Sens. Martin Heinrich, Tina Smith press for clean energy provisions in Build Back Better

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said Wednesday that he has spoken with Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) about the clean energy provisions in the Build Back Better Act and he remains “optimistic” about their passage.

“I am actually optimistic that we're going to be able to get somewhere on this. I don't know what we're going to call it,” Heinrich said during a virtual call with the Electrification Caucus, which he co-chairs.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), the other co-chair of the caucus, echoed that sentiment but cautioned, “I don't think time is our friend here. I think we need to do this sooner rather than later. … Private investment [in clean energy] is sitting on the sidelines right now, waiting for the Senate to take action.”