Hopes Dim for Measures to Conserve Energy
By JOHN M. BRODER
New York Times
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 — The prospect of a comprehensive energy package’s emerging from Congress this fall is rapidly receding, held up by technical hurdles and policy disputes between the House and the Senate and within the parties.
This summer, both houses passed major bills meant to promote energy efficiency and wean industry from fossil fuels. The bills have gaping differences that are supposed to be resolved in a conference committee.
Democratic leaders in both chambers have signaled that conference committee members are unlikely to be named until late October, at the earliest. Others suggested that leaders may try to resolve the differences in the bills without convening a conference, which would create other problems, including the threat of a Republican filibuster in the Senate.
Although Democratic leaders proclaimed energy a top legislative priority last January, the issue competes with Iraq, appropriations, financial market turmoil and product safety for room on Congress’s fall calendar.
The Senate passed its energy bill on June 21; the House passed its on Aug. 4. The most significant provisions include increasing automobile fuel-efficiency standards to a fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, compared to 27.5 m.p.g. today.
The standard for light trucks is 20.7 m.p.g.
(Continued here.)
New York Times
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 — The prospect of a comprehensive energy package’s emerging from Congress this fall is rapidly receding, held up by technical hurdles and policy disputes between the House and the Senate and within the parties.
This summer, both houses passed major bills meant to promote energy efficiency and wean industry from fossil fuels. The bills have gaping differences that are supposed to be resolved in a conference committee.
Democratic leaders in both chambers have signaled that conference committee members are unlikely to be named until late October, at the earliest. Others suggested that leaders may try to resolve the differences in the bills without convening a conference, which would create other problems, including the threat of a Republican filibuster in the Senate.
Although Democratic leaders proclaimed energy a top legislative priority last January, the issue competes with Iraq, appropriations, financial market turmoil and product safety for room on Congress’s fall calendar.
The Senate passed its energy bill on June 21; the House passed its on Aug. 4. The most significant provisions include increasing automobile fuel-efficiency standards to a fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, compared to 27.5 m.p.g. today.
The standard for light trucks is 20.7 m.p.g.
(Continued here.)
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1 Comments:
Not to worry, T-Paw's got it covered ... ( http://www.usnews.com/blogs/news-desk/2007/9/13/governors-push-for-smart-energy.html )
"Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the new chair of the National Governors Association, was in Washington this week to argue that state governments should be a driving force in reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil and in fighting greenhouse gas emissions. {snip} Pawlenty appeared with Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman at the National Press Club to outline how states can advance "smart energy" agendas, such as by setting energy efficiency goals for their own buildings and vehicle fleets. He has also said that states can take steps to encourage more funding for energy research and development."
Sounds like a winning campaign commercial ... encourage (through subsidies and mandates {which I thought Republicans hated} efficiency improvements resulting in lower greenhouse gases and foreign oil dependence ... the only problem is that Pawlenty's timetable is generations out (2050?) ... but it will play well on the stump.
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