HOUSE ENERGY BILL: SHOWDOWN ON RENEWABLES STANDARD

If the House passes this legislation, representatives of the Senate will be forced to reconsider it during the conference process in which the 2 bodies work out compromises on the differences in their legislation.

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US Rep Markey Hopeful to Add Fuel Econ Reform to Energy Bill
Ian Talley, July 27, 2007 (Dow Jones Newswires via CNN Money)
and
Wind Energy Association Announces New Media Campaign as Crucial House Floor Vote on Renewable Energy Looms
July 27, 2007 (Auto Channel)


WHO
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif; Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich.; Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md.; Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M.; Rep Todd Platts, R-Penn.;

WHAT
Late on Friday the news broke that Speaker Pelosi would get the House Energy Bill package to the floor by the middle of nest week. In conjunction with this news, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced a new media campaign on behalf of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) section of the legislation.

WHEN
The latest reports say the bill will be submitted to the Rules Committee for final approval July 30 or 31 and the floor fight will be joined July 31 or August 1.

WHERE
United States House of Representatives.

WHY
- The bill is a set of initiatives on energy efficiency, biofuels and other renewables.
- AWEA is most concerned with an amendment sponsored by Udall and Platts calling for a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), also known as a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The Udall/Platts amendment calls for a national commitment to obtaining 20% of US electricity by 2020.
- AWEA strongly advocates an RPS because it sets a minimum level of commitment to renewables that allows wind, solar, biomass and other such producers of energies vital to the fights against oil-dependency and climate change to push forward with development.
- A similar amendment was defeated by the Senate because conservative, mostly southern, senators held just enough votes to threaten filibuster if debate was pursued. The position of those against an RPS is that it might drive up the cost of electricity. AWEA points out that studies by the Energy Department’s Energy Information Association and the independent Wood Mackenzie research firm both say that over the long haul there would be little cost increase and many economic benefits. $100 billion in energy savings, 350,000 new jobs, economic windfalls to farmers who install turbines, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reduced imported oil dependency are all likely in the wake of a national RPS.
- AWEA has identified 20 key House members on whose votes the RPS amendment hinges.
- Reports of Markey’s willingness to compromise on vehicle Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFÉ) standards is said to have been important in getting Speaker Pelosi’s legislation to the floor. On the other hand, both Dingell and Hoyer still contend the bill will not have a CAFÉ standards element.
How a bill becomes a law (tho the chart leaves out the part about the plastic-wrapped money in the freezer). (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Gregory Wetstone, AWEA, Director of Government and Public Affairs: "The ad campaign is part of our effort to focus attention on this crucial referendum on American energy policy…We believe that greater public awareness will translate into more Congressional support for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, which are overwhelming popular, but face well-financed opposition."
- On Markey’s compromise: “According to a summary of Markey's new draft, like the Senate bill, individual manufacturers comply with attribute-based standards - such as size and weight - that may be lower than 35 miles per gallon as long as the industry as a whole complies with the 35 mpg standard…’In that way, manufacturers that make more trucks than cars can be assured that they will only have to meet standards that are appropriate for their fleets,’ the summary said.”