Year |
Title |
Summary
|
1920
|
Federal Water Power Act
|
|
1935
|
Federal Power Act
|
- Put electricity sale and transportation regulation under Federal Power Commission
|
1935
|
Public Utility Holding Company Act
|
|
1936
|
Rural Electrification Act
|
|
1938
|
Natural Gas Act
|
|
1946
|
Atomic Energy Act
|
- Put development of nuclear weapons and power under civilian control (instead of military)
|
1954
|
Atomic Energy Act
|
- Opened way for civilian nuclear power program
|
1974
|
Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1974
|
- Created the Solar Energy Coordination and Management Project
- Created the Solar Energy Research Institute (the predecessor to NREL)
|
1975
|
Energy Policy and Conservation Act
|
|
1977
|
Department of Energy Organization Act
|
|
1978
|
National Energy Act, incorporating:
|
- Encouraged conservation efforts in homes, schools, and other public buildings
- Restricted new power plants using oil or natural gas (repealed in 1987)
- Opened electric markets to alternative power producers
- Taxed "gas guzzlers", gave income tax credits for alternative fuel use
- Phased deregulation of gas wellhead prices
|
1978
|
Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1978 |
|
1980
|
Energy Security Act, incorporating:[1]
|
|
1982
|
Nuclear Waste Policy Act
|
|
1992
|
Energy Policy Act
|
- Required alternative fuel vehicle use in some private/government fleets
|
2005
|
Energy Policy Act
|
|
2007
|
Energy Independence and Security Act, incorporating:
|
|
2008
|
Public Law 110-343,[3] incorporating:
|
|
2009
|
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 |
- Provided funding for an electric smart grid
- Created and modified renewable energy tax cuts
- Weatherized modest-income homes
- Incentivized federal building energy efficiency
- Funded development of carbon capture and storage, electric vehicle battery manufacturing, and biofuel and fossil fuel research
- Reduced the nation's nuclear footprint by nearly 70 percent
|
2009
|
Defense Production Act Reauthorization |
- Modified the Defense Production Act to promote renewables and the smart grid
|
2015
|
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 |
- Extended renewable energy tax cuts
- Lifted crude oil export ban
|
2020
|
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, incorporating:
|
|
2021
|
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act |
|
2022
|
CHIPS and Science Act |
- Expanded funding for DOE research, development and national security initiatives
|
2022
|
Inflation Reduction Act |
- Provided funding for a smart grid and forgave debts held by utility cooperatives
- Extended and modified renewable energy tax cuts
- Weatherized low-income homes
- Provided tax incentives for electric vehicles and new appliances
- Prioritized oil exploration ahead of renewables for federal land leases
|