Changes caused by the February 6 confirmation of Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) as the next U.S. Ambassador to China rippled through Capitol Hill. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) replaced Sen. Baucus as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), in turn, filled Sen. Wyden’s position as the Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) on February 13.

The role changing will mean new developments for each of the committees. As the Democratic leader in tax policy, Sen. Wyden will aim to extend tax credits and efficiency incentives that expired in 2013, including those for renewable energy industries.

Sen. Landrieu, well known for favoring traditional energy industry policy, is hoping to work with ENR Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) on permitting the Keystone XL pipeline and offshore drilling practices with revenue sharing for state governments, articulated in their bill S.1273, the Fixing America’s Inequities with Revenues Act of 2013. Landrieu also backs natural gas production via hydraulic fracturing on public land, proposed in another of her co-sponsored bills, the Empower States Act of 2013 (S. 1482).

One of Baucus’ goals as Ambassador is to work with China on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Sources: E&E News; the Government Printing Office; Bloomberg News