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Update on the US Senate Energy Bill, Part 5; Alternative CAFE Proposed, Negotiations to Come

21 June 2007

In action on the Senate energy bill earlier this week, the number of total amendments reached about 200 on Tuesday, including a very detailed amendment on an energy tax package (SA 1704) that would offset support for renewable energy by new taxes imposed on oil and gas production. The alterative CAFE proposal with more lenient standards (Levin-Bond) finally emerged as a formal set of amendments (SA 1711-13). Press reports indicated that the Senate would be negotiating a compromise between the two positions. (Earlier post.)

On Wednesday, the Senate rejected an amendment (SA 1800, Kyl) that would have disallowed the credit for renewable diesel for fuel that is co-processed with petroleum.  It agreed to an amendment (SA 1693) to ensure that the renewable fuel standard does not harm the environment.

An amendment (SA 1670) from Alaska Senators Murkowski and Stevens would prep the Coastal Plains area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas production.

Senate leadership will try to close debate on the massive bill on Thursday, and bring it to a vote.

A table of the current status of amendments through Tuesday follows. Amendments with numbers in bold have been accepted; amendments with number stricken through have been rejected, tabled or withdrawn.

Proposed Amendments to Senate Energy Bill (amended H.R.6)
12 June 2007
Amendment Sponsor(s) Title and/or notes
SA 1505 Inhofe and Thune “Gas Price Act”
  • Streamlines permitting process for “domestic fuels facilities” including refineries and alt fuel plants;
  • Establishes a R&D and evaluation program for Fischer-Tropsch diesel and jet fuel “as a mechanism for reducing engine exhaust emissions”
  • Provide financial assistance to commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol or CTL facilities on BRAC or Indian lands, with a Federal contribution of 80-100%
  • Updating the hydrocarbon reserves classification system.

    • Defeated 13 June by Yea-Nay vote of 52 to 43. Record Vote Number: 210
    SA 1506 Stevens and Landrieu Energy Efficient Lightbulbs
  • Establishes minimum lumens per watt standards for lightbulbs of not less than 30 by calendar year 2013 and not less than 45 by calendar year 2018.
  • Authorizes a 6-year, $60-million lighting technology research and development program.
    • SA 1508 Bayh, Brownback, Lieberman, Coleman, Salazar, Lincoln, Cantwell, Kerry, Dodd,  Kohl, Reed, Collins, Nelson Oil Savings Plan and Requirements. Directs the appropriate agencies of the Federal government to develop a plan to reduce oil consumption by:
  • 2,500,000 barrels of oil per day on average during calendar year 2016
  • 7,000,000 barrels of oil per day on average during calendar year 2026;
  • 10,000,000 barrels per day on average during calendar year 2031

