Three senior House Republicans today offered their alternative vision for federal onshore and offshore energy policy with legislation aimed at sharply reducing the obstacles toward constructing new projects. The measure also contains a section aimed at boosting renewable energy.
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney and Natural Resources Ranking Member Rob Bishop (Utah) are unveiling the legislative push called the American Energy First Act. Their bill comes the same week as House Democrats plan to vote on three pieces of legislation that would bar oil and gas drilling in many parts of the United States.
The measure also contains a section aimed at boosting renewable energy. It would establish priority areas for geothermal, solar and wind on public lands while limiting the time for their environmental reviews. It also includes provisions meant to boost geothermal energy projects on public lands and authorizing offshore wind production in U.S. territories.