YOU’VE GOT TO BE AN OPTIMIST TO BE A DEMOCRAT, AND YOU’VE GOT TO BE A HUMORIST TO STAY ONE. – WILL ROGERS

The Democrats are squabbling over energy. How is THAT news? You ask. Because Ms. Pelosi is going to get the Udall-Platts amendment, setting a national requirement to use New Energy, to the floor for a vote DESPITE the squabbling.

Last chance to participate in the squabbling: At POWER OF WIND you can see a video about the amendment and learn how to affect the debate.

Democrats Lack Unity in House Over Energy Bill
Steven Mufson, August 1, 2007 (Washington Post)

WHO
The House of Representatives, led by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

WHAT
H.R. 969, the Udall-Platts amendment requiring utilities to produce a portion of electricity from renewables, will be among the issues debated and voted on this week when the House considers its version of an Energy Bill.
It isn't quite this bad yet.

WHEN
Debate expected Thursday or Friday. Voter expected Friday or Saturday as the last act before the pols get out of Washington for August.

WHERE
The House. Not the big House, though certainly some of the more ambitious Reps end up there.

WHY
- It looks like Pelosi was willing to conference with the Senate over its version of vehicle fuel (CAFÉ) standards rather than obtain consensus among staunchly opposed House factions.
- She traded concessions to the “hydrocabon Democrats” for opportunities like the consideration of the Udall-Platts Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) amendment.
- It looks like the RPS amendment will call for 15% of electricity from renewables by 2020, a weakened version of the Senate proposal that did not pass. Proponents of 20% do not have the votes. Representatives of southern states oppose ANY standard because they claim their states lack adequate renewable resources. One think tank, representing southern utilities, says the RPS will drive up power rates. At least 3 more neutral studies say it will not and will bring economic benefits instead.
- Taking a House RPS and a Senate CAFÉ standards to conference would keep both issues on the table.

How energy efficient will THIS house be?

QUOTES
Unnamed House aide: "The politics of energy in many ways are like geological strata…the overlay of people who have concerns about labor and environment, different regional concerns, people who are from high-production states versus states meeting energy needs through conservation and efficiency."