    • SA 1508 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 63 - 30. Record Vote Number: 209.
    SA 1509
    SA 1552    		 Craig Geologic Mapping Reauthorization. Provides $640 million over 10 years (fiscal years 2007 through 2016) for updating and expanding geologic mapping of the US.
    SA 1510 Cochran Increased Capacity of Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Raises the SPR to 1.5 billion barrels from current 1.0 billion barrels.
    SA 1511 Murkowski Study of CAFE Standards for Commercial Trucks. NHTSA to conduct study of the anticipated economic impacts and fuel saving benefits that would result from vehicle fuel economy standards for medium- and heavy duty vehicles, as specified in the main body of the bill.
    SA 1512 Murkowski Broadens the potential uses of funding proposed to support renewable energy projects in Section 215 of the bill.
    SA 1513 Murkowski and Stevens Adds personnel hiring language to the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act.
    SA 1514 Kerry and Sanders Renewable Portfolio Standard.
  • 5% minimum for 2009 through 2012
  • 10% minimum for 2103 through 2016
  • 15% minimum for 2017 through 2019
  • 20% minimum for 2020 through 2030
    • SA 1515 Sanders, Clinton, Kerry, Biden, Salazar Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training. Establishes a public program  and funds other initiatives that provide training for jobs that are created through renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives with authorized funding of $100 million per fiscal year.
    SA 1515 agreed to in Senate by unanimous consent.
    SA 1516
    SA 1533    		 Menendez Evaluate the effect the laws (including regulations) limiting the siting of privately owned electric distribution wires on and across public rights-of-way might have on the development of combined heat and power facilities.
    SA 1517 Menendez Expands the definition of “State”in the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6862) to include the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    SA 1518 Menendez Prohibits oil and gas leasing in the Mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic planning area of the Outer COntinental Shelf.
    SA 1519 Kohl, Specter, Leahy, Grassley, Biden, Snowe, Feingold, Schumer, Coburn, Durbin, Lieberman, Boxer, Sanders NOPEC—“No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007”. Makes it illegal under the Sherman Act for foreign cartels to limit production of oil, natural gas or petroleum products, or to set or maintain prices.  The Attorney General can sue.
    Approved by Yea-Nea vote 70-23, 19 June.
    SA 1520 Cardin Establishes a “National Commission on Energy Independence” for the US.
    SA 1521 Biden Compact Fluorescent Lighting Grant Program. Establishes a program for grants to States for the distribution of medium base compact fluorescent lamps to households in the State.
    SA 1524 Salazar, Grassley, Obama, Harkin, Hagel, Lugar, Feingold, Clinton, Casey, Nelson (Nebraska), Brownback, Kohl, Kerry, Johnson, Tester, Cantwell, Thune, and Cochran Sense of Congress. By 2025, a US goal of 25% of total energy consumed should be from renewable resources, while the US continues to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fiber.
    Adopted by voice vote, 15 June.
    SA 1525 Sanders Standards for solar hot water heaters.
    SA 1526 Thune Extension and modification of renewable electricity production credit.
    SA 1527 Thune Extension of the ethanol tariff. Extends the tariff on imported ethanol through 2010.
    Proposed Amendments to Senate Energy Bill (amended H.R.6)
    13 June 2007
    Amendment Sponsor(s) Title and/or notes
    SA 1528 Bingaman, Domenici
  • Active coordination of the different Nanoscience Centers to maintain a globally competitive posture in energy storage systems for motor transportation and electricity transmission and distribution.
  • Any industrial participant active in a Energy Storage Research Center is to be granted the first option to negotiate with an invention owner, at least in the field of energy storage technologies, nonexclusive licenses and royalties on terms that are reasonable, as determined by the Secretary.
    • SA 1529 Bingaman and Domenici Annual reports on the quantity, type, and cost of each lighting product purchased by the Federal Government.
    SA 1530 Pryor Promotion of energy-saving performance contracts.
    SA 1531 Pryor Energy and water evaluations and efficiency measures for the Federal government.
    SA 1532 Thune Fast-track (180-day) approval of higher blends of ethanol for use in non-flex fuel vehicles for vehicles that receive a satisfactory review based on a study (also in the bill).
    SA 1534
    SA 1565    		 Nelson Biofuels Investment Trust Fund.
    SA 1535 Cardin, Mikulski, Doss, Kerry, Reed, Kennedy, Whitehouse Siting, construction, expansion and operation of LNG terminals. Federal government cannot approve or disapprove an application for an LNG terminal without the express concurrence of each State affected by the application.
    SA 1537 Bingaman, Cardin, Reid, Salazar, Snowe, Durbin Renewable Portfolio Standard. A different timeline table and different end percentage:
  • 2010 through 2012: 3.75%
  • 2013 through 2016: 7.50%
  • 2017 through 2019: 11.25%
  • 2020 through 2030: 15.0%
    • SA 1538 Domenici, McConnell, Craig, Bennett, Crapo, Graham, Murkowski “Clean” Portfolio Standard. Amendment to SA 1537.
  • 2010 through 2012: 5%
  • 2013 through 2016: 10%
  • 2017 through 2019: 15%
  • 2020 through 2030: 20%

