Climate-Friendly Technology Proposals from the 110th Congress

H.R. 2112: Purchasing Low-Emission Vehicles for Use in Government (PLUG) Act. This bill would amend the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to require the Federal Government to acquire not fewer than 50,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for inclusion in the federal fleet within five years after the Secretary of Energy deems such vehicles “commercially available.” The bill cites Department of Energy finding that hybrid vehicles produce fewer greenhouse gases than conventional vehicles.

Sponsor: Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) (1 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2144: Farm, Nutrition, and Community Investment Act of 2007. Among other provisions, this bill would amend the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants to certain universities in order to conduct research on carbon cycle, renewable energy, and climate change; and the bill authorizes $15 million a year for fiscal years 2008 through 2013 for the purpose. The bill also amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to establish grants for cellulosic ethanol projects, a farm and ranch energy efficiency rebate program, and authorizes funds for research in alternative uses for biofuel byproducts. In addition, the bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to direct each electric utility to make available upon request net metering to any electric consumer that the electric utility serves.

Sponsor: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) (31 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2154: Rural Energy for America Act of 2007. This bill, in expanding and extending the renewable energy systems and energy improvements program of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 through 2012, cites the existing program’s success in reducing CO₂ emissions by more that 1.1 million tons annually.

Sponsor: Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) (6 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2208: Coal Liquid Fuel Act. This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish standby loans with not more than six coal-to-liquid fuels (CTL) projects Under these agreements, the Secretary will make a direct loan to the qualifying CTL project, and set a cap price and minimum price for the primary term of the agreement. Qualifying projects are those which convert coal to one or more liquid or gaseous transportation fuels; or not more than one project at a facility that converts petroleum refinery waste products, including pet-coke, into one or more liquids or gaseous transportation fuels—and which demonstrates the capture and sequestration or disposal or use of the carbon dioxide (CO₂)produced in the conversion process, and that produces fuel with life cycle CO₂emissions at or below the average life cycle CO₂ emissions for the same type of fuel produced at traditional petroleum-based facilities with similar annual capacities.

Sponsor: Rep. Richard Boucher (D-VA) (15 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2215: To provide a reduction in the aggregate greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy consumed by vehicles and aircraft, and for other purposes. This bill amends the Clean Air Act by directing the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to, no later than January 1, 2010, promulgate low carbon fuel performance standards for fuels and other sources of energy used to propel vehicles and aircraft. The low carbon fuel performance standards will also include lifecycle GHG emission calculations.

Sponsor: Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) (22 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2218: Biofuels Energy Independence Act of 2007. This bill would create a Biofuels Feedstocks Energy Reserve, and authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make and guarantee loans for the production, distribution, development, and storage of biofuels. It cites the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional gasoline as a benefit of the use of grain-based and biomass ethanol.

Sponsor: Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)

H.R. 2272: America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (America COMPETES) Act. Among other provisions, the Act directs the Secretary of Energy to establish an Advanced Research Projects authority to overcome the long-term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of energy technologies, including carbon-neutral and carbon sequestration technology.

Sponsor: Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) (21 Cosponsors) 5/21/07: Passed the House by voice vote. 7/19/07: Passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent. 8/2/07: Conference report passed the House by 367-57. 8/2/07: Conference report passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent. 8/9/07: Signed by the President (Public Law 110-069).

H.R. 2304: Advanced Geothermal Energy Research and Development Act of 2007. This bill, among other purposes, directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for geothermal energy. Among other provisions, the bill directs the Secretary to report to Congress on the advanced uses of geothermal energy, including the use of carbon dioxide as an alternative geofluid with potential carbon sequestration benefits.

Sponsor: Rep. Jerry McNerny (D-CA) (14 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2337: Energy Policy Reform and Revitalization Act of 2007. Among other provisions, this bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop a methodology for assessing the nation’s capacity to store carbon dioxide in geologic formations. It also requires the Secretary to conduct an assessment of the amount of carbon stored in terrestrial, aquatic, and coastal ecosystems, including estuaries; and to determine the potential for increasing carbon storage in natural ecosystems.

