Press Releases
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Currently showing results related to Energy
Murkowski Named to Reconciliation Conference Committee
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was selected today to serve on the Conference Committee for H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The conference committee will reconcile House and Senate legislation to reform the tax code and open a small portion of the non-wilderness 1002 Area in northeast Alaska to responsible energy development. "I'm grateful to Leader McConnell and my colleagues for the opportunity to represent Alaska and the nation as we bring this important bill through the last parts of… Continue Reading
12.06.17
Murkowski: Monument Decisions Are Responsive to Local Input
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement after President Trump signed presidential proclamations reducing the size of two national monuments, Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase-Escalante, both located in Utah. The administration also released Secretary Zinke's final national monuments review and recommendations to the president. "The Antiquities Act has been misused in recent administrations to make sweeping withdrawals that ignore local concerns," Murkowski said. "L… Continue Reading
12.01.17
Murkowski Welcomes EPA’s Decision Not to Impose Duplicative Mining Regulation
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement in support of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to not impose duplicative and burdensome financial assurance regulations on hardrock mines under the Superfund statute. EPA's decision properly recognizes concerns raised by Congress, states, and small businesses, both well before and after the Obama administration released the draft CERCLA 108(b) rule in December 2016, as well as the strong requirements a… Continue Reading
11.15.17
Murkowski: We Must Rebuild a Smarter, More Resilient Electric Grid in Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday chaired an oversight hearing to examine the ongoing recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Committee members also discussed the short-term, mid-term, and long-term efforts to rebuild stronger, more resilient and reliable electric grids on the islands. "The totality of recovery work that still needs to be done in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is overwhelming," Murkowski said. "Restor… Continue Reading
11.09.17
Alaska Delegation Welcomes Joint Development Agreement to Advance Alaska LNG Project
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the State of Alaska, the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), CIC Capital Corporation (CIC Capital), and the Bank of China (BOC) announced the signing of a joint development agreement to advance the Alaska LNG project. "We congratulate Gov. Walker and all who are working on the Alaska LNG project on this milestone.… Continue Reading
11.08.17
Alaska Delegation Takes Next Step to Open Alaska’s 1002 Area
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, and Alaska Gov. Bill Walker today issued the following statements after the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources released budget reconciliation legislation to open a small part of the non-wilderness portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), known as the "1002 Area" or Coastal Plain, to responsible oil and gas development. "This legislation is a tremendous opportunity for both Alaska and our coun… Continue Reading
11.08.17
Murkowski Releases Chairman’s Mark to Meet FY2018 Budget Instruction
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released reconciliation legislation pursuant to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's instruction to raise $1 billion in federal revenues in H. Con. Res. 71, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018. "Our instruction is a tremendous opportunity both for our committee and our country," Murkowski said. "The legislation I released tonight will put Alaska and the entire nation on a path toward greater prosperity by creating… Continue Reading
11.07.17
Sen. Murkowski Leads CODEL to Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this past weekend led a congressional delegation to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to assess damages in the hurricane ravaged islands and ongoing recovery efforts. The delegation also held discussions with local leaders on how to restore power expeditiously and rebuild a stronger, more sustainable electric grid. Joining Murkowski on the CODEL were Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Al Franken, D-Minn., Tom Carper, D-Del., and Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Reps… Continue Reading
10.31.17
Murkowski: Smart Building Technologies Promote Energy Efficiency and Resiliency in American Homes and Businesses
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to discuss new efficiency opportunities provided by advanced building management and control systems. The committee heard from representatives of the Department of Energy (DOE), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Cold Climate Housing Research Center, Southern Company, and Emerson Commercial and Residential Solutions. Smart technologies have had a big impact on reducing energy use and costs across the nation. According to DOE's Buil… Continue Reading
10.26.17
Murkowski: Emerging Technologies Key to Protecting U.S. Energy Infrastructure from Cyber Intrusions
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to discuss the innovation of emerging cyber technologies that can be used to protect our nation's electric grids and other critical energy infrastructure from future cyberattacks. The committee heard from representatives of the Pacific Northwest, Oak Ridge and Idaho National Laboratories, Qubitekk, and New Context Services. While we are looking at solutions to rebuild stronger electric grids in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands t… Continue Reading