    • Defines clean energy to include nuclear generation, carbon capture and sequestration, energy efficiency or demand response programs.
    Tabled by a vote of 56-39, 14 June.
    SA 1539 Akaka, Murkowski, Snowe Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion. development of power generation from waves, tides and currents.
    SA 1540 Carper, Biden Study of Offshore Wind Resources. 
    SA 1541 Smith, Cantwell, Murkowski, Wyden National Ocean Energy Research Centers.
    SA 1542 Brownback Agricultural Byproduct Use Exposition. A trade-show for new products, such as plastics, carpets, disposable dishes, and cosmetics, produced by the entities from agricultural byproducts.
    SA 1543 Bayh, Brownback, Lieberman, Coleman, Salazar GEM Flex-Fuel Vehicle. Expands definition of flex-fuel vehicle to include M85 (85% methanol, 15% gasoline). Gasoline-E85-M85 = GEM.
    SA 1544 Casey Energy Security and Corporate Accountability Act of 2007. Targeted at oil companies.
    SA 1545 Enzi Some escape clauses for the Renewable Fuels Standard. (Drives price of food up, impacts deliverability of goods, etc.)
    SA 1546 DeMint Limitations on legislation that would drive up average fuel price for autos.
    SA 1547
    SA 1586    		 Tester, Bingaman, Reid, Murkowski, Stevens, Salazar, Akaka, Sanders, Snowe National Geothermal Initiative Act of 2007. Declares a national goal to achieve at least 15% of total electrical energy production in the United States from geothermal resources by not later than 2030. Establishes an initiative to achieve that goal. $515 million from 2008 through 2012; sums as necessary 2013 through 2030.
    Rejected by a Yean-Nea vote, 37-55, 20 June.
    SA 1548 Durbin Legislative branch fleet compliance with the efficiency sections of the bill.
    SA 1549 Kohl, Feingold, Burr Use of highly energy-efficient commercial water heating equipment in Federal buildings.
    SA 1550 Wyden, Chambliss Weighing Intelligence for Smarter Energy Act of 2007. Director of National Intelligence to submit to Congress a report on the long-term energy security of the United States.
    SA 1551 Cantwell Federal Standby Power Standard.
    SA 1556 Lincoln, Domenici, Pryor, Craig, and Landrieu Clarifies regulatory scheme for the application, transportation, or storage of livestock manure or poultry litter as energy or fuel production feedstock.
    SA 1557 Klobuchar, Snowe, Bingaman National Greenhouse Gas Registry. Establishes a national greenhouse gas registry.
    SA 1558 Obama Health Care for Hybrids. Federal government will reimburse automakers up to 10% of the total health care costs for retired autoworkers, with the caveat that at least 50% of the reimbursement is put research, development production and worker retraining for fuel-efficient vehicles. Program ends in 2017.
    SA 1559 Hagel Energy-related Regulatory Reform.
    SA 1560 Hagel Tax incentives for the production and conservation of energy. Includes special measures for cellulosic ethanol plants, ethanol pipelines, and coal-to-liquids facilities.
    SA 1561 Kohl Establishes a Strategic Refinery Reserve. Refinery reserve represents excess production capacity that can be used in emergencies. Reserve refineries can be new or reopened closed refineries.
    Proposed Amendments to Senate Energy Bill (amended H.R.6)
    14 June 2007
    Amendment Sponsor(s) Title and/or notes
    SA 1562 Dorgan and Craig Domestic Offshore Energy Security Act.
  • Opens up travel to Cuba in connection with hydrocarbon exploration and extraction.
  • Expands the area for offshore oil and gas development, moving the limit to 45 miles from the coasts of Florida.
    • SA 1563 Dorgan, Craig and Kerry Support for installation of E85 pumps at retail stations.
    SA 1564 Tester Energy-Efficient Schools. Establishes a program to improve the energy-efficiency of, and use of renewable energy in, school buildings.
    SA 1566 Warner Authorizes governor of Virginia to petition for offshore gas exploration and extraction 50 miles off the coast.
    Rejected by Yea-Nay vote of 43-44, 14 June.
    SA 1567 Bingaman and Domenici Demonstration program for cost-effectiveness of advanced insulation.
    SA 1568 Bingaman and Domenici Coordination of planned outages of refineries.
    SA 1569 Bingaman and Domenici Amends technical criteria for proposed Clean Coal Power Initiative.
    SA 1570 Inhofe, Thune and Craig Pollution audits and reports. Requires detailed bi-annual audit of any funds of more than $100,000 disbursed by National Pollution Funds Center.
    SA 1571 Hagel Facilitate information sharing about and accelerate development of energy-related research.
    SA 1572 Salazar, Bayh, Brownback, Lieberman, Coleman, Cantwell, Lincoln, Clinton, Biden, Klobuchar, Durbin Electric-Drive Transportation Program. Promotes the development of plug-in electric vehicles, deploying near-term programs to electrify the transportation sector, and including electric drive vehicles in the fleet purchasing programs.
    Agreed to by voice vote, 14 June.
    SA 1573 Bingaman, Klobuchar, Reid, Cardin, Salazar Amendment to amendment SA 1537 (Renewable Portfolio Standard).
    SA 1574 Lautenberg Federal Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Establishes a Federal Emissions Inventory Office within the EPA.
    SA 1575 Voinovich, Carper and Inhofe Amends loan guarantee authority for commercial technology.
    SA 1576 Inhofe Program to accelerate use of geothermal heat pumps at General Services Administration facilities.
    SA 1577 Martinez Establishes a number of penalties and sanctions applied to persons who contribute to Cuba’s development of the undersea hydrocarbon resources off of its north coast.
    SA 1578 Menendez, Lautenberg and Dole Modifies amendment SA 1566 to require consent by states within 100 miles of the coastal waters of Virginia.
    Withdrawn, based on rejection of SA 1566.
    SA 1579 Obama National Low-Carbon Fuel Standard. Establishes a full lifecycle-based low-carbon fuel standard requiring reduction in average lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy of the aggregate quantity of fuels:
  • 5% reduction from baseline by calendar year 2015
  • 10% reduction from baseline by 2020
  • Reductions post 2021 are on a five-year basis and progressively lower than, but not higher than, previous years.
    • SA 1580 Bayh, Brownback, Lieberman, Coleman, Salazar Adds methanol to listing of renewable fuels.
    SA 1581
    SA 1607    		 Gregg, Feinstein, Sununu, Kyl, Ensign Elimination of ethanol tariff.
    SA 1582 Martinez Encourages biofuel blenders to share credits with pipeline and common storage facilities.
    SA 1583 Martinez Accelerates waiver procedure for fuel blends.
    SA 1584 Martinez Categorization of certain blends of gasoline of not more than 3.7% oxygen, by weight, such that the gasoline is equivalent to E-10 gasoline.
    SA 1585 Lautenberg and Menendez State liability for costs incurred by other States as a result of oil or natural gas spill from offshore production.
    SA 1587 Brown Renewable Energy Innovation Manufacturing Partnership Program. Makes grants to eligible entities for use in carrying out research, development, and demonstration relating to the manufacturing of renewable energy technologies.
    SA 1588 Brown Development of a carbon labelling system for goods sold in the US.
    SA 1589 Brown Directs DOE to give financial assistance preference to higher-education for-profit partnerships involved in the development of liquid crystal, photovoltaic, and wind technologies.
    SA 1590 Brown Adds “institutions of higher education, and nonprofit hospitals” to local government buildings for receiving assistance.
    SA 1591 Brown Preference given to existing and former DOE facilities and sites for the conduct of projects and activities.
    SA 1592 Brown Emissions standards for watercraft and small spark-ignition engines.
    SA 1593 Isakson Amendment to alternative average fuel economy standard for low-volume manufacturers and new entrants.
    SA 1594 Durbin Study of establishment of a refined petroleum product reserve.
    SA 1595 Kohl Set asides for auto- and component-makers employing less than 500 people.
    SA 1596 Kohl Study of adequacy of refining infrastructure.
    SA 1597 Inouye and Dorgan Study of the adequacy of transportation of domestically-produced renewable fuel by railroads and other means of transportation.
    SA 1598 Inhofe Adds Gas-to-Liquids and Coal-to-Liquids to renewable fuels standard.
    SA 1599 Inhofe Study on modernization of the hydrocarbon reserves disclosures classification system of the Commission to reflect advances in reserves recovery from nontraditional sources (such as deep water, oil shale, tar sands, and renewable reserves for cellulosic biofuels feedstocks).
    SA 1600 Inhofe Evaluation of Fischer-Tropsch Transportation Fuels. Originally part of SA 1505, which was rejected.
  • Research and demonstration program to evaluate the air quality benefits of ultra-clean Fischer-Tropsch transportation fuel, including diesel and jet fuel;
  • Evaluate the use of Fischer-Tropsch transportation fuel as a mechanism for reducing engine exhaust emissions;
  • Submit to Congress recommendations on the most effective uses and associated benefits of those fuels with respect to reducing public exposure to exhaust emissions.
    • SA 1601 Inhofe Enables sale of additional credits by the Federal government to refineries, blenders, and importers at a price of $1.00 per gallon of gasoline equivalent to meet obligations under the renewable fuels standard.
    SA 1602 Inhofe Transitional assistance for farmers who plant dedicated energy crops for a local cellulosic ethanol facility.
    SA 1603 Brown Amends performance goals for Federal government:
  • 20% reduction in petroleum use by 2015 (2005 baseline)
  • 10% per year increase in use of alternative fuels by 2015 (2005 baseline)
  • Fleet shall be 15% hybrid or flex-fuel by 2015 and 20% by 2020
    • SA 1604 Schumer Updates state building energy efficiency codes and standards.
    SA 1605 Schumer State requirements for energy efficiency.
    SA 1606 Schumer In the absence of Federal determination or a standard for energy-efficiency of an appliance, no State standard to be pre-empted.
    SA 1608 Corker Expands definition of clean fuel:
  • not derived from crude oil
  • as compared to conventional gasoline, lifecycle emission reductions of 2 or more air pollutants
  • a 20% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional gasoline
    • SA 1609 Thune Report on electric transmission corridors.
    Adopted.
    Proposed Amendments to Senate Energy Bill (amended H.R.6)
    15 June 2007
    Amendment Sponsor(s) Title and/or notes
    SA 1610 Cardin, Mikulski, Dodd, Kerry, Reid, Kennedy, Whitehouse, Snowe Expands definition of “Affected State” with respect to the siting, construction, expansion and operation of a liquefied natural gas terminal.
    Rejected by Yea-Nea vote 37-56, 19 June.
    SA 1611 Coleman Broadens requirements for cellulosic ethanol facilities receiving guarantees and gives priority to projects to be carried out in communities with a population of 25,000 or less residents.
    SA 1612 Coleman Requires report on effectiveness and practicability of national use of higher ethanol blend (such as E-15 or E-20) to achieve the most efficient expansion of ethanol use.
    SA 1613 Coleman Renewable Fuel Standard.  Sets expanded targets for renewable fuel standard along with more aggressive component requirement for advanced biofuels as part of that RFS.
  • 2008: 8.5 billion gallons
  • 2009: 10.5 billion gallons
  • 2010: 12.0 billion gallons
  • 2011: 12.6 billion gallons
  • 2012: 14.2 billion gallons
  • 2013: 15.8 billion gallons
  • 2014: 18.4 billion gallons
  • 2015: 23.0 billion gallons
  • 2016: 26.0 billion gallons
  • 2017: 29.0 billion gallons
  • 2018: 32.0 billion gallons
  • 2019: 35.0 billion gallons
  • 2020: 38.0 billion gallons
  • 2021: 41.0 billion gallons
  • 2022: 44.0 billion gallons
    • The advanced biofuel components required by the amendment are:
  • 2012: 1.0 billion gallons
  • 2013: 2.0 billion gallons
  • 2014: 4.0 billion gallons
  • 2015: 8.0 billion gallons
  • 2016: 11.0 billion gallons
  • 2017: 14.0 billion gallons
  • 2018: 17.0 billion gallons
  • 2019: 20.0 billion gallons
  • 2020: 23.0 billion gallons
  • 2021: 27.0 billion gallons
  • 2022: 30.0 billion gallons
    • SA 1614 Tester, Byrd, Rockefeller, Salazar and Bingaman Grant and Loan Program for Lower-GHG Coal Projects.
  • Projects must deliver annual lifecycle GHG at least 20% lower than conventional baseline emissions
  • At least 75% of the CO2 that otherwise would be released must the captured and stored
  • Total reduction in carbon emissions not less than 75%
  • $20 million maximum grant per project for up to 10 projects ($200 million total)
  • $10 billion loan program

    • Rejected by Yea-Nea vote 33-61, 19 June.
    SA 1615 Collins, Cantwell, Snowe, Murray Abrupt Climate Change Research Program. Establishes an office within NOAA to carry out a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change.
    SA 1616 Durbin and Carper Requires State and metropolitan planning organization to publish a report describing use of Federal funds to reduce gasoline demand, lower household transportation expenditures, and increase mass transit.
    SA 1617 Tester Regulatory plan for the long-term geologic storage of carbon dioxide. Requires the President acting through the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality to develop a plan that includes elements such as performance standards; minimum sequestration times without leakage; maximum acceptable leakage; and certification standards.
    SA 1618 Inhofe Allows 100% tax deduction of expenditures for qualified 3D seismic data.
    SA 1619 Inhofe Eliminates taxable income limit on percentage depletion for oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties.
    SA 1620 Inhofe Increases tax exemptions for independent producers and royalty owners.
    SA 1621 Inhofe Increases phaseout threshold credit for producing oil and gas from marginal wells.
    SA 1622 Inhofe Expands the definition of “small refiner” from 75,000 to 100,000 barrels per day.
    Proposed Amendments to Senate Energy Bill (amended H.R.6)
    18 June 2007
    Amendment Sponsor(s) Title and/or notes
    SA 1623 Carper A schedule for the incorporation of fuel-efficient lean burn, hybrid or fuel-cell vehicles into the federal fleet.
  • 5% of new purchases in 2009 and 2010
  • 10% in 2011 and 2012
  • 15% per year after 2012
    • SA 1624 Dole and Carper Specific inclusion of “flow batteries”. (Flow batteries are electrochemical energy storage devices, but unlike a conventional battery, the reaction occurs between two electrolytes rather than between an electrolyte and an electrode. The electrolytes are stored externally to the battery and circulated through the cell stack as needed.)
    SA 1625 Dole Report on oil and gas operations in Sudan with respect to which sanctions are applicable.
    SA 1626 Dole Replaces “oil consumption” with “reliance on foreign oil” in specification of reduction targets.
    SA 1627 Kohl and Burr Definition of highly efficient commercial water heaters.
    SA 1628 Bunning, Domenici, Enzi, Craig and Martinez Clean Coal-Derived Fuels for Energy Security Act of 2007. Defines mandatory levels of coal-derived fuels (comparable to renewable fuels standard, but for CTL).
  • 2016: 0.75 billion gallons
  • 2017: 1.5 billion gallons
  • 2018: 2.25 billion gallons
  • 2019: 3.75 billion gallons
  • 2020: 4.5 billion gallons
  • 2021: 5.25 billion gallons
  • 2022: 6.0 billion gallons
  • 2023 and beyond: maintains the 2022 ratio of 6 billion gallons to total fuel

