Dive Brief:

• Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy defeated Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu in Saturday's runoff, garnering 56% of the vote in a campaign that centered on opposition to President Obama's policies, especially on energy.
• Landrieu chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Cassidy has been promised a spot on the committee and has indicated he intends to push for passage of the Keystone Pipeline.
• Cassidy last month denounced the Obama Administration for issuing new regulations to lower the air quality standards for ground-level ozone in the U.S. from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 65 to 70 ppb.

Dive Insight:

According to E&E Publishing, Sen. Mary Landrieu spent the last campaign days in a frentic rush but it was not enough to stave off challenger Rep. Bill Cassidy. 

Landrieu chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Cassidy has been promised a spot on the committee.

"I'm excited to serve on the Energy Committee and will use that seat to stand up to President Obama, to deliver a floor vote on the Keystone XL Pipeline and to protect Louisiana's energy industry," Cassidy said.