Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to speak on an amendment that I submitted last week, amendment No. 3140, which is a tripartisan amendment to the Energy Policy Modernization Act, which is the pending legislation. I submitted the amendment last week with Senators Klobuchar and King as my lead cosponsors. Our amendment would support the key role that the forests in this country can play in helping to meet our country's energy needs.

The carbon benefits of forest biomass are clearly established. Yet current policy uncertainty could end up jeopardizing--rather than encouraging--investment in working forests, harvesting operations, bioenergy, wood products, and paper manufacturing. Biomass energy is sustainable, responsible, renewable, and economically significant as an energy source. Many States are already relying on biomass to meet their renewable energy goals. There is a great deal of support for renewable biomass, which creates the benefits of establishing jobs, boosting economic growth, and helping us to meet our Nation's energy needs. Federal policies across all departments and agencies must remove any uncertainties and contradictions through a clear policy that forest bioenergy is an essential part of our Nation's energy future.

With these goals in mind, I have offered a very straightforward amendment with a group of colleagues who span the ideological spectrum. They include, as I mentioned, Senators Klobuchar and King, as well as Senators Ayotte, Franken, Daines, Crapo, and Risch. I am very pleased to have all of these colleagues cosponsoring my bill.

Our amendment supports the key role that forests in the United States can play in addressing the Nation's energy needs. The amendment echoes the principles outlined in the June 2015 letter that we sent, which was signed by 46 Senators. As the Acting President pro tempore knows, it is very unusual for 46 Senators on both sides of the aisle to come together in support of a policy.

Specifically, our amendment would require the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the EPA to jointly ensure that Federal policy relating to forest bioenergy is consistent across all departments and agencies and that the full benefits of forest biomass for energy conservation and responsible forest management are recognized.

The amendment would also direct these Federal agencies to establish clear and simple policy for the utilization of biomass as an energy solution. These include policies that reflect the carbon neutrality of forest bioenergy that recognize biomass as a renewable energy source, that encourage private investment throughout the biomass supply chain, that encourage forest management to improve forest health, and that recognize State initiatives to use biomass.

The carbon neutrality of biomass harvested from sustainably managed forests has been recognized repeatedly by numerous studies, agencies, institutions, and rules around the world, and there has been no dispute about the carbon neutrality of biomass derived from the residuals of forest products manufacturing and agriculture.

Our tripartisan amendment would help ensure that Federal policies for the use of clean, renewable energy solutions are clear and simple.

I am in conversations with the two managers of this important bill, the chairman, Senator Murkowski, and the ranking member, Senator Cantwell, about our amendment. I hope that it will be adopted, and I encourage our colleagues to support its adoption.

As I mentioned, Senators Klobuchar and King joined with me last week in submitting this bill.

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