    • Rejected by Yea-Nea vote 39-55, 19 June.
    SA 1629 Kyl Study of the feasibility and impact of renewable fuel and advanced biofuel requirements.
    SA 1630 Casey Modifications to weatherization assistance for low-income persons.
    SA 1631 McCaskill Renewable fuel pumps at Federal fleet refueling centers.
    SA 1632 Feingold State energy conservation plans.
    SA 1633 Feingold Modifications to biofuels incentives.
    SA 1634 Feingold Protection for small business.
    SA 1636
    SA 1675    		 Menendez Study of the effect of private wire laws on the development of combined heat and power facilities.
    SA 1637 Landrieu Extension and modification of credit for new energy efficient homes.
    SA 1638 Feinstein and Bennett Schedule for energy management requirements for Federal buildings.
    SA 1639 Bingaman Modifications to parameters for carbon capture and sequestration.
    SA 1640 Graham and Dorgan Tax credits for hydrogen installation, infrastructure and fuel costs.
    SA 1641 Coleman Expansion of definition of processing for biofuels to include harvest and storage.
    SA 1642 Cantwell Modifications to definition of biomass harvesting.
    SA 1643 Cantwell Study of the marginal production cost of requiring use of flexible fuel mixtures in vehicles.
    SA 1644 Cantwell Study of smart grid system.
    SA 1645 Cantwell Limitation on radio frequency interference levels in the 902-928 MHz band, used by many in oil and gas exploration.
    SA 1646 Cantwell Requires on-board fuel economy indicators and devices beginning in model year 2012.
    SA 1647 Clinton, Sanders, Leahy, and Cantwell Net metering and interconnection standards.
    SA 1648 Wyden, Harkin, Landrieu, Salazar Assessment of carbon sequestration and methane and nitrous oxide emissions from terrestrial ecosystems.
    SA 1649 Reed Energy efficiency residential guarantees.
    SA 1650 Reed Public housing capital fund.
    SA 1651 McCaskill Retail fuel fairness. Requires motor fuel dispensers that are newly installed or upgraded at any retail fuel establishment in the United States to be equipped with automatic temperature compensation equipment to ensure that any volume of gasoline or diesel fuel measured by the dispenser for retail sale is equal to the volume that such quantity of fuel would equal at the time of such sale if the temperature of the fuel was 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
    SA 1652 Hagel and Menendez A program for traffic signal coordination.
    SA 1653 Hagel Study of industrial applications of carbon dioxide.
    SA 1654 Hagel Loan Program for Coal-to-Liquid and Gas-to-Liquid Technologies. CTL or GTL facilities that produce at least 150 million gallons of liquid transportation fuel per year to be eligible for loan guarantees of up to 50% of the project cost of the facility that is the subject of the guarantee, as estimated at the time at which the guarantee is issued; or $100 million.
    SA 1655 Hagel Study of industrial applications of carbon dioxide.
    Proposed Amendments to Senate Energy Bill (amended H.R.6)
    19 June 2007
    Amendment Sponsor(s) Title and/or notes
    SA 1656 Schumer Energy efficiency resource standard for retail electricity and natural gas distributors.
    SA 1657 Isakson Alternative fuel economy standards for low volume manufacturers and new entrants.
    SA 1658 Vitter Use of coastal impact assistance to improve hurricane or flood protection in response to Katrina or Rita.
    SA 1659 Sununu Credit for biomass fuel property expenditures.
    SA 1660 Inhofe and Clinton Cost-effective and geothermal heat pump technology acceleration program.
    SA 1628 Bunning, Domenici, Enzi, Craig and Martinez
    SA 1661 Carper Modification of emission standard for new qualified advanced lean burn motor vehicle credit.
    SA 1662 Klobuchar, Bond, Voinovich, Kerry and Hagel Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Development. Targeted at E85 and biodiesel.
    SA 1663 Martinez Clarification of definition of gasoline.
    SA 1664 Klobuchar and Cantwell Clarification of language on installation of alternative fuel pumps.
    SA 1665 Salazar and Brown Establishes research and development program on vehicle weight,lightweight materials and manufacturing processes can improve fuel economy.
    SA 1666 Inhofe, Burr and Dole Annual assessment of “agriculture equity” re: food vs. fuel
    SA 1667 Inhofe Tax breaks for certain refiners and refineries.
    SA 1668 Inhofe Calls for study of the feasibility of increasing consumption in the United States of ethanol-blended gasoline with levels of ethanol of not less than 10 percent and not more than 40 percent.
    SA 1669 Inhofe Repeals section in Transportation Equity Act (Public Law 109-59; 119 Stat. 1514) stating for no Federal funds shall be obligated or expended for the demolition of the existing Brightman Street Bridge connecting Fall River and Somerset, Massachusetts.
    SA 1670 Murkowski and Stevens Coastal Plain Strategic Petroleum Ready Reserve. Designates the public land of the Coastal Plain area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a strategic petroleum reserve; ensures that the reserves of crude oil and natural gas in the Coastal Plain are ready, but not actually made available until authorized by Act of Congress, for commercial production; and authorizes seismic and exploration activities in the Coastal Plain so that production of crude oil and natural gas can proceed in the Coastal Plain if Congress determines, after the date of enactment of this Act, that production of oil and natural gas in the Coastal Plain is necessary.