In addition, the bill mandates the creation of the National Resources Management Council on Climate Change to address the impacts of climate change on Federal lands, the ocean environment, and the Federal water infrastructure. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate a national strategy for assisting wildlife populations and their habitats in adapting to the impacts of global warming. The bill also directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop and implement a national strategy to predict, plan for, and mitigate the impacts on ocean and coastal ecosystems from global warming, relative sea level rise and ocean acidification; and ensure the recovery, resilience, and health of ocean and coastal ecosystems. The bill also authorizes $250 million to establish a National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System to improve the nation’s ability to measure, track, explain, and predict events related directly and indirectly and indirectly to weather and climate change.

Sponsor: Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) (7 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2401: NOURISH Act of 2007. This bill, among other provisions, amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to add alternative energy projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels in farm operations to those projects eligible for Conservation Innovation Grants.

Sponsor: Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) (33 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2447: Energy and Environment Block Grant Act of 2007. This bill directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a block grant program for local governments and the states to support energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction strategies.

Sponsor: Rep. Albert Wynn (D-MD) (24 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2483: Energy for America Act. Among various provisions intended to promote energy efficiency, alternative energy, and green enrgy technology, this bill directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant competitive pilot demonstration program to be awarded annually for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. As part of the criteria, applicants are required to record greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition, the bill requires the Secretary of Energy to, not later than 2 years after enactment, submit to Congress a study on biological sequestration on carbon dioxide for coal power systems.

(7 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2556:

Energy Savings Act of 2007. This bill contains various provisions to promote biofuels, energy efficiency, and carbon capture and storage. It establishes a renewable fuel standard of 8.5 billion gallons in 2008, increasing to 36 billion gallons by 2022, and directs the President to promulgate regulations to ensure that motor and heating fuels sold within the United States contain the applicable volume of renewable fuels. The bill requires that renewable fuels produced from facilities built after enactment shall achieve at least a 20% reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to gasoline. In addition, the bill directs the Secretary of Energy to provide grants for the electric vehicle demonstration program. Grant recipients must submit an annual report to the Secretary on data relating to vehicle, performance, lifecycle costs, and GHG emissions. The bill also directs the Secretary to carry out fundamental science and engineering research to develop new approaches to capture and store, recycle, or reuse carbon dioxide.

Sponsor: Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM)

H.R. 2641: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008. Among other provisions, this bill, according to the accompanying committee report, appropriates $150 million to the Department of Energy for research into climate change, including modeling, monitoring radiation in the atmosphere, and long-term experiments on the impact of increased CO₂ levels on forests and other ecosystems. The bill also appropriates $1.9 billion for climate-friendly, energy efficiency and renewable energy programs including: solar energy, biofuels (including cellulosic ethanol), vehicle technology, energy efficient buildings, weatherization grants, hydropower, and geothermal energy. In addition, the bill appropriates $639.2 million for funding for a Next Generation Nuclear Power Plant at the Idaho National Laboratory.

Sponsor: Rep. Peter Visclosky (D-IN)

H.R. 2652: Generating Renewable Energy and Encouraging Novel Technologies Act of 2007. This bill amends various provisions of the Internal Revenue Code with measures intended to generate renewable energy and encourage novel technologies related to the production of energy. Among other provisions, the bill adds enhanced oil recovery projects which enable the capture or sequestration of carbon dioxide produced at a coal-to-liquid fuel facility to those which are eligible for tax credits.

H.R. 2720: FARM 21 Act of 2007. Among other purposes, this bill amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 with the purpose of increasing energy programs of the Department of Agriculture. Among other provisions, it would extend biorefinery grants and loans to eligible projects, and includes as a criteria for selection the extent to which projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Sponsor: Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) (21 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2764:

The Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008. This bill amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to allow funds appropriated for agriculture, rural development, nutrition, population and health, energy, and conservation activities, and for the Economic Support Fund, to be used to support tropical forestry and biodiversity conservation activities and energy programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The bill also appropriates $195 million to support clean energy and other climate change programs in developing countries, including energy conservation, energy efficiency, clean energy technologies, carbon sequestration, and climate change mitigation and adaptation programs.

