While some in Congress are pushing the Green New Deal, a measure attacking the oil and gas industry, Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and others in the Senate are advocating a measure to protect the industry to some degree.
Inhofe has cosponsored S. 383, the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act. It was reintroduced by U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
“I am glad to cosponsor the USE IT Act which will ensure America remains a leader in innovative technology and energy production,” stated the senator in a release from his office. “For eight years, President Obama had a war on fossil fuels. Now this legislation is a bipartisan commitment to the fact the United States continues to need cheap, reliable fossil fuel generation to run the machine called America and ensures the use of fossil fuels for not just the foreseeable future, but for forever.”
He noted how the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma keeps energy costs down for all Americans and also creates thousands of jobs that help fuel the economy.
“The USE IT Act will further the use of carbon in enhanced oil recovery and provide incentives for those who want to invest in technologies and infrastructure that capture and use carbon,” added Sen. Inhofe.
Inhofe questioned witnesses about the legislation in an EPW hearing, which can be viewed here.
Read the text of the USE IT Act here.
The USE IT Act also would support carbon utilization and direct air capture research. The bill would also support federal, state, and non-governmental collaboration in the construction and development of carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) facilities and carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines.