Amid the political upheaval in Washington, is there an opportunity to legislate on something relatively routine but still critical to the U.S. like energy policy? The top energy lawmaker in the U.S. House, Fred Upton, says “yes.”
Now, the Michigan Republican is an optimist by nature, noting, for example, “I’m a Cubs fan!” And he finds reason for hope when it comes to energy legislation, recalling bills on pipeline safety and other energy measures that he initiated and former President Obama signed.
Perhaps the best opportunity for energy action on Capitol Hill is promoting infrastructure, especially steps to further protect electricity transmission and oil and natural gas pipelines from cyber attacks, he tells me in this edition of the “Columbia Energy Exchange” podcast.
And Upton, the chairman of the House Energy Subcommittee, isn’t necessarily toeing the line when it comes to Trump administration initiatives. He says he has no problem with the U.S. remaining a party to the Paris climate agreement and sees no comeback for coal in the U.S., despite the president’s promise to make that happen.
Listen and let me know what you think!