Note: On 12/17/2007, the substitute House amendments to the Senate amendment changed this bill to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008. The bill was further amended with a subsequent Senate amendment to the House amendments to the Senate amendment. A House Appropriations committee print presents the final corrected version, including the joint explanatory statements. The Act contains: Division A: Agriculture; Division B: Commerce-Justice-Science; Division C: Energy-Water; Division D: Financial Services; Division E: Homeland Security; Division F: Interior; Division G: Labor-HHS-Education; Division H: Legislative Branch; Division I: Military-Veterans; Division J: State-Foreign Operations; Division K: Transportation-HUD; Division L: Supplemental Appropriations.

Sponsor: Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)

6/18/07: Reported by the House Committee on Appropriations by voice vote. 6/22/07: Passed the House by a vote of 241-178. 7/10/07: Reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Appropriations by voice vote. 9/6/07: Passed the Senate by 81-12.

12/17/2007: The House agreed to the Senate amendment with the 1st House amendment by 253 - 154. 12/17/2007: The House agreed to the Senate amendment with the 2nd House amendment by 206 - 201. 12/18/2007: The Senate concurred in the House amendment (No. 2) to the Senate amendment by 70 - 25. 12/18/2007: The Senate disagreed to the motion to concur in the House Amendment No. 1 to the Senate amendment by 48 - 46. 12/18/2007: The Senate agreed to the House Amendment No. 1 to the Senate amendment by 76 - 17. 12/19/2007: The House agreed to the Senate amendment to 2nd House amendment to Senate amendment by 272 - 142. 12/26/2007: Signed by the President (Public Law 110-161).

H.R. 2776: Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007. Among other provisions, this bill expands and extends tax credits and deductions for renewable energy, energy efficient appliance credit for a variety of appliances produced after 2007, energy-efficient commercial buildings deduction for five years (through December 31, 2013), and allows electric utilities to depreciate smart electric meters over a five year period. In addition, the bill orders the Secretary of the Treasury and the National Academy of Sciences to review the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to identify the types of and specific tax provisions that have the largest effects on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions and to estimate the magnitude of those effects.

(21 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2798: Overseas Private Investment Corporation Reauthorization Act of 2007. The bill requires the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to institute a climate change mitigation action plan. The bill requires the action plan to include: a goal of substantially increasing OPIC support of and giving preferential treatment to projects that use, develop, or promote the use of clean energy technology; assess the degree to which certain projects contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs).

Sponsor: Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) (3 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2809: New Apollo Energy Act of 2007. This bill contains many provisions intended to promote new energy technologies, and includes a variety of measures intended to reduce American greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among other provisions, it instructs the National Institute of Building Sciences to establish standards for the construction of new commercial and residential buildings that will reduce CO₂ emissions, compared to emissions from similar buildings in 2003, by 40% by 2010 and by 70% by 2020. The bill also directs the Administrator of the EPA to promulgate low carbon fuel performance standards for fuels and aircraft, similar to those proposed by Rep. Inslee in H.R. 2215. In addition, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make loan guarantees for commercial demonstration projects of low carbon renewable fuels. The bill also amends the Clean Air Act to instruct the Administrator of the EPA to promulgate regulations to require each manufacturer of automobiles for sale in the United States to reduce the average GHG emissions per vehicle mile. It also directs the Secretary of Commerce to work through NOAA to carry out a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change.

Sponsor: Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) (23 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2848: Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights Act. This bill would amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to provide for the use of net metering by certain small electric energy generation systems, and language in the bill ensures that where applicable, customer-generators will retain ownership and title to any renewable energy or greenhouse gas credits that accrues to their energy generation activities.

Sponsor: Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) (1 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2858: To promote the production and use of ethanol. Among other provisions, this bill amends the Petroleum Practices Act to require the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for research into developing sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock to replace corn; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol production is a stated goal of the program.

