U.S. Chamber's Energy Institute: Senate Energy Bill Represents Real Progress

Legislation Contains Several Key Institute Policy Recommendations

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber's Institute for 21st Century Energy, today issued the following statement following the completion of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's work on an energy bill:

"The bill reported out of the energy committee today represents real progress toward a comprehensive energy policy. It offers the chance to increase our energy security, create American jobs, and continue to improve the environment. Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Murkowski should be commended for their efforts to find consensus on several critical issues that deserve action by Congress.

"Since the election, the Institute has worked with committee members and staff to enact several very significant policy recommendations from our Blueprint for Securing America's Energy Future. Specifically, the inclusion of a clean energy bank—such as the Clean Energy Deployment Administration included in the bill—will encourage substantial investments in nuclear and renewable energy technologies.

"The legislation also includes an Institute recommendation to clarify Section 526 of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act to ensure that oil sands from Canada can continue to be imported, an issue of particular importance to our energy security and to our largest energy trading partner.

"We also appreciate the committee's approval of steps to aggressively promote energy efficiency; its specific endorsement of recycling as a potential solution to our nuclear waste challenge, as well as provisions that will open additional off-shore areas for oil and gas exploration that are currently off-limits.

"This is not a perfect bill but overall this legislation is a positive step. It does not include oil and gas revenue sharing for states, and it contains a renewable electricity mandate that excludes some resources, like nuclear. It also doesn't recognize significant regional differences across our country. We look forward to working with the full Senate on these and other important issues in the coming months."

The mission of the U.S. Chamber's Institute for 21st Century Energy is to unify policymakers, regulators, business leaders, and the American public behind a common sense energy strategy to help keep America secure, prosperous, and clean. Through policy development, education, and advocacy, the Institute is building support for meaningful action at the local, state, national, and international levels.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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