Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
The Manchin-Barrasso permitting bill is attracting intense attention from energy lobbyists, federal disclosures show, as K Street prepares for the lame duck.
Why it matters: It's no surprise that companies are trying to influence this bill, but the third quarter disclosures show just how intently the energy sector is focused on the Hill's permitting debate.
Driving the news: Most of the more than two dozen energy companies and trade groups we looked at listed Manchin-Barrasso by its formal name, the Energy Permitting Reform Act, in the latest disclosures filed Monday.
- Other priorities for the lame duck and beyond — namely the NDAA, tax policy, WRDA and a potential pipeline safety reauthorization — also showed up frequently.
- And the 45V hydrogen tax incentive continues to be a focus, with final guidance widely expected sometime after the election. It's one of the few IRA tax credits that companies tend to mention specifically in the paperwork.
- Overall, energy lobbying spending was down or flat for most energy companies and trade groups in the third quarter.
Zoom in: The American Petroleum Institute reported lobbying specifically on provisions in Manchin-Barrasso related to NEPA judicial review, leasing on public lands and the LNG permits pause.
- Duke Energy similarly said its lobbyists were talking to the Hill about the bill's transmission and judicial review provisions.
- Rep. Bruce Westerman's efforts to draft a broader overhaul of NEPA are getting plenty of attention as well.
Between the lines: The impending 2025 tax battle royale is beginning to show up in the energy industry disclosure forms.
- ConocoPhillips, for instance, reported talking to the Hill about "priorities in the coming reauthorization of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" and "preserving" the 45Q carbon capture credit.
- The American Exploration & Production Council listed the IRA's methane fee and legislation to let companies immediately claim so-called intangible drilling cost deductions — both big focuses for the tax debate, according to a recent leaked document.
- Meanwhile, the Solar Energy Industries Association discussed "defending the Inflation Reduction Act," which Republicans may try to scale back if they have power during the tax debate.
Fun fact: Both Shell USA and BP America said they lobbied on a provision from last year's NDAA prohibiting DOD from contracting with companies that have fossil fuel operations in Russia.
- Other defense-related energy company priorities include sustainable aviation fuel and a running fight about offshore crewing requirements.
By the numbers: Here are some of the notable lobbying spends from big industry players:
- American Petroleum Institute: $1.5 million in Q3, compared with $1.7 million in Q2.
- American Clean Power Association: $450,000 in Q3, compared with $630,000 in Q2.
- Solar Energy Industries Association: $470,000 in Q3, compared with $460,000 in Q2.
- Nuclear Energy Institute: $310,000 in Q3, compared with $480,000 in Q2.
- Edison Electric Institute: $2.9 million in Q3, compared with $2.2 million in Q2.
- American Chemistry Council: $5.8 million in Q3, compared with $4.8 million in Q2.
- ExxonMobil: $1.4 million in Q3, compared with $1.5 million in Q2.
- Shell USA: $1.7 million in Q3, compared with $2.1 million in Q2.
- Chevron: $2.6 million in Q3, compared with $2.1 million in Q2.
- ConocoPhillips: $570,000 in Q3, compared with $710,000 in Q2.
- Orsted North America: $380,000 in Q3, compared with $350,000 in Q2.
- Southern Company: $2.3 million in Q3, compared with $2.4 million in Q2.
- NextEra Energy: $1.9 million in Q3, compared with $1.9 million in Q2.
- Duke Energy: $1.2 million in Q3, compared with $1.3 million in Q2.
