Energy organizations applaud passing of new energy legislation
The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources announced the approval of the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, S. 2012, on Wednesday, the first major energy bill to gain approval in the Senate in almost nine years.
The legislation initiative was led by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and was approved by a vote of 85-12. The Senate’s decision was applauded by several energy organizations, including the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), and the National Mining Association (NMA).
“We are passing today the first energy bill since 2007, almost nine years,” Cantwell said. “It is a modernization of America’s energy system, which is urgently needed. This bill will push us towards cleaner, more efficient, more cost-effective and renewable energy sources, by modernizing our electricity grid, making investments in next generation technologies like storage, smart buildings, advanced vehicles and composite materials. It improves our cybersecurity and will train the workforce of tomorrow.”
The act contains six titles that address efficiency, supply, infrastructure, conservation, accountability, and public land and water resources. The House and Senate will work together to draft a unified bill before the proposed legislation can be voted into law.
“A skilled workforce is critical to any industry’s success, and this bill will also enhance industry efforts to develop a diverse and qualified workforce for the future,” EEI President Tom Kuhn said. “We look forward to working with both the House and the Senate as they reconcile the differences between their two bills.”
