Abby L. Harvey
GHG Daily
1/29/2016
Debate began this week on the Senate’s Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, a bipartisan legislative update to the nation’s energy policy. The package aims to save energy, expand domestic energy supplies, enable infrastructure investment, protect the electric grid, boost energy trade, improve the performance of federal agencies, and renew effective conservation programs.
“The Energy Policy Modernization Act builds on recent technological breakthroughs and promises to bring substantial benefits to American families and businesses while protecting the environment,” according to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee description of the bill.
The bill was reported out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in late July by a vote of 18-4. By the request of committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the bill’s sponsors, controversial amendments were to be held until floor debate.
After two days of floor debate, a total of 89 amendments have been offered, though only five have been brought to a vote.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) proposed an amendment to create a prize system to encourage the development of innovative technologies to remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, such as direct air capture. The program would be established by a federal commission under the Department of Energy comprised of physicists, chemists, engineers, business managers, and economists. ““This amendment encourages American ingenuity and innovation,” Barrasso said in a statement. “It makes sense to look for alternative approaches for removing and permanently sequestering excess carbon dioxide.” The Barrasso amendment passed by voice vote.
An amendment offered by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) clarifying the description of “smart manufacturing” in the bill was also passed by voice vote.
Three amendments were passed by roll call vote:
- An amendment offered by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to increase the funding provided for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy passed 55-37;
- An amendment offered by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to require the comptroller general of the United States to conduct a review and submit a report on energy production in the United States and the effects of crude oil exports passed 62-29; and
- An amendment offered by Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) to enable civilian research and development of advanced nuclear energy technologies by private and public institutions, to expand theoretical and practical knowledge of nuclear physics, chemistry, and materials science, passed 87-4.
Debate will continue next week with a vote expected by Friday.