Sponsor: Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)

H.R. 2881: FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007. Among other provisions, this bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program to carry out not more than 6 environmental mitigation demonstration projects at public-use airports, and makes measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions a criteria of project selection. The bill also requires the Administrator of the FAA to establish a program to develop and certify CLEEN (Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise) engine and airframe technology, and mandates as one performance objective the development, by September 30, 2015, of certifiable aircraft technology that reduces GHG emissions by increasing aircraft fuel efficiency by 25% relative to 1997 subsonic jet aircraft technology.

Sponsor: Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) (33 Cosponsors)

H.R. 2950: Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. Among other provisions, this bill requires the President to establish a renewable fuel standard for motor vehicle fuel and home heating oil sold or introduced into the United States, and mandates that renewable fuels produced from facilities that commence operations after enactment achieve at least a 20% reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to gasoline. The bill also requires the President to establish criteria for a system of voluntary labeling of renewable fuels based on life-cycle GHG emissions. In addition, the bill also authorizes funds for: grants for research and development of low-carbon fuels and low-GHG-emitting advanced biofuels; studies of the effects of renewable fuel use on GHG emissions; and an assessment of carbon sequestration and methane and nitrous oxide emissions from terrestrial ecosystems. It also makes reducing GHG emissions a condition of grants for: an electric drive transportation technology demonstration program; a State energy training partnership program. It also makes GHG emission reductions a criteria in amending fuel economy standards, and cites reducing GHG emissions as a goal of energy diplomacy.

Sponsor: Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM)

H.R. 3089: No More Excuses Energy Act of 2007. Among other provisions, this bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a tax credit for carbon dioxide captured from industrial sources and permanently sequestered as a tertiary injectant in enhanced oil and natural gas recovery.

(2 Cosponsors)

H.R. 3118: To promote the production and use of ethanol. Among other provisions, this bill amends the Petroleum Practices Act to require the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for research into developing sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock to supplement corn; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol production is a stated goal of the program. This bill is similar to H.R. 2858, also sponsored by Rep. Terry, except that instead of replacing corn with sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock, this bill intends to supplement corn with sweet sorghum.

Sponsor: Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)

H.R. 3221: New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act. This is the House of Representatives’ energy bill for 2007. The following summary includes only the provisions most pertinent to climate change.

· Among other provisions, the bill makes a Congressional declaration that it shall be United States policy to engage in international climate negotiations with the objective of creating a new instrument that will come into force by the time that the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012. Such an instrument will, at a minimum, require binding mitigation commitments from all major emitting countries. The title also mandates the creation of an Office on Global Climate Change within the State Department.

· The bill also authorizes funds to promote research in solar energy, biofuels, marine renewable energy, and geothermal energy, and authorizes funds for carbon capture and storage research, development, and demonstration.

· In addition, it directs the President to “establish an interagency committee to ensure cooperation and coordination of all Federal research activities” pertaining to human-induced or natural changes in the global environment, including global climate change.

· The bill contains provisions which direct each federal agency to annually inventory and report its GHG emissions, and requires the EPA to promulgate annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets for the total emissions of all agencies taken as a whole, for each fiscal year from 2010 through 2050.

· The bill also sets GHG emissions standards for federal vehicle fleets, based on the California Code of Regulations, and requires the Secretary of Energy to establish new efficiency standards for federal buildings.

· The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop a methodology for assessing the nation’s capacity to store carbon dioxide in geologic formations. It also requires the Secretary to conduct an assessment of the amount of carbon stored in terrestrial, aquatic, and coastal ecosystems, including estuaries; and to determine the potential for increasing carbon storage in natural ecosystems.

· It also requires the Secretary of the Interior to create the National Resources Management Council on Climate Change to address the impacts of climate change on Federal lands, the ocean environment, and the Federal water infrastructure. It requires the Secretary to promulgate a national strategy for assisting wildlife populations and their habitats in adapting to the impacts of global warming. The title also directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop and implement a national strategy to predict, plan for, and mitigate the impacts on ocean and coastal ecosystems from global warming, relative sea level rise and ocean acidification; and ensure the recovery, resilience, and health of ocean and coastal ecosystems.

· The title also authorizes $250 million to establish a National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System to improve the nation’s ability to measure, track, explain, and predict events related directly and indirectly and indirectly to weather and climate change.

