Chairwoman Kaptur Highlights Northern Ohio and National Priorities Included 2021 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies, released the following statement highlighting the Northern Ohio priorities included in the House-passed 2021 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, legislation she introduced and shepherded through Congress. The legislation funds the Department of Energy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior programs, and other related agencies. The bill was passed as a part of a bipartisan omnibus package that funds the federal government through September 2021. With over $12 billion focused on the clean energy revolution, this legislation is one of the most important climate bills this Congress.

"The 2021 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill captures the American spirit of ingenuity and independence," said Rep. Kaptur. "It provides the foundation of critical investments to combat climate change and will be the most important climate change legislation passed this year. In a year unlike any other, ensuring Northern Ohio communities receive the critical energy research and water infrastructure support they need is absolutely imperative. The funding provided in this bill will help spur economic innovation, job creation, and a brighter, cleaner future in Northern Ohio and across the U.S."

A summary of the relevant portions of the FY 2021 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill is below.

Kaptur Regional Priorities – Total: $630 million

Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps")

• $59.2 million for new navigation projects not on the inland waterways system (Soo Locks, a major Great Lakes construction project, is eligible to compete). This is in addition to $123.2 million included for Soo Locks in the bill.
• $25 million for Corps' multistate ecosystem restoration programs (Great Lakes Fisheries Restoration projects are eligible to compete for this funding).
• Report language included for a targeted Corps' investigation new start for a coastal resiliency study (to help the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study, a regional coordinated effort among the eight Great Lakes states to compete).
• Includes report language specific to the Brandon Road project as well as language prioritizing certain Corps environmental restoration projects that will help the Brandon Road project better compete for funding.
• $4 million for Corps harmful algal bloom research and development targeting freshwater ecosystems.
  • Includes language on harmful algal blooms directing the Corps to develop a comprehensive research plan to combat harmful algal blooms.
• Bill language prohibiting the open lake disposal of dredged material in Lake Erie.
• $2 million, for Corps research on new approaches to repair and increase infrastructure resilience.

DOE/Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

• $20 million for cadmium telluride within Solar Energy Technologies (University of Toledo and a First Solar consortium will be well positioned to compete for funding).
• $20 million for perovskites research within Solar Energy Technologies (a national consortium involving the University of Toledo and First Solar may compete for this funding).
• $15 million, $5 million above enacted, within Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies for hydrogen/nuclear demonstration projects (Davis Besse Nuclear Power Station is part of the current partnership receiving funds).

DOE/Nuclear Energy

• $10 million for hydrogen/nuclear demonstration projects (Davis Besse is part of the current partnership receiving funds).

DOE/Fossil Energy

• $8 million, $2 million above enacted, carveout for algae systems for capturing and re-using CO₂ to produce renewable materials (to help University of Toledo better compete), and report language included.

DOE/Science

• $30 million, equal to enacted, for Coastal Ecosystem Research (National Labs partnership with University of Toledo), and report language included.

DOE/Environmental Management

• $430 million, $12 million above enacted, for the Portsmouth, Ohio site.

Kaptur National Priorities – Total: $1.4 billion

Army Corps

• $100 million, equal to enacted, for Corps Environmental Infrastructure.
• $250 million, $50 million above enacted, for Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program.

DOE/Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

• $310 million, $5 million above enacted, for Weatherization:
  • Within Weatherization, $1.5 million, $1.5 million above enacted, for a community-scale weatherization pilot project.
  • Report language on community scale weatherization and coordination among federal agencies is included.
• $25.5 million within the Advanced Manufacturing Office for the following activities:
  • $20 million for R&D for energy efficiency at water and wastewater facilities.
  • $5 million for technical assistance for water and wastewater facilities.
  • $500,000 for a sustainable wastewater infrastructure accelerator program.
• $72 million, equal to enacted, for photovoltaic technologies within Solar Energy Technologies Office.
• $110 million, $6 million above enacted, for the Wind Energy Technologies Office and report language included.
• $396 million, $1 million above enacted, for the Advanced Manufacturing Office.
• $40 million, equal to enacted, for the Clean Cities Program.
• $10 million, equal to enacted, for distributed wind.
• $10 million, $10 million above enacted, for advanced tooling for lightweight automotive components.
• $30 million and report language on transactive controls included.
• Report language on Building America Program included.
• Report language on the USDA collaboration/Energy-Water Nexus Initiative included.
• Report language on electric air flight included.

DOE/Electricity

• $80 million, $24 million above enacted, for the Energy Storage.

DOE/Science

• $29 million, $1 million above enacted, for Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (internships at National Labs).
• $1 million, $1 million above enacted, for DOE to partner with NIH within DOE's mission space and report language included on biomedical sciences.

kaptur.house.gov