The prospects of a bipartisan energy bill expected to be approved by the Senate this week may have hit a snag at the White House.
The White House on Wednesday said it liked most of the Energy Policy Modernization Act’s provisions but had a number of concerns about the bill, including issues about energy contracts and Department of Energy programs.
The measure “would focus on energy efficiency, energy infrastructure, energy supply,and conservation,” the White House said. “The administration believes that these are important issues and supports some provisions of the legislation.
“However, the administration has concerns with other parts of the legislation including provisions that would: generate budgetary scoring issues associated with energy savings contracts, which represent an important tool in advancing Federal sustainability; repeal existing Department of Energy programs that aim to improve efficiency at manufacturing facilities,” and a host of other provisions, the White House said.
It did not, however, threaten to veto it.
Instead, the administration offered to negotiate. “The administration looks forward to working with the Congress to address these and other concerns as the bill moves through the legislative process,” the statement read.
The statement came after Republican and Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill endorsed the bill ahead of caucus meetings in the Senate, urging quick passage.
