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Sen. King: Hopes Fading for Deal with House on Energy Bill

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine U.S. Sen. Angus King says it's growing unlikely that a deal can be worked out with the House on a broad energy bill the Senate approved eight months ago.

The bill would modernize the electric grid, improve efficiency efforts and reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 

“What they are trying to do is throw away the more controversial things, and let’s focus on things like energy efficiency, which would be a big deal, make a lot of difference - non mandatory, but would help us a lot,” King says.

King says the House version of the bill has provisions that the Senate bill does not that favor the fossil fuels industry. He says if House negotiators won’t go for a bare-bones measure that strips out the controversial provisions, it’s likely the next Congress will have to tackle the issue anew.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.