Thanksgiving is in 6 days…
President Biden’s Public Schedule for Friday, November 18th 2022:
| 10:15Ā AM | The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press |
| 1:00Ā PM | In-Town Pool Call Time In-Town Pool |
| 1:30Ā PM | The President delivers remarks and meets with business and labor leaders; The Secretary of the Treasury attends South Court Auditorium Pre-Credentialed Media [RSVP here by 8:00 AM] |
| 2:45Ā PM | Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre James S. Brady Press Briefing Room |
The White House posted the following fact-sheet; The Biden-ā Harris Administration Advances Transmission Buildout to Deliver Affordable, CleanĀ Electricity
President Biden is catalyzing development of thousands of miles of new and upgraded transmission lines that will reduce electricity costs for families and businesses, prevent power outages in the face of extreme weather, and create good-paying jobs in the clean energy economy.
Today, the Department of Energy (DOE)Ā announcedĀ that first-round applications are open for competitive grants under theĀ Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership Programs, which total $10.5 billion in available funding, as well as the $2.5 billionĀ Transmission Facilitation Program. Funded by the Presidentās Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these programs together represent the largest single direct federal investment in critical transmission and distribution infrastructure.
An estimated 70 percent of the nationās transmission lines are over 25 years old, and this aging infrastructure makes American communities, critical infrastructure, and economic interests vulnerable. New and upgraded transmission lines deliver electricity to where itās needed, whether that means delivering wind and solar power to towns and cities across the country or moving power from one region to another that needs it in the face of storms, heat waves, and other extreme weather. An expanded transmission system is also critical to cost-effectively achieving the Presidentās goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030 and achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035.
White House.gov. 11/18/2022.
Todayās announcement builds on ongoing efforts across the Biden-Harris Administration to accelerate the buildout of long-distance, high-capacity transmission lines, including:
- Securing historic funding for transmission and grid upgrades:Ā The Presidentās Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes the largest investment ever in upgrading Americaās power grid. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act provides nearly $3 billion in transmission funding, including $2 billion that will unlock additional billions in federal lending for projects designated by the Secretary of Energy to be in the national interest. The Inflation Reduction Act also provides significant loan authority for the DOE Loan Programs Office and funding for the U.S. Department of Agricultureās (USDA)Ā Rural Utilities Service programsĀ that can support grid modernization.
- Approving new interstate transmission lines:Ā The Administration has also jumpstarted permitting for key transmission lines that cross Federally managed lands. In 2022, three major transmission projects received final approvals for construction from the Department of the Interior, including:TheĀ Energy Gateway South Transmission LineĀ across Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, with potential to unlock up to 2,000 MW of clean energy;
- TheĀ Ten West Link Transmission LineĀ from Arizona to California, with potential to unlock up to 3,200 MW of clean energy;
- Two segments of theĀ Gateway West Transmission Line ProjectĀ from Wyoming to Idaho, with potential to unlock up to 765 MW of clean energy.
- Advancing major project reviews:Ā The Department of the Interior has taken major steps forward on environmental reviews for several new transmission lines.Ā Key milestonesĀ include:Initiating the review for the Greenlink West Transmission Project from northern to southern Nevada, with potential to unlock up to 5,000 MW of clean energy;
- Initiating the review for the Cross-Tie 500-kV Transmission Project from Utah to Nevada, with potential to unlock up to 1,500 MW of clean energy;
- Issuing a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project, a major milestone for two lines that could transport up to 4,500 MW of clean energy from New Mexico to markets in Arizona and California.Ā
- Improving efficiency of federal permitting:Ā As part of the AdministrationāsĀ Permitting Action Planāa strategy to strengthen and accelerate federal permitting and environmental reviews across a range of infrastructure projectsāagencies are collaborating to promote sound and timely reviews of transmission projects. The Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Defense, and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency signed aĀ Memorandum of UnderstandingĀ to improve coordination and prioritize reviews for renewable energy projects on federal lands, as well as the transmission lines needed to support these projects.
- Launching the Building a Better Grid Initiative:Ā To mobilize new funding and enhance collaboration between all levels of government, industry, unions, local communities, environmental justice organizations, and other stakeholders, the Administration launched theĀ Building a Better Grid InitiativeĀ with a focus on long-distance, high-voltage transmission lines. This Initiative is administered by the Department of Energyās newĀ Grid Deployment Office, which supports development of new transmission lines and a more resilient grid through new and modernized distribution facilities to ensure all communities have access to reliable, affordable electricity.
- Supporting next-generation transmission planning:Ā The Department of Energy is conducting aĀ National Transmission Planning StudyĀ to help identify pathways for necessary large-scale transmission system buildouts that meet regional and national interests. TheĀ National Transmission Needs StudyĀ also identifies current and anticipated future capacity constraints and congestion on the nationās electric transmission grid. These efforts include robust engagement with industry stakeholders, communities, and regional and local governments.
- Making federal financing more accessible:Ā The Department of Energy recently launched theĀ Grid and Transmission Programs ConductorĀ to help inform state and local governments, Tribes and territories, utility and industry partners, and other stakeholders about the application process and timelines for a range of federal financing opportunities totaling billions of dollars in grants, loans, and other forms of financing. Today, the Conductor released a new interactive feature for public and private partners to more easily identify which financing opportunities are right for them.
- Advancing offshore wind transmission:Ā The Departments of Energy and the Interior are developing recommendations, in consultation with key stakeholders, onĀ offshore wind transmission planning and development. This work includes an Atlantic Offshore Wind Transmission Study and an analysis of West Coast offshore wind transmission needs. The Inflation Reduction Act provides $100 million to support transmission planning, modeling, and analysis, including for offshore wind transmission.
