The U.S. Senate could vote this week on the Energy Policy Modernization Act, which aims to upgrade the country's power grid, improve energy efficiency, and repeal outdated provisions in the US Code. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says the bipartisan bill doesn't specifically address ethanol production or wind energy tax credits, two issues he recognizes as important to Iowans.
"It's going to be dealing with off-shore drilling, it's going to be dealing with drilling on public lands," Grassley says, "things of that nature."
Grassley says he'll advocate for renewable fuels but he doesn't want the bill to be seen as a fossil fuel versus alterative energy bill.
"We have to be prepared, maybe, for some amendments that are (from) people that fight alternative energy," Grassley says. But he feels confident enough senators support the legislation that those differences won't derail it.
The vote could be delayed from tomorrow to Thursday, Grassley says, because of the snow storm that shut down the federal government in Washington this week.
