Washington — Business Roundtable today welcomed Senate passage of S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, which was advanced through the efforts of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

“America’s business leaders welcome Senate passage of bipartisan legislation championed by Chairman Murkowski and Senator Cantwell to modernize U.S. energy policy,” said Nicholas K. Akins, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Electric Power and Chair of the Business Roundtable Committee on Energy and Environment.

“This legislation will leverage U.S. strengths to support economic growth and energy security. We are committed to working with Congress and the Administration to enact strategic national energy policy legislation this year,” said Akins.

Business Roundtable detailed the benefits of the technology-driven transformation of North America’s energy landscape in its recent report, Powering Forward: North America’s Energy Resurgence, including the fact that America’s energy boom increased U.S. average real income by $1,200 per household in 2012. The report offered recommendations for a more effective national energy strategy, many of which are incorporated in S. 2012.

The Senate-passed legislation is also closely aligned with recommendations in the earlier Business Roundtable report, Taking Action on Energy: A CEO Vision for America’s Energy Future, which offers more detailed recommendations on U.S. energy policy. Business Roundtable supported energy legislation passed by the House of Representatives last December.

Earlier this year, Business Roundtable released a plan for stronger economic growth and job creation. For more information on our plan to create more momentum for America, see www.BRT.org/growth.