Senate subcommittee advances joint natural‑gas plant authorization amid questions on nuclear, efficiency and oversight

The Senate Judiciary subcommittee on energy voted to advance S.3309, the bill that would authorize a joint-build natural gas combined‑cycle plant at the Kennedy site and make other electricity‑sector policy changes, after members approved an amendment and reported the bill favorably by voice vote.

The amendment returned the measure to the version the Senate judiciary panel approved last year, removing explanatory “whereas” language inserted by the House and preserving several procedural protections. Supporters told the panel the measure is needed so utilities can get into production queues for combustion turbines and secure additional natural‑gas supply; opponents warned the package raises consumer‑protection questions, and several witnesses urged caution on any provisions that could allow ratepayers to carry speculative costs for unproven technologies.

Why it matters

Committee members and witnesses framed the matter as a near‑term infrastructure decision with long lead times: witnesses said major combustion‑turbine manufacturers have multi‑year…