Energy policy: Senate-backed measure merits support
We welcome the U.S. Senate’s passage last week of the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015. The welcomed, and logical measure, seeks to address the nation’s energy opportunities and challenges with the help of fossil fuels.
While far from perfect, the proposed legislation does prioritize an all-of-the-above energy policy and includes important amendments for clean-coal technology and keeping coal competitive. Area lawmakers supporting the overall legislation included U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Manchin led the push for amendments in the legislation that comprise the entirety of the bill’s coal title and focus on promoting an all-of-the-above energy policy, keeping coal competitive with other low-carbon energy sources and speeding up efforts to develop carbon emission-reducing technologies.
Specifically the proposed legislation would:
• Designate Clean Coal Technologies as an official DOE fossil energy priority: Included in the base bill, the provision would amend the Energy Policy Act and list carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) as a specific objective for DOE and the Office of Fossil Energy. This measure would work to maintain clean coal technologies as a clear part of the nation’s energy mix and lower the cost of reducing carbon emissions, Manchin said.
• Use Pre-Authorized Funding for Clean Coal Innovation: Included in the base bill, Manchin said the provision would require the DOE to study the effectiveness of recommended changes to the agency’s loan program, which authorized $8 billion in 2008, but has yet to use the funds for carbon and cost reducing fossil energy projects.
• Prioritize Clean Coal Research and Development: Specifically the amendment would put a premium on a path forward for coal by establishing a comprehensive program dedicated to clean coal technological innovation through research, development and implementation, Manchin said. The program would work to preserve low-cost electricity, and help diversify the nation’s energy supply by keeping coal competitive with other low-carbon energy sources, and speed up efforts to develop carbon emission-reducing technologies.
• Authorize Coal Technology Program Budget: Manchin said the amendment adds $22 million to the already authorized budget for the coal technology program. The additional $22 million would support preliminary engineering leading to large-scale pilot projects with processes resulting in net-negative CO2 emissions from production and consumption of the end products, employing a combination of coal and biomass feedstocks with carbon capture and storage.
“It is critical for our country to establish an all-of-the-above energy portfolio that includes all of our domestic resources and to face the fact that coal will play an integral role in producing our electricity for decades to come,” Manchin said. “My measures ensure that we are investing in the necessary research development and advanced technologies to address the preservation of low cost electricity, clean coal production, cost effective energy practices and carbon emissions reduction.”
“By advancing smart, all-of-the-above energy policies we can support jobs, grow our economy and benefit from more efficient, affordable and reliable energy,” Capito added.
We agree. The Senate approved measure must still be reconciled with a House passed bill that boosts oil and natural gas and speeds completion of environment reviews for a proposed coal export terminal in Washington. President Barack Obama, of course, has threatened to veto the House measure.
But, with hope, this important energy bill, which enjoys widespread bipartisan support, can be advanced soon to the president’s desk. An all-of-the-above energy bill — which includes a future for fossil fuels and clean coal technology — is the only logical step if our country is to ever achieve true energy independence.
