditions across the country. This would help companies and researchers figure out how to tap into Earth's heat more efficiently and affordably for electricity and heating. The effort would support scientists, engineers, and energy companies working to make geothermal power a more practical option for American communities.

LIT Act of 2025

I don't have enough information to write an accurate summary. The bill title "LIT Act of 2025" is too vague to determine what specific energy policy it addresses without seeing the actual bill text or more detailed subject matter. To provide a meaningful summary, I would need to know whether this bill covers renewable energy, fossil fuels, energy efficiency, grid modernization, or another energy-related topic.

GRID Power Act

Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power Act or the GRID Power Act This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue and periodically review a rule that revises the approval process for interconnection requests of generating units that produce electricity to prioritize dispatchable power projects (e.g., certain fossil fuel projects). Under the bill, d ispatchable power generally refers to an electric energy generation resource, such as a generating unit that produces electricity from fossil fuels, capable of providing known and forecastable electric supply in time intervals necessary to ensure grid reliability. Currently, FERC receives interconnection requests from those projects and other generating units, such as units that produce electricity from renewable energy. Interconnection requests are requests from generating units to connect to the high voltage transmission lines of the electric grid. First, the rule must address the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing procedures for processing interconnection requests to ensure that new dispatchable power projects that improve grid reliability and resource adequacy can interconnect to the electric grid quickly, cost-effectively, and reliably. Second, the rule must revise the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures, and the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Agreement as appropriate, to authorize transmission providers to submit proposals to FERC to prioritize new dispatchable power projects that will improve grid reliability and resource adequacy by assigning those projects higher positions in the interconnection queue of the provider. FERC must review and approve or deny such proposals within 60 days after the proposal is submitted.

EARA

Expedited Appeals Review Act or the EARA This bill authorizes a party that files an appeal of a Department of the Interior decision with the Interior Board of Land Appeals to submit a written request for expedited review of the appeal. (The mission of the board is to provide an impartial forum within Interior for the resolution of disputes involving public lands and natural resources under Interior's jurisdiction.) If a party submits such a request, the board must issue a final decision on the appeal not later than six months after the date on which the request for expedited review was received. However, the deadline may not be earlier than 18 months after the date on which the appeal was initially filed with the board. If the deadline for expedited review is not met, Interior's decision is deemed a final agency action and is subject to de novo judicial review (i.e., without deference to the agency's decision). This bill applies to appeals pending as of the date of enactment of this bill and appeals filed after the date of enactment.

National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement Act

This bill would establish a national museum dedicated to the history and achievements of the blind rights movement in the United States. The museum would preserve and share stories about blind people's efforts to gain equal rights and opportunities in education, employment, and daily life. It would serve as an educational resource for the public and help recognize the contributions blind individuals have made to American society.

To amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to clarify a provision relating to conveyances for aquifer recharge purposes.

This bill modifies the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to expand provisions concerning authorizations (e.g., rights-of-way) to transport water across public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for aquifer recharge purposes. Under the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act, the holder of existing rights-of-way, easements, permits, or other authorizations to transport water across BLM land may transport the water for aquifer recharge purposes without additional authorization from the Department of the Interior so long as the use does not expand or modify the operation of such authorizations across public land. The bill allows the holders of such authorizations to act not only on behalf of themselves, but also on behalf of states, Indian Tribes, or public entities, to use the existing authorizations for aquifer recharge without additional authorization from the Department of the Interior. Further, the bill states that this use may not be considered an expansion, modification, major federal action, or substantial deviation. Additionally, the bill exempts holders from paying additional rents to the BLM for any use of such authorizations; however, the exemption does not apply to for-profit uses of aquifer recharge or for-profit entities. Finally, holders of rights-of-way or other authorizations must provide notice to the BLM of the intended use of authorization as specified by the bill.

Adams Memorial-Great American Heroes Act

The Adams Memorial-Great American Heroes Act This bill extends through 2032 the Adams Memorial Commission, whose purpose is to establish a permanent memorial in Washington, DC, to honor John Adams and his legacy. The bill specifies that the Adams Memorial shall be located within the area specified by the Adams Memorial Commission in a February 25, 2025 map (i.e., south of the White House, adjacent to Ellipse Road and near Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street, Northwest). If the Commission determines that this location is not suitable or feasible due to physical or security constraints, the bill requires that the memorial be located in the Reserve , an area which generally extends from the United States Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, and from the White House to the Jefferson Memorial.

A bill to amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to clarify a provision relating to conveyances for aquifer recharge purposes.

This bill makes a technical clarification to existing water law regarding how water can be transferred or moved for the purpose of refilling underground water supplies. The change would affect water agencies, farmers, and other organizations that manage water resources in areas where aquifer recharge is important for maintaining water supplies. The bill is still in early stages and has been sent to a Senate committee for review.

Desalination Reauthorization Act