CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The U.S. Senate’s sweeping energy proposal hit a snag Monday when lawmakers failed to end debate on the legislation.
Senators voted 47-44 on the American Energy Innovation Act, which includes provisions on energy-related funding and research, such as a possible natural gas storage hub in Appalachia.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., voted for the motion. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., was absent for the vote as were eight other senators.
Manchin, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, on Monday blamed the Environment and Public Works Committee for not coming to a consensus.
“We will continue to put in the work to get this bill across the finish line,” he said.
The proposal consists of 53 smaller bills.