Year | Title | Summary |
1920 | Federal Water Power Act | |
1935 | Federal Power Act | - Put electricity sale and transportation regulation under Federal Power Commission
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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)
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1954 | Atomic Energy Act | - Opened way for civilian nuclear power program
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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)
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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- Restricted new power plants using oil or natural gas (repealed in 1987)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
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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
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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
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2009 | Defense Production Act Reauthorization | - Modified the Defense Production Act to promote renewables and the smart grid
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2015 | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 | - Extended renewable energy tax cuts
- Lifted crude oil export ban
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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
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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
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