The U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology passed legislation to improve energy efficiency and advance energy technologies through research, development and demonstration (RD&D) programs.
The bills aim to improve vehicle technologies, improve wind energy research and development (R&D), establish a gas turbines efficiency program, and establish a social and behavioral sciences research program. Proposed funding levels were not announced.
H.R. 3246, the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009, would authorize an RD&D program within the Department of Energy (DOE) to explore a wide range of advanced vehicle technologies, with an emphasis on medium- to heavy-duty vehicles. The goal of the program is to reduce or completely eliminate petroleum fuel use and their associated emissions in vehicles. This legislation was introduced by Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI).
H.R. 3165, the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009, would establish a wind energy RD&D program aimed to reduce the cost of construction, generation and maintenance of wind systems. This bill was introduced by Energy and Environment Subcommittee Vice Chairman Paul Tonko (D-NY).
“The Wind Energy Research and Development Act is about perfecting wind energy so it can play a more prominent role in the nation’s energy mix,” stated Tonko. “This bill will leverage our investment to bring those technological advances to market, which will help lessen our dependence on foreign oil imports and help increase our energy independence.”
H.R. 3029, also introduced by Tonko, would establish a short-term RD&D program at DOE aimed at increasing efficiency of gas turbines to 65%, from the current average of less than 60%. A one-percentage point improvement in efficiency applied to existing utility scale gas turbines in the U.S. would result in of million tons of CO2 reductions and billions of dollars in fuel costs, annually. Specifically, this program would examine gas turbines used in combination with cycle power generation systems.
Lastly, H.R. 3247 would establish a social and behavioral sciences research program at the DOE to identify and understand factors that influence both energy consumption and acceptance and adoption of new technologies. H.R. 3247 was introduced by Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Brian Baird (D-WA).
“Technology development and investment are only part of the solution to our energy problem,” said Baird. “The decisions each of us make every day have a significant impact on energy production and consumption. It is important that we understand why some technologies are more readily embraced than others. And it is important that we know how to communicate effectively about the nature of our energy challenges and know how to empower individual citizens to participate in overcoming them.”
In Related News…
More than 20 environmental and advocacy groups–including Oxfam America, 1Sky, the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth and Nature Conservancy–urged U.S. senators this week to dedicate billions of dollars in additional money to international adaptation and low-carbon technology efforts.
The groups sent a letter asking the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to initially dedicate 3% of future cap-and-trade allowances–estimated at about $2 billion per year–to assist developing nations in adapting to climate change. They also requested that 2%– about $1.3 billion annually–be dedicated to research, development and deployment of energy technologies.
Read the full letter at the link below.
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