Following Senate action last week on the pipeline safety bill, there is new hope for the Senate bipartisan energy bill with a potential compromise on legislation to address the Flint water crisis. If the compromise holds, the energy measure could move as soon as next week, as could a short-term Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization which is reported to be a potential vehicle for a provision to address the non-solar technologies left out of the Investment Tax Credit extension in last December’s omnibus bill.

Energy Secretary Moniz returns to Capitol Hill this week for a hearing on the DOE’s FY17 budget before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. The budget request includes $2.3 billion in increased mandatory funding. Secretary Moniz also testified before the House Appropriations Committee last week. On the election front, presidential debates are scheduled this week in Miami, with the Democrats debating March 9 and the Republicans March 10. Leading up to the debates, more than 20 Florida mayors have asked that the debates include a discussion of climate change and how the candidates would address sea-level rise, a major concern for the Sunshine State.