FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 13, 2013
CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-4216
Senator Coons introduces Quadrennial Energy Act for coordinated, robust energy review
Bill would redefine how the nation plans its energy future
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Energy Committee, joined five of his colleagues on Wednesday in re-introducing legislation to advance a more coordinated and robust approach to meeting our nation’s energy needs.
The Quadrennial Energy Review Act of 2013 would authorize a high-level government-wide coordination council to submit a periodic, comprehensive review of current domestic capabilities and future energy needs, as well as the resources, technologies, and policy recommendations to meet them. The first Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) would be submitted to Congress by August 1, 2015, and every four years thereafter. The reviews would offer a strategic roadmap to drive innovation in domestic energy sources in order to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and improve economic competitiveness and security in the United States.
"America’s energy innovators need and deserve a better strategic blueprint to jumpstart our clean energy economy,” Senator Coons said. “A Quadrennial Energy Review would identify a baseline assessment of our technological, economic and national security capabilities. It would then put our federal resources to work to help us better coordinate with the private sector and promote energy innovation. This is critical component of an all-of-the-above energy policy.”
Several groups including the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Bipartisan Policy Center’s American Energy Innovation Council support the development of the QER. The proposal is modeled after the highly-regarded Quadrennial Defense Review, a legislatively-mandated review of defense strategy and priorities.
U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) is the lead sponsor of the bill. In addition to Senator Coons, Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Begich (D-AK), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) are original cosponsors. The Quadrennial Energy Review Act was first introduced by Senator Pryor in the 112th Congress and Senator Coons was a cosponsor of the bill.
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