· The Transportation and Infrastructure section of this bill, among other provisions, mandates the establishment of a Center for Climate Change and Environment within the Department of Transportation, which would plan, coordinate, and implement department-wide initiatives and research to reduce transportation-related energy use, mitigate the effects of climate change, and address the impacts of climate change on transportation and infrastructure. The title also directs Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the EPA to report to Congress on low-cost solutions to reducing congestion and transportation-related energy use and mitigating the effects of climate change.

· The Energy and Commerce section of this bill contains a number of energy efficiency provisions, among them: improving the schedule for consensus standards, updating appliance test procedures, new efficiency standards for lighting, residential boilers, industrial motors, washing machines, and dishwashers. The title also establishes new efficiency standards for power supplies and transformers for consumer electronic equipment.

· In addition, the bill mandates the creation of an Office of High-Performance Green Buildings, and sets out increased efficiency standards for federal buildings, as well as increased efficiency standards for state residential and commercial building codes. It also authorizes grants to support state implementation of green building codes.

· The title also provides technical assistance and a revolving fund for implementing combined heat and power (CHP) systems and sustainable energy infrastructure. Finally, the title contains a number of provisions promoting creation of a Smart Grid, and mandates the promulgation of a National Action Plan for Demand Response.

· The tax provisions of this bill expand and extend tax credits and deductions for renewable energy, energy efficient appliance credit for a variety of appliances produced after 2007, energy-efficient commercial buildings deduction for five years (through December 31, 2013), and allows electric utilities to depreciate smart electric meters over a five year period. In addition, the bill orders the Secretary of the Treasury and the National Academy of Sciences to review the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to identify the types of and specific tax provisions that have the largest effects on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions and to estimate the magnitude of those effects.

Sponsor: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (18 Cosponsors)

H.R. 3236: Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2007. This bill intends to encourage greater energy efficiency throughout the U.S. economy. Among other provisions, the bill requires the Administrator of the EPA to establish a Recoverable Waste-Energy Inventory Program, including a Registry of Waste-energy Sources, and to include in the Registry the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings that might be achieved with recovery of the waste energy from all sources and sites listed therein. The bill also, in renaming the Department of Energy’s Regional Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Application Centers, as Clean Energy Centers, finds that the CHP centers have produced significant climate change benefits and will continue to do so.

Sponsor: Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) (1 Cosponsors)

H.R. 3237: Smart Grid Facilitation Act of 2007. This bill intends to facilitate and provide Federal leadership for the transition of the Nation’s electricity sector to a “smart grid” and to encourage demand-response activities that support and improve the reliability of the grid. Among other provisions, it requires the Administrator of the EPA to issue a report on the environmental attributes and impacts of demand response and smart grid systems, including existing and potential impacts of these systems on air emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and oxides of nitrogen. It also mandates that electricity purchasers shall be provided direct access to the sources of power provided by their utility, including greenhouse gas emissions associated with each type of generation.

Sponsor: Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) (1 Cosponsors)

H.R. 3274: United States-China Energy Cooperation Act. This bill would authorize the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to encourage cooperation between the United States and China on research, development and commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration technology, improved energy efficiency, or renewable energy sources.

Sponsor: Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) (6 Cosponsors)

H.R. 3358: Renewing Our Commitment to Safe and Clean Power Act. Among other provisions intended to expand nuclear power generation in the United States, this bill refers to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as one of its purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) (1 Cosponsors)

H.R. 3448:   Global Climate and Ozone Layer Protection Act of 2007. This bill would declare that it is the sense of Congress that the United States should negotiate with other parties to the Montreal Protocol to, among other purposes, maximize the impact of the Protocol to mitigate global warming impacts and accelerate the phase out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by ten years. The bill also contains a number of provisions intended to regulate and accelerate the destruction of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and HCFCs, and requires the Administrator of the EPA to promulgate regulations governing substitute refrigerants for CFCs and HCFCs.

