From the article:  The provision sits deep in H.R. 909, a bill Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) proposed in early March. Overall, the bill focuses on ramping up oil and gas production, oil shale and nuclear energy; it also cancels U.S. EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases.

Some of the royalties and fees from the oil and gas production go into a trust fund. The Department of Energy then solicits offers from renewable power generators and awards the funds to those that offer the lowest price.

It’s called a “reverse auction” for renewable energy, and it’s an idea Democrats have floated in past Congresses. Now it comes from a Republican majority that has questioned climate science and pressed for more fossil energy — and could easily have put the cash toward the deficit.

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