House panel unveils sweeping energy bill

By Zack Colman, Zack Colman

Published December 20, 2015

Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee released a long-awaited comprehensive energy bill late Monday that will touch on pipelines, the electric grid and energy efficiency.

The panel's Energy and Power subcommittee on Wednesday will mark up the 95-page bill, which is designed to mirror a similar effort in the Senate.

"This week's subcommittee vote will mark an important milestone as we work to build the Architecture of Abundance. Wednesday's markup is the next step in ensuring we not only get this legislation done, but get it done right," Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., said in a statement.

Republicans and Democrats have aimed to avoid loading the bill with partisan goodies that might derail the legislation. A committee aide expected broad bipartisan support for the bill when the subcommittee votes. Tellingly, it steers clear of calling for an end to a 40-year-old ban on exporting crude oil, language that would have led most Democrats to reject the bill if it were included.