Congress passed a substantial energy package, as part of a $2.3 trillion COVID relief and omnibus spending bill, Monday. The energy bill, expected to be signed by the lame duck president, is not sufficient “to meet the demands of the science” of climate change but is “a significant step in the right direction” according to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The energy package, largely the product of collaboration between Sens. Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Manchin (D-W.Va.) includes $35 billion in new energy investments. The legislation requires cuts in production and consumption of HFCs, extends wind and solar tax credits, boosts offshore wind, expands the Energy Department’s ARPA-E program, and reauthorizes and expands the Weatherization Assistance Program. (Washington Post $, Greentech Media, Politico Pro $, AP, Reuters, Axios, Tech Crunch, E&E $)