Senate Committee advances energy infrastructure bill

The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced legislation that invests in America’s energy infrastructure needs.

The committee voted 13-7 to advance the energy infrastructure package. The $100 billion Energy Infrastructure Act serves as the legislative text for key portions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, including power infrastructure, western water, resilience, and abandoned mine lands and orphan wells.

Specifically, it invests in the reliability of the electric grid and seeks to expand transmission capabilities. It also looks to build out domestic supply chains for clean energy technologies and invest in water infrastructure needed by western states. Further, it would fund the cleanup of abandoned energy infrastructure and mine lands.

Committee chair Joe Manchin (D-WV)) said the bill “delivers on President Biden’s American Jobs Plan in many ways and has earned the support of a wide swath of stakeholders.” The bill has the support of the Alliance to Save Energy.

“As a bipartisan organization, we are encouraged by this legislation, which is a concrete step by both parties to assemble an infrastructure package that values energy efficiency as one of the top solutions for an energy system that is more productive, decarbonized, and equitable,” ASE President Paula Glover said. “The efficiency title in this bill touches all sectors in our economy – from industry and manufacturing to homes, buildings, and schools.”

Glover sent a letter to Congressional leaders earlier this week outlining efficiency policies and programs that could achieve $167 billion in energy cost savings and avoid 1.1 billion metric tons of carbon.

“We’re also excited to see provisions on grid infrastructure, which would help put the grid on a pathway for an Active Efficiency future. Investments in digitalization, demand response, and distributed energy resources (DERs) ensure that our grid is more resilient, flexible, and clean,” Glover added.