After weeks of intense negotiations and backroom tradeoffs, last Friday Congress passed, and President Obama signed into law, a 2,000 page omnibus bill to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2016. The biggest winner may be the nation’s energy industry. For decades, the debate about the future of America’s energy policy has pitted renewable energy against fossil fuels. The debate has at times been philosophical, partisan and regional. This time both sides can claim victory. The omnibus bill includes provisions that will end a forty year old ban on exporting crude oil from the United States, and extends for five years critical tax credits for the wind and solar industries.

Democrats strongly supported the extension of expired or expiring tax credits for wind and solar energy. Republicans negotiated the oil export provision in exchange for their votes for the omnibus. It was a hard fought compromise that in the end had an significant impact on the nation’s energy policy and final passage of the omnibus bill.