H.R. 271, the "Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2013"

H.R. 271 protects utilities complying with a Department of Energy (DOE) emergency order from any liability for noncompliance with any federal, state, or local environmental law or regulation resulting from actions taken to comply with the DOE order.  The bill requires any emergency order that may result in a conflict with environmental requirements to require generation only during the hours necessary to meet the emergency and to minimize any adverse environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable.  H.R. 271 also limits the length of such an order to 90 days and requires any renewed order to include any conditions identified by the relevant federal environmental agency as necessary to minimize any environmental impacts.

H.R. 271 passed the House on May 22, 2013.