Sponsor: Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) (22 Cosponsors)

H.R. 4059: Rural Clean Energy Superhighways Act. This bill would amend the Federal Power Act to require the President to designate as National Renewable Energy Zones those areas which meet the following conditions: the potential to contain in excess of one gigawatt of electricity generation from renewable energy; an insufficient level of transmission capacity to enable one or more electricity consuming areas to access said renewable energy; and substantial demand for said energy. In its findings section, the bill states that electricity produced from renewable sources helps to reduce greenhouse gas emssions.

Sponsor: Rep. Jay Inslee (1 Cosponsors)

H.R. 4122: American Investment in Safe, Reliable High-Speed Rail Act. This bill contains various provisions that would establish high-speed rail in the United States. In its findings section, it states, “[h]igh-speed rail will greatly reduce carbon dioxide emissions by reducing vehicle travel and make major contribut[ions] to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming.” It also states that “[h]igh-speed rail will be a state-of-the-art transportation system that will have an impact on climate change.”

Sponsor: Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) (2 Cosponsors)

H.R. 4122: High-Speed Rail Authority Development and Formation Act. This bill is similar to H.R. 4122—by the same sponsor—except that it would establish the National High-Speed Rail Authority within the Department of Transportation to encourage and assist with planning, development, and construction of high-speed rail systems in the United States. It retains the findings language in H.R. 4122, linking high-speed rail use to decreased transportation emissions which contribute to global climate change.

Sponsor: Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) (2 Cosponsors)

H.R. 4137: <!--[if !mso]>

Sponsor: Rep. George Miller (D-CA) (29 Cosponsors)

11/15/07: Reported by the House Committee on Education and Labor by 45-0; 2/7/08: Passed the House 354-58; 7/29/08: passed the Senate with an amendment by unanimous consent; 7/30/08: conference report filed; 7/31/08: conference report passed the House by 380-49; 7/31/08: passed the Senate by 83-8; 8/6/08: presented to the President.

H.R. 4612:

Climate Neutral Electricity Generation Act of 2007. This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an investment credit for electric generation facilities with “climate neutral combustion.” The credit would be applicable to up to 20% of investment in facilities that:

· use combustion to generate electricity, and

· which capture carbon dioxide released by such combustion and use it to recover hydrocarbon fuel from below ground, and

· which produce no atmospheric emissions of mercury or GHGs, and no emissions that form fine particulate, smog, or acid rain.

Sponsor: Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) (2 Cosponsors)

H.R. 5146:

Invest in Energy Security Act. This bill would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to acquire enough petroleum to fill the available capacity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Among other provisions, it would establish an Energy Independence and Security Fund within the Treasury, and would require the Secretary of Energy to deposit proceeds from sales of petroleum from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve into that fund. The bill would mandate a number of uses for these funds, including requiring the Secretary of Energy to transfer a total of $110 million for FY 2008 into the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account within the U.S. Treasury, which would be expended on a program to accelerate the research and development of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from industrial processes, among other purposes. The bill would also direct the Secretary to transfer $70 million for FY 2008 to the same account to accelerate the research and development of new technologies to reduce GHG emissions from buildings, among other purposes. In addition, the bill would direct the Secretary to transfer $385 million to the Fossil Energy Research and Development account, which would be expended on a program of demonstration projects of carbon capture and sequestration (as authorized by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007). One of these demonstration projects would be a component of the FutureGen project.

Sponsor: Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX) (1 Cosponsors)

H.R. 5351:   Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008. This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation. It contains many similar provisions to H.R. 2776, by the same sponsor.   In addition to its production tax credits and incentives, this bill would require the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to undertake a comprehensive review of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to identify the types and specific tax provisions that have the largest effects on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, and to estimate the magnitude of those effects.

Sponsor: Rep. Charles B. Rangel (36 Cosponsors)

2/27/08: Passed the House by 236-182.