- Supporting other levels of government:Ā The Administration is taking a wide range of steps to help states, Tribes, territories, and local governments advance transmission projects. For example, the Department of TransportationĀ issued guidanceĀ to help state agencies host transmission lines along existing highway rights-of-way. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act provides $760 million in grants available to siting authorities and other state, local, or Tribal governmental entities to facilitate the siting of interstate transmission projects.
- Accelerating innovative solutions:Ā As part of the AdministrationāsĀ Net-Zero Game Changers Initiative, one of five near-term priorities is research and development to support a net-zero power grid and electrificationāincluding advanced transmission and distribution planning and operations. Efforts underway include the Department of EnergyāsĀ Transmission Reliability ProgramĀ andĀ Energy Storage Program, with support from the National Laboratories, to advance research and development needed for the electricity delivery system of the future.
I’m unsure if the above is related to his afternoon remarks; it was just the newest fact-sheet posted this morning.
President Biden’s remarks are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. D.C., time.
The daily press briefing is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. D.C., time.
President Biden has tweeted…
He has 1 tweet so far for Friday.
October 26th 2022, President Biden offered remarks on; Protecting American Consumers from JunkĀ Fees. The YouTube is 15 minutes and 49 seconds long.
President Biden: One of the key things Iāve asked the council to take on was the unfair hidden fees known as ājunk feesā that are taking real money ā real money out of your pockets ā real money out of the pockets of American families.Ā Things like, as been mentioned, surprise banking overdraft fees, excessive credit card late fees, hidden hotel booking fees, or those huge termination charges to stop you from switching cable and Internet plans to a better deal.Ā Surprise charges that companies sneak into bills because they can.Ā
President Biden: First, imagine this: Your child outgrows his bicycle, and you decide to sell it online, and someone pays you a check.Ā Pays you 30 bucks for the bicycle or something.Ā Days later, that check that you got paid with, that you deposited into your bank, it bounces.Ā You didnāt know it was bad, but you get charged 15 bucks.Ā You get charged 15 bucks.Ā Itās wrong.Ā Itās ridiculous.Ā Itās unfair.Ā And my administration is making clear today itās illegal as well.
Instead of a fact-sheet the White House laid out the plan in a blog post; The Presidentās Initiative on Junk Fees and Related PricingĀ Practices.
When the post was posted for Thursday, President Biden had tweeted 3 times. He add 3 tweets giving him a Thursday Tweeting Total of 6 tweets and 0 retweets.
On Thursday:
President Biden’s full statement:
When I think of Nancy Pelosi, I think of dignity.
History will note she is the most consequential Speaker of the House of Representatives in our history. There are countless examples of how she embodies the obligation of elected officials to uphold their oath to God and country to ensure our democracy delivers and remains a beacon to the world. In everything she does, she reflects a dignity in her actions and a dignity she sees in the lives of the people of this nation.
In 2007, she made history as the first woman Speaker, but that was just the beginning of the history she has made during her four terms. I know because Iāve seen her in action during my career as Senator, Vice President, and now as President. With Nancy, you see a fatherās daughter who learned by his side how to win and govern. With her leading the way, you never worry about whether a bill will pass. If she says she has the votes, she has the votes.Ā Every time.
History will record her leadership with President Obama to rescue the economy in crisis from the Great Recession. With her sheer will, passing the Affordable Care Act to ensure health care is a right not a privilege.Ā Ending Donāt Ask Donāt Tell so patriotic Americans can serve the country they love no matter who they love. The list goes on, including her leadership in defending democracy and advancing human rights around the world.
In the first two years of my presidency, she is a singular force securing once-in-a-generation bills that will define our nation for decades to come. The American Rescue Plan to get us through COVID-19. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to rebuild our roads and bridges. The CHIPS and Science Act to ensure the most advanced manufacturing is done here in America. The most significantĀ gun safety law in nearly thirty years ā for the children. One of the most significant bills helping veterans and their families exposed to toxic materials. And, the Inflation Reduction Act that took on Big Pharma and won, and reflects the most aggressive action ever to tackle the climate crisis.
Because of Nancy Pelosi, the lives of millions and millions of Americans are better, even in districts represented by Republicans who voted against her bills and too often vilify her. Thatās Nancy ā always working for the dignity of all of the people. And, as a fierce defender of democracy through our laws, history will also note her fierceness and resolve to protect our democracy from the violent, deadly insurrection of January 6th. Itās a threat of political violence and intimidation that continues and she and her family know all too well, but that will never stop her from serving our nation.
She might be stepping down from her leadership role in the House Democratic Caucus, but she will never waiver in protecting our sacred democracy.Nancy Pelosi is first, last, and always for the people.Ā Jill and I count Nancy, Paul, and their family among our dearest friends. As a nation, we owe her a deep debt of gratitude for her service, her patriotism, and above all, her absolute dignity.
White House.gov. 11/17/2022.
Both tweets are referring to the Inflation Reduction Act.
Side note:
Sunday is President Joe Biden’s 80th birthday. To celebrate, on Saturday the White House will play host to the wedding of his granddaughter Naomi Biden.
Naomi Biden, 28, the daughter of Hunter Biden is marrying Peter Neal, 25. According to article posted above, as reported by the New York Times, Naomi and Peter live with the Biden’s at the White House.
I admit I’m here for the photos!
This is an Open Thread.
Have a nice before Thanksgiving Weekend Everyone!
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