    SA 1671 Landrieu Modification to price gouging language.
    SA 1672 Schumer and Kennedy Modification of language for commuter benefit equity.
    SA 1673 Bingaman, Dodd, Allard, Reed, Crapo, Schumer, Martinez, Casey and Bayh Modification of language on housing.
    SA 1674 Feingold Modification of language for protection of small business.
    SA 1676 Brown Renewable Energy Innovation Manufacturing Partnership Program to make assistance awards to eligible entities for use in carrying out research, development, and demonstration relating to the manufacturing of renewable energy technologies.
    SA 1677 Bingaman Clarifications to include specifically landfill gas, sewage waste treatment gas and biobutanol.
    SA 1679 Hutchinson and Cornyn Study of impact of renewable fuel standard.
    SA 1680 Hagel DOE to conduct a survey to determine the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems to resolve to ensure the goals of (A) maximizing the energy security of the United States; (B) maximizing improvements in energy efficiency within the United States; and (C) minimizing damage to the economy and the environment of the United States.
    SA 1681 Hagel and Lieberman Re-establishment of Office of Technical Assessment
    SA 1682 Hagel Appliance efficiency standards commission.
    SA 1683 Voinovich, Carper, and Inhofe Convention on Supplementary COmpensation for Nuclear Damage Contingent Cost Allocation.
    SA 1684 Hutchinson and Cornyn Protection for  producers of livestock, poultry, and pork products; and all processors of food and food products.
    SA 1685 Hagel Deployment of Advanced Coal Generation Units. Exempts from source review any subcritical pulverized coal unit in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that is rebuilt with a supercritical pulverized coal unit, or an ultrasupercritical pulverized coal unit, that includes post-combustion carbon dioxide capture technology or an oxy fuel pulverized coal unit.
    SA 1686 Allard Extension of qualified green building and sustainable design project bonds from 2009 to 2012.
    SA 1687 Burr Establishes an Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Security within the DOE. 
    SA 1688 Burr Annual national energy security strategy report.
    SA 1689 Burr Reorganizes national Security Council to explicitly include energy.
    SA 1690 Menendez and Sanders Provides for the establishment of an orderly procedure for financing (through assessments on all photovoltaic products manufactured and shipped in the United States and on photovoltaic products imported into the United States) and carrying out a coordinated program of promotion and research designed to strengthen the position of the solar energy industry in the marketplace.
    SA 1691 Wyden and Sununu Changes in royalty relief for oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico.
    SA 1692 Murkowski Licensing of Lake Diana Hydroelectric Project.
    SA 1693 Bingaman, Boxer, Reid Grants for production of advanced biofuels, with studies on effects of renewable fuels use and on anti-backsliding on emissions to ensure no harm to the environment.
    Accepted by a Yea-nea vote of 58-34, 20 June.
    SA 1694 Bingaman, Boxer and Reid Expands definition of advanced biofuel to include a 50% reduction in greenhouse has emissions compared to conventional transportation fuel.
    SA 1695 Bingaman, Boxer, Reid Modification of language on lifecycle greenhouse gas requirements.
    SA 1696 Nelson,  Craig, Crapo, Kohl,  Allard and  Thune Credit for biogas production.
    SA 1697 Webb Record keeping by major oil producers. 
    SA 1698 Cantwell Modification of language on harvesting of forest biomass.
    SA 1699 Cantwell Establishes a $540 million research and development program for lightweight materials to determine ways in which the weight of motor vehicle structures may be reduced to improve fuel efficiency without compromising passenger safety; the cost of primary lightweight materials (such as high-strength steel alloys, aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber for reinforced polymer composites) with the properties required for the construction of lighter-weight vehicles may be reduced; and the cost of processing, joining, and recycling lightweight materials for high-volume applications may be reduced.
    SA 1700 Collins >Low-carbon fuels. Provides for research support to facilitate the development of sustainable markets and technologies to produce and use woody biomass and other low-carbon fuels for the production of thermal and electric energy, biofuels, and bio products.
    SA 1702 Snowe and Kerry Express loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
    SA 1703 Murkowski Treats income received in connection with the Exxon Valdez legislation as attributable to a fishing business.
    SA 1704 Baucus, Grassley, Bingaman, Cantwell, Wyden, Schumer, Salazar and Snowe Energy tax provisions.Very extensive amendment on tax policy and parameters from refrigerators through plug-in to coal plants.
    SA 1705 Kerry, Cantwell, Tester Small business emergency fuel assistance.
    SA 1706 Kerry and Snowe Small business energy efficiency.
    SA 1707 Kerry Loans or guarantees in energy emergencies.
    SA 1708 Tester Energy efficient schools.
    SA 1710 Feingold, Sanders and Menendez Modification of language to emphasize reduction in fossil fuel emissions.
    SA 1711- SA 1713 Pryor, Bond, Levin, Voinovich, Stabenow, McCaskill Alternative proposal for CAFE. 36 mpg for cars by 2022; 30 mpg for light trucks by 2025.
    SA 1715 Craig Inclusion of wood products certified under all nationally recognized sustainable forest certification programs.

