Sens. Manchin, Murkowski introduce American Energy Innovation Act

U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released on Feb. 27, the text of the American Energy Innovation Act (AEIA), a compilation of more than 50 energy-related measures individually reported by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) last year.

AEIA, S. 2657, aims to ensure the United States remains a global energy leader, strengthens national security, increases U.S. international competitiveness, and invests in clean energy technologies.

The key provisions in AEIA focus on energy efficiency; renewable energy; energy storage; carbon capture, utilization, and storage; advanced nuclear; industrial and vehicle technologies; the Department of Energy; mineral security, cyber and grid security, and modernization; and workforce development.

“This legislation is the result of strong bipartisan work with my colleagues on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to make a down payment on emissions-reducing technologies, reassert the United States’ leadership role in global markets, enhance our grid security, and protect consumers,” Manchin, the Ranking Member of ENR, said. “Importantly, this bill will connect energy-producing communities, including in states like West Virginia and Alaska, to new markets and job opportunities while laying the groundwork for the Department of Energy to advance new and necessary critical emissions-reducing technologies.”

“This bill is our best chance to modernize our nation’s energy policies in more than 12 years,” ENR Chairman Murkowski said. “By working together to pass it into law, we can promote a range of emerging technologies that will help keep energy affordable even as it becomes cleaner and cleaner. Our bill also addresses national needs by taking overdue steps to enhance our cybersecurity, grid security, and mineral security. I’m proud of the bipartisan work we have done and encourage all members of the Senate to work with us to advance it through the legislative process.”

AEIA includes five bills authored by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), which focus on modernizing the U.S. electricity grid and enhancing grid cybersecurity, among other goals.

“This bill will provide a big boost for the clean energy solutions we need while keeping our nation’s energy supplies secure, abundant, and affordable,” Cantwell, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, said. “I also want to commend the great work of Senators Murkowski and Manchin—this legislation shows what we can achieve when we work together across the aisle to solve America’s most urgent challenges.”

On Feb. 27, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2657, a geothermal research and development bill introduced by Murkowski and Manchin, which will serve as the legislative vehicle for AEIA. Once a vote on the motion to proceed to S. 2657 is successful, Manchin and Murkowski plan to offer a substitute amendment featuring the full text of the AEIA.