By voice vote, the House Science Committee yesterday approved an energy package designed to spur new technologies related to clean coal, nuclear power, biofuels, advanced vehicles, solar and wind energy, and energy efficiency.
Provisions of the bill, H.R.5656, Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercial Application Act of 2006, introduced by Energy Subcommittee Chairman Judy Biggert (R-IL), have been endorsed by the Edison Electric Institute, Dow Corning, DuPont, Johnson Controls, Inc., American Honda Motor Company, Alliance to Save Energy, American Chemical Society, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, American Institute of Architects, American Public Power Association, Association of American Universities, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
H.R. 5656 includes language that was originally in the following bills: H.R.5634, Advanced Energy Initiative Act of 2006, by Chairman Biggert; H.R.5633, Energy Efficient Buildings Act of 2006, by Chairman Biggert; H.R.5643, Energy Technology Transfer Act, by Chairman Biggert; H.R.5538, Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Act of 2006, by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX); H.R.5594, Solar Utilization Now (SUN) Demonstration Act of 2006, by Rep. Smith; and H.R.5644, Green Energy Education Act of 2006, by Rep. Michael T. McCaul (R-TX).
“As I think everyone knows, having reliable, affordable, clean domestic sources of energy is a must if our nation is to remain safe and prosperous in the future,” said Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY). “To do that, we must invest in a balanced portfolio of energy research and development (R&D) now so that we have a balanced portfolio of energy sources in the future. And at the same time we need to develop and promote ways to use those sources more wisely an aspect of dealing with energy that once again will be conspicuously absent on the House floor this week.”
“High natural gas prices and the recent spike in gasoline prices serve as a stark reminder that the path to energy independence is a long and arduous one,” Chairman Biggert said. “To make significant progress down this path requires a steadfast commitment from Congress and the federal government to support the development of advanced energy technologies and alternative fuels that will help end our addiction to oil and gasoline. The bill we are considering today includes provisions that do just that, by building on the excellent research and development provisions this committee included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.”
Rep. Smith added, “Americans are concerned about high gas prices, our dependence on foreign oil and global warming. The bills before our Committee today have the potential to alleviate all three problems. Through federal grants, the ‘SUN Act’ and the ‘Plug-In Hybrid Electrical Vehicle Act’ will encourage development and use of cleaner burning fuels. If we harness the power of renewable energy, and use that energy in more efficient ways, we can put America on a path toward energy independence.”
Rep. McCaul said, “This is legislation with real purpose which I suspect and hope will have lasting positive impacts on the way Americans live their lives. With this legislation we are bringing architects and engineers together to design and build more energy efficient buildings and homes. Buildings consume 39 percent of America’s primary energy and 70 percent of our electricity more energy than any other sector of the U.S. economy. By bringing these two groups together they can better work to build more energy efficient homes and buildings and help save our nation’s environment, energy and tax dollars.”
H.R. 5656 authorizes the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative, which includes funding for research and development (R&D) on carbon sequestration, nuclear fuel reprocessing, solar and wind energy, and ydrogen. The approved bill also imposes emissions requirements on FutureGen, the clean coal project, and imposes limitations on demonstration projects under the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP). The bill also creates programs at the Department of Energy to demonstrate plug-in hybrid vehicles and solar power technologies, to encourage the design of green buildings, and to offer energy extension services. Finally, the bill asks the National Academy of Sciences to further study and refine its recommendation to create an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E).
The Committee agreed to the following amendments by voice vote, in addition to a manager’s amendment by Mrs. Biggert:
– An amendment by Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX) that makes coal gasification projects eligible for loan guarantees.
– An amendment by Ranking Member Bart Gordon (D-TN) that authorizes R&D on materials to make biobased fuels and ultra low sulfur diesel fuels more compatible with existing fuel storage and delivery infrastructure, and R&D on methods to test sulfur content in fuels;
– An amendment by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) that requires the Secretary of Energy to continue to carry out R&D on geothermal energy, hydropower, cogeneration, and distributed energy production authorized in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT);
– An amendment by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) that amends the definition of an “energy efficient building” to require such a building to meet a higher efficiency standard than specified in H.R. 5656;
– An amendment by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) that ensures Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions are eligible for grants under the Green Energy Education provision of H.R. 5656; and
– An amendment by Rep. Al Green (D-TX) that makes certain biomass products an authorized activity of the bioenergy demonstration program in EPACT.
An amendment by Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) that amends the definition of an “energy efficient building” to require such a building to use heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems that meet or exceed Energy Star efficiency standards.
The following amendments were offered and withdrawn:
– An amendment by Rep. Gordon that would have authorized a revolving loan fund for the purposes of improving the energy efficiency of federal buildings; and
– An amendment by Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) that would have required the federal government to provide indemnification for private-sector participants in the Future Gen advanced clean coal technology demonstration project.
The Committee defeated the following amendments by voice vote:
– An amendment by Rep. Gordon that would have established an ARPA-E agency within the Department of Energy with authorized appropriations of $3.375 billion over six years; and
– An amendment by Rep. Costello that would have authorized a coal gasification demonstration project related to ethanol production.
A section-by-section analysis of the bill, the bill summary, Member opening statements and the amendments that were offered are all available on the Science Committee website at: