In This Issue:

- Energy and Climate Debate

- Congress

- Administration

- Department of Commerce

- Department of Energy

- Department of Interior

- Environmental Protection Agency

- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

- Government Accountability Office

- International

- States

- Miscellaneous

- Excerpt from Energy and Climate Debate:

The 113th Congress adjourned sine die last week, and efforts are underway to prepare for an eventful 114th Congress and final two years of the Obama Administration.

Before the Senate departed, they finalized the one-year tax extenders package (H.R. 5771), which the House had approved over a week earlier, and completed a series of nominations. Among other things, the tax extenders package extends the wind energy production tax credit through the end of the month. The short extension sets the stage for a broader debate on tax reform next year, and parties on both sides of the aisle are gearing up for a fight over the PTC, among many other provisions. President Obama signed the $41.6 billion short-term extenders bill into law December 19. He announced the same day that he will release a detailed plan in the near future to overhaul the tax code. Congressional Republicans have urged the Obama Administration to add more details to a 2012 framework for business tax changes.