For the first time in almost a decade, the Senate passed by a vote of 85-12 a bipartisan, broad based energy bill. The Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 (S. 2012) focuses on all forms of energy production and policies, including new rules intended to expedite the expansion of pipelines to ports and speed up and streamline the permitting process for LNG terminals.

The bill facilitates the permitting process for natural gas pipeline projects, permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and promotes more efficiency and stronger security against cyberattacks for the electric grid. The legislation eliminates a number of outdated and redundant mandates. The most significant provisions of the legislation are intended to smooth the way for additional exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States.