Manchin, Energy Committee Passes 22 Bills Moving Toward Bipartisan Energy Innovation Solutions

July 16, 2019

Today, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed 22 energy bills on a largely bipartisan basis. 

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a business meeting to consider pending legislation and reported out of committee 22 energy bills on a largely bipartisan basis. 

“I’m proud of the bipartisan work done in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today. I have always supported an all-of-the-above energy strategy, and I have also been resolute that climate change is real and this committee has a responsibility to work toward all-of-the above climate solutions. The bills we passed today move us toward cleaner energy solutions,” Ranking Member Manchin said.

Today the Committee passed The Appalachian Energy for National Security Act, Ranking Member Manchin’s legislation to require the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a study on the national and economic security benefits of the proposed Appalachian Storage Hub. The Committee also passed Ranking Member Manchin’s Enhancing Fossil Fuel Energy Carbon Technology (EFFECT) Act that would direct the DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy to establish four new research and development (R&D) programs focused on coal and natural gas technology, carbon storage, carbon utilization, and carbon removal. Finally, the Committee passed Ranking Member Manchin’s Rare Earth Element Advanced Coal Technology Act (REEACT) that would allow for the development of technology capable of extracting rare earth elements (REEs) from coal and coal byproducts to re-establish a U.S. based supply chain.

“I’m pleased to see several bills I support pass committee today. My Appalachian Energy for National Security Act directs DOE to take a hard look at the potential national and economic security benefits of the proposed Appalachian Storage Hub. My EFFECT Act is aimed at getting critical carbon capture technologies through the valley of death to commercialization and wide deployment both around the country and around the globe. My REEACT bill is timely as it addresses our critical mineral import vulnerability. The Nuclear Energy Leadership Act is an important first step toward preserving U.S. leadership in nuclear energy and decarbonizing our manufacturing sector. We also cleared Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act and Energy Efficiency Materials Pilot Program, which are common sense solutions to improve energy efficiency. These bills move the ball forward on our clean energy innovation agenda,” Ranking Member Manchin said. 

Below is the full list of legislation passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 

To watch Ranking Member Manchin’s opening statement click here

To watch the business meeting in full click here.

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