(Special note: H.R. 2776, which is by the same sponsor andcontains similar provisions to this bill, was incorporated into H.R. 3221 and passed the House by 241-172 on 8/4/07; however, H.R. 2776’s language was removed during the negotiation process between the House and Senate that ultimately produced H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was signed by the President on 12/19/07)

H.R. 5529: <!--[if !mso]>

Sponsor: Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) (16 Cosponsors)

H.R. 5575:

Moratorium on Uncontrolled Power Plants Act of 2008. This bill would, upon enactment, prohibit all permitting authorities from issuing a permit for a proposed new coal-fired power plant under the Clean Air Act, unless the permit requires said plant to use technology to capture and permanently sequester 85% of its total annual carbon dioxide emissions. The moratorium would apply until a program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 is in effect. Any coal-fired power plant that commences construction after the bill’s introduction, and does not install and operate such technology, would not be eligible to receive free or below-market-price emissions allowances under any future program to address global warming adopted by Congress or the EPA.

Sponsor: Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) (7 Cosponsors)

H.R. 5867:

Energy Conservation Through Trees Act. This bill would authorize the Secretary of Energy to provide financial, technical, and other assistance to retail power providers to establish or continue targeted residential tree-planting programs. In order to qualify for assistance, such programs would have to demonstrate that the planting of trees contributes to reduced energy use by increasing shade or providing wind protection. In its finding section, the bill states that the utility sector is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, producing approximately 1/3 of national emissions—and that heating and cooling homes accounts for nearly 60% of residential electricity usage.

Sponsor: Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) (5 Cosponsors)

H.R. 6049:

Renewable Energy and Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008. This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy—including wind, solar, wave and tidal energy and cellulosic ethanol and energy conservation.

The bill would also expand and modify the advanced coal project investment credit. It would authorize the Secretary of Energy to direct $800 million for integrated combined cycle projects, $500 million for other advanced coal-based generation technologies, and $1.25 billion. The bill would require projects applying for this investment credit to separate and sequester at least 65% of their total carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The bill would give highest priority to projects with the greatest separation and sequestration percentage of total CO₂ emissions.

The bill also would expand and modify the coal gasification investment credit. It raises the investment credit cap by $250 million for gasification projects which separate and sequester at least 75% of their total CO₂emissions.

In addition to its production tax credits and incentives, this bill would require the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to undertake a comprehensive review of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to identify the types and specific tax provisions that have the largest effects on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, and to estimate the magnitude of those effects.

Sponsor: Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) (17 Cosponsors)

5/15/08: Reported by the House Committee on Ways and Means by 25-12; 5/21/08: Passed the House 263-160; 6/10/08: the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill by 50-44; 6/17/08: the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill by 52-44; 7/29/08: the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill by 53-43. (N.B. If successful, these votes for cloture would have allowed the bill to have been taken up by the Senate and possibly amended. Therefore, a vote for cloture can not necessarily be interpreted as support by that Senator for the unamended version of the bill).

This bill contains many similar provisions to H.R. 2776 and H.R. 5351, by the same sponsor. I include the following material as a footnote or parenthetical to the Action section, since it doesn’t actually summarize the substance of the bill: H.R. 2776 had been incorporated into H.R. 3221 and passed the House by 241-172 on 8/4/07; however, H.R. 2776’s language was removed during the negotiation process between the House and Senate that ultimately produced H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was signed by the President on 12/19/07. H.R. 5351 was passed by the House by 236-182, and referred to the Senate Finance Committee; no further action has been taken.

H.R. 6186: <!--[if !mso]>

Sponsor: Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA)

H.R. 670: Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy (DRIVE) Act. The Act is designed to “promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on foreign oil through the use of alternative fuels and new vehicle technologies.” Among other provisions, the bill requires the Secretary of Energy to conduct programs of research, development, demonstration and commercial application for, and to provide research grants for, a variety of advanced transportation technologies, including electric drive transportation technology; and includes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a goal of these technologies.

Sponsor: Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) (79 Cosponsors)

H.R. 683: Investment in Energy Independence Act of 2006. The Act would provide income tax credits for investment in coal-to-liquid fuel, biomass, and oil shale energy projects. Investments in facilities which allow for the capture, transportation, or sequestration of carbon dioxide produced by the coal-to-liquid fuel process are also eligible for tax credits.

