The U.S. Senate this week began voting on amendments to the bipartisan Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, which recently advanced out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this week, with final passage expected soon.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), a member of the committee, highlighted important provisions in the legislation, which would help expand domestic energy production, reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and counter-balance what is considered by many to be anti-energy regulations from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The committee held several hearings on at least 114 bills as the Senate worked to develop this energy bill.
“The Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 is a crucial step forward in modernizing our nation’s energy policy and public lands management for the first time in almost a decade," Daines said. "And we’re doing it in a strong, bipartisan fashion.”
Daines drew a connection between the nation’s energy future, economic opportunity and increased security. The bill would allow for the export of liquefied natural gas, bolster hydropower development, facilitate drilling permits, and build reliable bulk power in America’s electrical grid.
“We can’t fully discuss our nation’s energy future without also addressing the president’s moratorium on new federal coal leases and royalty-increase attempts for federal coal, oil and natural gas," Daines said. "I hope that we can work together in a bipartisan fashion to address these important issues, which have a significant impact on jobs, tax revenue and energy prices in my home state."
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