Overnight Energy: Lawmakers inching closer to Flint deal

FLINT DEAL ON THE HORIZON? Senators are on the cusp of a deal to provide aid to Flint, Mich. and other American cities dealing with drinking water contamination.

Top Democrats are working with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) on his hold on the legislation, the last remaining Republican objection to the $250 million package for repairing water infrastructure around the country.

Lee’s spokesman said Wednesday that he and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) have agreed on a general path forward to resolve a budgeting problem with the package, but they’re waiting for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to bless the deal.

{mosads}Lee’s objection centers on when the aid package would be paid for. Senators agreed to use money for the Energy Department’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program, but haven’t decided when the funds would be rescinded. Details on how best to do that are being worked out with the CBO.

“There has been some progress,” Lee spokesman Conn Carroll said on Wednesday. “Sen. Stabenow has come a long way toward agreeing to our ask.”

Read more here.

Democrat objects to energy package: But the Flint bill’s path forward isn’t clear even if Lee were to lift his hold.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) is placing a hold on the package due to a Republican amendment to the energy bill to which the Flint aid package is attached.

The amendment in question, from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), expands a revenue sharing program established between the federal government and states along the Gulf. Nelson’s office said the Democrat is worried the amendment would open the door to expanded oil drilling in the Gulf, including off the coast of Florida.

“Sen. Nelson supports the energy bill and the money for Flint, Mich., but the Republicans insist on an amendment that would start the process of drilling off Florida’s coast,” spokesman Ryan Brown said.

“After four decades of protecting Florida’s beaches and military training areas in the Gulf, Sen. Nelson isn’t going to stop now.”

Cassidy’s office noted Wednesday that the amendment has bipartisan support and doesn’t do anything to expand oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said the hold is the last thing delaying the energy side of the reform bill and Flint aid package.

“I worked pretty aggressively to eliminate everything we’ve had on our side,” she said. “We’re at that point, and I feel pretty good about it. So I sure would like to get this one wrapped up.”

Read more here.

VW’S US HEAD LEAVES COMPANY: Michael Horn, the embattled president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, is leaving the company, VW announced Wednesday.

Federal regulators last fall accused VW of engineering several models of its diesel-fueled vehicles to skirt required emissions tests. Horn came to Capitol Hill in October to apologize on behalf of the company.

“I did not think that something like this was possible at the Volkswagen Group. We have broken the trust of our customers, dealerships and employees, as well as the public and regulators,” he said then.

The Justice Department sued the company over the scandal in January. The company faces potentially billions of dollars in fines due to the emissions workaround.

Read more here.

ON TAP THURSDAY I: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau comes to town for his official state visit. Expect an announcement on a bilateral strategy to fight climate change, among other announcements.

ON TAP THURSDAY II: Ellen Williams, director of the Energy Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, will be the featured speaker at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event on the future of the electric grid.

AROUND THE WEB:

Utah lawmakers are looking to invest in an Oakland coal export terminal that would benefit the state’s mining industry. Gov. Gary Herbert told Utah Public Radio on Wednesday he supports the push.

A report found more than 1,300 rhinos worldwide were killed for their horns last year, BBC News reports.

The Bureau of Land Management has given its approval to a Wyoming project slated to be the largest wind farm in North America, KGWN reports.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Check out Wednesday’s stories…

-VW’s US president leaves company
-Western governors eye endangered species changes
-Democrat places hold on Flint, energy bill package
-Senators closing in on Flint aid deal
-Feds hint at tough review for Minn. mining project
-Feds propose safety rules to prevent shock in electric vehicles
-Solar industry predicts ‘staggering’ growth this year

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