    Posted on 21 June 2007 in Policy | | Comments (5)

    Comments

    gr

    Altogether this is a major step forward and distinct from the last Energy Bill. Here are the glaring exceptions:

    SA 1670 - Murkowski drilling the Arctic Wildlife Preserve
    SA 1685 - exemption of coal plants from source review?
    SA 1654 - Loan giveaway for CTL - coal does not need it
    SA 1617 - CO2 is a naturally occurring gas not an enemy
    SA 1608 - two less pollutants does not "clean fuel" make
    SA 1598 - CTL is NOT "renewable"

    It is amazing that Alaska keeps trying to destroy its most valuable assets by tearing them up!

    Posted by: gr | 21 June 2007 at 07:32 AM

    Nick

    From an Alaskan--

    That's just what we do up here. Alaska is really more like a colony than a state.

    Posted by: Nick | 21 June 2007 at 10:41 AM

    Cervus

    Personally, I still think we need to develop the conventional oil resources we do have. And that includes drilling in Alaska. It'd be a better choice than CTL projects, IMO.

    Posted by: Cervus | 21 June 2007 at 11:50 AM

    Cervus

    Senate passed the bill tonight. They want to require 36 billion gallons of ethanol production by 2022.

    There isn't enough corn, guys. C'mon.

    You can say goodbye to refinery expansion, oil exploration... and I'm betting on fuel shortages since first-geneation ethanol and biodiesel feedstocks can't meet more than a small fraction of demand. And it'll be a while before next gen tech is actually proven.

    Posted by: Cervus | 21 June 2007 at 09:30 PM

    Robert Reid

    With all the flap, posturing and endless rhetoric about "Alternate fuels", something seems to be entirely missing. Natural GAS!
    This is being increasingly used as a motor vehicle fuel World Wide, while just a trickle is being promoted, or utilized in the U.S.
    This is disgusting. We have it and the technology to use it is in place. Just one problem: The process,time and expense of getting EPA approval is so cumbersome, that manufacturer's are selling their products primarily overseas.

    This technology needs to be made available in a timely manner. To NOT do so, is courting economic disaster.

    Posted by: Robert Reid | 31 March 2008 at 03:48 PM

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