Associations representing the wind and solar power industries are expecting a fight this fall when Congress takes up what could be the first comprehensive national energy bill to be adopted by lawmakers since 2007, Bloomberg BNA reported.

The American Wind Energy Association and Solar Energy Industries Association are planning to defend provisions in the current version of the bill that encourages the adoption and distribution of renewable energy sources. Such provisions are likely to come under partisan attack when a lame duck Congress takes up the legislation after the November elections, according to Bloomberg.

For its part, AWEA's focus heading into the election season will be "educational and preparing for opportunities that may come up next year, and playing defense on the issues that still could come up before the end of the year," Aaron Severn, the association's senior director of federal legislative affairs, told the publication.

Both associations have found an ally in the Sierra Club, which is lobbying for many of the clean energy policies.

AWEA and SEIA also are monitoring the legal wrangling over the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions primarily from coal-fired power plants. The National Association of Manufacturers and other business groups have challenged the regulation in court. The wind and solar associations both support the plan. http://bit.ly/2bRZnXN

MORE CEO DATELINE

• Historian society debates merits of offering insurance to members
• Airlines association publishes flight data online
• Former Edison Electric Institute president dies
• Gaming, district attorneys associations team up to fight illegal gambling
• Archery group launches social media campaign to reverse sales decline