Thread by @leahstokes

New bill text out of Senate committee, American Energy Innovation Act, 2020. I've read it.

Quick assessment? Some good things. Some bad things. Lots missing. Not the speed or scale necessary. But better than nothing...
energy.senate.gov/public/index.c…

There is some emphasis on energy efficiency retrofits, which is particularly important now with our carbon intensive electricity grid. Focus on schools, nonprofits, and the federal government. Not enough focus on homes or commercial buildings. Nothing on removing gas (shocker!)

Bizarrely there are incentives for hydro and geothermal and almost nothing for wind and solar.

And of course there's lots of focus on carbon capture.

I am excited to see the focus on carbon removal and direct air capture. That is important if we hope to get back down from 415 ppm.

Still: carbon removal does not justify continuing fossil fuel extraction and combustion.

I like the focus on industrial emissions. That's important and it's something that many Democrats are already supporting.

Proposes a new Office of Technology Transitions! That's interesting...

Section 1402 is the most bizarre part for me and I imagine it will be the part environmentalists dislike the most.

A coal and natural gas technology program... In 2020? Really?

That's my brief assessment. Will be curious to hear what others think! There's lots more in there, including tons on nuclear. It's a big package!