Jon Tester: “I would like to speak about the Energy Policy Modernization Act that we have been considering on the Senate floor. This…”

“I would like to speak about the Energy Policy Modernization Act that we have been considering on the Senate floor. This bill has a lot of good things in it. It includes provisions to support a wide array of energy technologies, from improving conventional energy sources to promoting renewables to advancing long- overdue policies to increase energy efficiency. It supports energy infrastructure, which is critical for energy exporting States like Montana. It includes specific provisions that I have worked on to promote geothermal development, and I thank Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Cantwell for including them. In the course of this debate, we have adopted amendments to boost research and development overall and to clarify policies to recognize the value of energy development from forest biomass. I am also hopeful we will also be able to add provisions from the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act that I have championed for years. Furthermore, this bill includes permanent reauthorization of the land and water conservation fund with my making public lands public provision to increase access to our public lands for hunters, fishers, and others who want to enjoy them. Although it does not provide the money to fully fund the LWCF, a permanent authorization would help us avoid letting the fund lapse, as it did last fall for over 2 months. It also invests in our national parks as we celebrate the centennial year of the Park Service.…”