House Energy and Commerce Committee to markup two energy-related bills

Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) said on Monday that the House Energy and Commerce Committee would markup two bills related to energy policy that he introduced.

The Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act would streamline the approval process for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and grant approval to applications pending with the Department of Energy.

Gardner, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, previously said the bill was designed to prevent Russia from disrupting the LNG supply to European countries. It would also create jobs domestically.

“The near monopolistic control Russia has on the LNG market in Europe has given them immense power,” Gardner said. “Reforming the LNG export process would send an immediate signal to the rest of the world that would help check Russia’s aggression. It’s going to take more than sanctions to stand up to Putin, which is why this legislation is so important to our friends around the globe.”

The Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act, meanwhile, would encourage federal agencies to enter into energy savings contracts.

The measure would cut the federal government’s energy usage by setting a performance-contracting goal of $1 billion to increase energy-efficiency projects. Performance contracts allow contractors to complete energy-efficiency projects and retrofits with federal agencies and get reimbursed based on the performance and cost savings of the projects.

“Clearly, there is great interest from both sides of the aisle in addressing this problem, and I look forward to continuing to increase our energy efficiency in a way that benefits the American people,” Gardner, the co-chairman of the House Energy Savings Performance Caucus, previously said.