Thursday, July 14, 2016

USA: Talks Start on Energy Policy Modernization Act

Conference committee formed on Murkowski's energy bill (Alaskajournal.com)

Sen. Lisa Murkowski
The Energy Policy Modernization Act is in conference committee to stitch U.S. House of Representatives and Senate versions together after approval on July 12.

Citing a previous record of the bill’s bipartisan Senate support, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who as chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will serve as the conference committee’s chair, said she believes the committee can make a solid enough compromise to pass the bill by the end of the year.

The bill — the first energy policy overhaul since 2007 — includes provisions for renewable energy production for wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy, and to ease Alaska’s oil and mineral development processes.