10.24.17
GAO: 2016 Tongass Plan Amendment is a Rule
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) determination that the U.S. Forest Service's 2016 Amendment to the Tongass Land Management Plan (TLMP Amendment) is a "rule" and therefore subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Murkowski asked GAO to determine whether the TLMP Amendment met the definition of a "rule" earlier this year, and GAO announced yesterday that it does. "I welcome GAO's determination that the 2016 TLMP Amendment is a rule… Continue Reading
10.10.17
Energy and Natural Resources Committee Developing Western Water and Drought Legislation
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power Chairman Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., last week held a bipartisan roundtable to discuss opportunities to reduce federal red tape for aquifer recharge when it does not impact other water users, fully respects state primacy on groundwater, and complies with state water law. Following the subcommittee's August hearing on water supply and drought resilience, this roundtable marks another step to gather input from water mana… Continue Reading
10.04.17
Alaska Delegation Welcomes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Decision on Pacific Walrus
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that the Pacific walrus will not be designated as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). New data shows that the Pacific walrus has adapted to certain threats, including loss of sea ice, and is not experiencing reductions in population. As a result, USFWS concluded that the population is sustai… Continue Reading
10.03.17
Murkowski: Advanced Energy Storage Technologies Strengthen Grid Reliability and Resilience
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to discuss current and emerging energy storage technologies. The committee heard from representatives of the Energy Storage Association, Voith Hydro, the Pacific Northwest National Lab, and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Murkowski opened the hearing by once again offering her thoughts and prayers to all of those impacted by the recent hurricanes in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, as well as the Americans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Vir… Continue Reading
10.03.17
Murkowski: Latest Sturgeon Decision an Affront to All Alaskans
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement slamming the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for again ruling against John Sturgeon, an Alaskan who sued the National Park Service after being forced off of the Nation River in 2007 for using a hovercraft to hunt moose, as he had been doing for decades. Just last year, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled unanimously (8-0) in favor of Mr. Sturgeon, who has fought his way through federal courts for 1… Continue Reading
10.03.17
Murkowski Comments on New Grid Resiliency Proposal
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after Secretary of Energy Rick Perry submitted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) intended to protect the reliability and resiliency of the nation's bulk power system. "For years, I have been concerned about how federal laws and rules affect the reliability and resiliency of our nation's electric grids. I respect Secretary Perry for taking an action that he beli… Continue Reading
09.29.17
Murkowski Comments on Senate Budget Resolution
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Senate Budget Committee unveiled its budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2018. "I am pleased to see an instruction for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2018. This provides an excellent opportunity for our committee to raise $1 billion in federal revenues while creating jobs and strengthening our nation's long-term energy security. I am confident that our committe… Continue Reading
09.25.17
Murkowski Disappointed, Frustrated by Roadless Rule Decision
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after a judge from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed a lawsuit from Alaskans seeking to overturn the 2001 national Inventoried Roadless Rule. "While I am still reviewing this decision, I am deeply disappointed to see it handed down," Murkowski said. "A judge can dismiss a case, but Alaskans cannot dismiss the negative impacts the roadless rule is having on our communities. The rule has decima… Continue Reading
09.22.17
UAF Awarded ARPA-E MARINER Grant
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today recognized the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) for receiving a $500,000 competitive grant from the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) program. The grant will fund a research project focused on the "development of scalable coastal and offshore macroalgal farming." "Alaska is a leader in energy innovation, and I'm proud that we continue to be recognized for our efforts to develop the next generation of cost-eff… Continue Reading
09.20.17
Murkowski: Proper Vegetation Management Reduces Wildfires, Protects Electric Grid Reliability on Federal Lands
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday chaired a hearing to discuss the importance of vegetation management and how the nation's utilities and our federal land managers work together to protect electric grid reliability and prevent wildfires. The committee also received testimony on two legislative proposals, both of which received support for their goals to improve the processes for approving and conducting vegetation management activities within and outside of electricity transmission a… Continue Reading
