ENERGY BILL TO BE SETTLED W/SECRET TALKS

This report of the Pelosi-Reid decision to abandon the bipartisan conferencing process suggests they do not expect to produce a bill with significant new measures, like a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) mandating the use of electricity produced from renewable energies.

The President's promise to veto any measure threatening his allies in the fossil fuel industries rather than compromise in the direction of the American people's strong inclination for renewable energies makes the Democratic leaders' efforts nearly impossible. Because the fossil fuel industries have strong allies in the House and especially in the Senate, Pelosi and Reid do not have a veto-proof majority. Here's hoping they can get tax credit extensions for renewable production.

Maybe the President we elect in 2008 will be more sympathetic to what the American people want, which is New Energy.

Pelosi Plans Informal Negotiations on Energy Bill
Steven Mufson, October 11, 2007 (Washington Post)

WHO
Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.), Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Members of the House and Senate

The conference process, represented by the black square in the middle of the diagram, has apparently turned out to be a Black Hole for energy legislation. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
Key committee chairpeople were informed October 10 that the profound contradictions betweent he House and Senate energy bills would be worked out not by an open conference committee but in “informal” behind-the-scenes negotiations.

WHEN
A compromise energy bill is expected to be sent to the President by the end of this congressional session.

WHERE
The action is on Capitol Hill until the Democratic leadership sends its legislation to the White House. President Bush has threatened to veto any bill containing Democratic proposals not in step with his administration’s limited support of New Energy and strong support for the fossil fuel industries.

WHY
- Pelosi and House Democrats have hinted that the conference process is being blocked by the obduracy of Senate Republicans.
- Other informed sources claim a deal between Pelosi and Reid could be more easily reached outside public scrutiny.

Perhaps this is how news of the compromised energy bill will emerge.

- The Senate bill includes the most significant increase in auto fuel efficiency standards in years but does not impose a mandate for renewable electricity. The House bill mandates that US utilities obtain 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020 but makes no requirements on auto efficiency.
- There are also differences on allocating incentives for renewable energy sources and fossil fuel sources.
- Auto fuel efficiency standards are called Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFÉ) standards.
- The renewables mandate is called a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES).

QUOTES
- Markey: "The decision of the GOP in the Senate to block efforts to go to conference on the energy bill has forced Democrats to take a different path…"
- Pelosi: “[Energy legislation is] a top priority."