Dive Brief:
- The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 18-4 this week to advance the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, a broad bipartisan measure that would help modernize the grid and reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
- There were 10 Republicans and 8 Democrats voting for the legislation, with presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) among those opposed.
- The committee also approved the Offshore Production and National Security Act , which would lift a ban on exporting crude oil.
Dive Insight:
It's been eight years since the last bipartisan energy bill, but the Senate committee took a significant step this week. Introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, (R-AK) and Sen. Maria Cantwell, (D-WA), the bill has some high profile opponents but still moved forward with ease on an 18-4 vote.
Debbie Stabenow, (D-MI) who has been active in dealing with her state's power crisis, and Independent Bernie Sanders, who is challenging Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, both voted against the measure.
The bill would set deadlines for LNG export decisions and streamline the approval process for projects like the Alaska gasline. It would clarify state eligibility for federal energy loan guarantees and promote development of broad range of energy resources, as well as reauthorizing federal weatherization and state energy programs, and a measure requiring agencies to consider grid reliability before issuing new rules.
Murkowski, who chairs the committee, issued a statement focused on the legislation's Alaska impacts. The committee also advanced the Offshore Production and National Security Act, also introduced by Murkowski, which would "ensure Alaska and other coastal states receive a fair share of the revenue from oil and gas activity off their shores." The measure also seeks to lift a ban on crude exports.
“Alaska’s natural resources are vital to our prosperity,” Murkowski said. “With exploration proceeding in the Chukchi Sea, and the Alaska offshore emerging as a key part of our national energy security, it’s critical that we ensure revenue sharing for the state and coastal communities and invest in the workforce development, science and infrastructure necessary to bring these vast resources to market.”