E&E News: Dems see tax panel as a venue for energy, climate policy

I spoke with Nick Sobczyk of E&E News about what a Democratic Ways & Means committee agenda might look like in the 116th Congress, particularly as it relates to energy:

But if ranking member Richard Neal (D-Mass.) becomes chairman, energy and the environment will almost certainly get more airtime on the committee, said Liam Donovan, a principal at Bracewell LLP who works on energy and tax issues.

That could mean extending tax incentives for renewable energy and efficiency that were left out of the tax reform bill, though that issue may also be addressed in the lame-duck session.

Lawmakers retroactively extended those credits through the end of 2017 as a part of a budget accord earlier this year, but the temporary breaks won’t be in effect for this year. Current Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) has opposed an extenders package, but it’s an issue that has bipartisan support (E&E Daily, March 15).

As for carbon pricing and renewable energy issues generally, “it won’t just be a Ways and Means issue,” Donovan said. “It’ll be something that the party is talking about, with the understanding that it’s not going anywhere in a Republican-controlled Senate or a closely divided Senate.”

Read the entire piece here.

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