Daschle Presses Coalition’s Effort to Move Energy Bill in July
Updated: 3:54 p.m.
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) predicted Wednesday that the Senate could pass energy legislation in July.
Daschle, who is working as a paid strategic adviser for the American Wind Energy Association, said at a press briefing that he was “confident the Senate can pass a bill in the month of July” and that “all options are on the table” in terms of supporting a smaller energy bill versus the more expansive legislation that Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) have been pushing.
The AWEA and Daschle are advocating for tax incentives, energy efficiency, a renewable energy standard and infrastructure provisions to be included in the final energy package.
“Those four components are critical,” Daschle said. We’ll “support other efforts if they can get to a 60-vote threshold.”
The AWEA is part of a coalition that sent a letter Tuesday to President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) urging that Congress take up energy legislation after the July 4 recess.
“Our broad coalition of manufacturers, renewable energy, and energy efficiency industries stands ready to help advance your efforts to create a sustainable and innovative energy plan for our country in the 21st century,” the coalition wrote.
Alliance to Save Energy, Growth Energy, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Solar Energy Industries Association and the National Hydropower Association, among others, co-signed the letter.