WASHINGTON (AP) – Legislation to address the water crisis in Flint, Michigan is likely as the Senate takes up a bipartisan bill on energy policy.
Preliminary votes on the overall energy bill are expected as soon as Thursday as the Senate debates the first comprehensive energy legislation in nine years.
The wide-ranging bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., would update building codes to increase efficiency, strengthen electric grid safety standards and promote development of an array of energy forms, from renewables such as solar and wind power, to natural gas, hydropower and even geothermal energy. The bill also would speed federal approval of projects to export liquefied natural gas to Europe and Asia and reauthorize a half-billion dollar conservation fund that protects parks, public lands, historic sites and battlefields.
The bill as drafted has widespread, bipartisan support that Murkowski, Cantwell and other senators touted Wednesday in speeches on the Senate floor.
“This is a good bill. It is designed to go the distance and designed to make a difference,” said Murkowski, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bill will boost the economy, improve national security and increase international competitiveness – all at the same time, Murkowski said.