The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Monday to take up the American Energy Innovation Act (AEIA)—a bipartisan bill that proponents say will comprehensively update the nation’s energy regulations. According to the Department of Energy, the bill “will modernize domestic energy laws to ensure the United States remains a global energy leader while also strengthening national security, increasing our international competitiveness, and investing in clean energy technologies.”
The AEIA (pdf) was introduced last week by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) filed cloture on Feb. 27 on a motion to proceed to Bill S.2657 (pdf), a geothermal R&D bill that Murkowski and Manchin are using as the legislative vehicle for their broader AEIA energy package. Senators voted to commence consideration of the bill by 84 votes to 3.
