WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito issued this statement following passage of the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 – a bipartisan, commonsense, all-of-the-above energy package that updates the nation’s energy policy for the first time in eight years:

“This commonsense energy package will bring significant benefits to West Virginia and to American families and businesses, namely energy security, efficiency and affordability,” said Senator Capito. “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.”

The bill utilizes America’s abundant gas reserves to export liquefied natural gas to our allies, which will lead to more jobs and revenue in producing states like West Virginia. The innovation and technology provisions in the bill will help to make fossil energy more efficient and reliable while reducing emissions, and will update our energy infrastructure to accommodate major increases in natural gas production. The bill also reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which would improve parks and public lands in West Virginia and around the country.

The bill includes language and amendments offered by Senator Capito to improve the pipeline permitting process, boost carbon capture and storage technologies and require a feasibility study of an ethane storage and distribution hub in the Utica-Marcellus-Rogersville Shale region.

Senator Capito provisions included in the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016:

Oil and Gas Production and Distribution Reform Act
A major component of the Energy Policy Modernization Act, this legislation offered by Senator Capito provides greater certainty around the timeframe for natural gas pipeline approvals. This provision would streamline the application process so pipelines can be constructed quickly and meet our energy transportation needs. It would also establish the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the lead agency for the permitting process, helping to address interagency disputes that lead to project delays.

Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act
This legislation encourages states to develop additional shooting ranges by making more funds available to state fish and wildlife agencies through the Pittman-Robertson Act, a federal aid program that is financed by excise taxes on firearms.

Heitkamp-Capito Amendment #3174: DOE Price Stabilization Contract Report
Calls for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) continued focus and investment in research, development, deployment, and implementation of Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies. The amendment would require DOE to produce a report to congress on the costs and benefits of implementing a price stabilization contract program that would create more certainty and encourage investment in CCUS, technology that would ensure coal remains part of the nation’s energy portfolio.

Capito Amendment #3063: Ethane Study Requirement for Utica, Marcellus and Rogersville Shale
Requires DOE and U.S. Department of Commerce to study the feasibility of establishing an ethane storage and distribution hub in the Utica-Marcellus-Rogersville Shale region. The study will identify locations, economic feasibility and benefits, storage capacity capabilities, infrastructure needs and other markets and trading hubs. It will also include the potential energy security benefits.

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