Sponsor: Rep. Ron Lewis (R-KY) (11 Cosponsors)

(11 Cosponsors)

H.R. 729: Home Energy Generation Act. The Act would “amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to promote energy independence and self-sufficiency by providing for the use of net metering by certain small electric energy generation systems,“ and mandates that customers generating energy with qualified generating units will, where applicable, retain title to greenhouse gas or renewable energy credits.

(30 Cosponsors)

H.R. 931: America’s Domestic Fuels Act. The Act authorizes a total of $25 million to the Secretary of Energy to disburse as grants to “provide for the research, development, and demonstration of coal gasification technology as an energy source in ethanol production.” The total 2008 authorization includes $5 million for research and development activities, and $20 million for demonstration projects. Investigation of carbon capture and sequestration technology is a stated research aim of the grants.

Sponsor: Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) (12 Cosponsors)

H.R. 6 (Energy Bill as passed into law):

Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. This is the final energy bill that was produced after negotiation among the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives. It incorporates elements of both H.R. 3221 and H.R. 6.

· Among other provisions, the bill establishes a renewable fuel standard, to reach 36 billion gallons by 2022, with 21 billion of those gallons to be from advanced biofuels. The bill mandates that renewable fuels produced from facilities that commence operations after enactment shall achieve at least 20% reduction in life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, compared to gasoline. The bill also directs the President to establish criteria for a system of voluntary labeling of renewable fuels based on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions.

· The bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy regulations to achieve a combined standard for passenger cars and light trucks of at least 35 miles per gallon by 2020. For model years 2021 through 2031, the Secretary would have to establish the "maximum feasible" standard for the fleet. In establishing the maximum feasible standard, the bill directs the Secretary to consider the emissions of GHGs over the lifecycle of the fuel and the resulting costs to human health, the economy, and the environment.

· The bill also provides technical assistance and a revolving fund for implementing combined heat and power (CHP) systems and sustainable energy infrastructure. It contains a number of provisions promoting creation of a Smart Grid, and mandates the promulgation of a National Action Plan for Demand Response.

· The bill directs the President to establish a program to provide grants for research support to facilitate the development of sustainable markets and technologies to use woody biomass and other low carbon fuels, including research into methods of assessing and certifying the impacts of low-carbon fuels with respect to reductions in lifecycle GHG emissions, among other impacts.

· The bill also directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to encourage the production of advanced biofuels. It requires the Secretary to award grants to the proposals for advanced biofuels with the greatest reduction in lifecycle GHG emissions compared to the comparable vehicle fuel lifecycle emissions in calendar year 2007, with at least a 50% such reduction needed to be eligible.

· The bill amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator of the EPA to work with the EPA to conduct 2 studies on the effects of increased domestic use of renewable fuels under this act, including an assessment and quantification of significant changes in GHG emissions, among others.

· Among other provisions, the bill directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct an applied research program for plug-in electric drive vehicle technology, including development of control systems optimized for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; it also directs the Secretary to establish a competitive program to provide grants for demonstrations of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. As part of the criteria, applicants are required to record GHG emissions.

· The bill also amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training. It directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a competitive grant program for States to administer renewable energy and energy efficiency workforce development programs, and requires the Secretary to give priority to those States whose programs will be in line with meeting national and State goals for reducing GHG emissions, among other goals.

· The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop a national assessment of the quantity of carbon stored in and released from terrestrial ecosystems, including from human-caused and natural fires, and the annual flux of GHGs in and out of terrestrial ecosystems. As part of the assessment, the Secretary must determine the processes that control the flux of GHGs in and out of terrestrial ecosystems; estimate the potential for increasing carbon sequestration in natural and managed terrestrial ecosystems; develop near-term and long-term adaptation strategies or mitigation strategies that can be employed to enhance the sequestration of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems, to reduce emissions of GHGs, and to adapt to climate change.

· The bill also requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop a method for measuring, monitoring, quantifying, and monetizing covered GHG emissions and reductions, including methods for allocating and managing offsets or credits.

· The bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish a program to promote and fund carbon capture and storage research, development, and demonstration. It authorizes a total of $1.425 billion for various of activities related to carbon capture and storage, including: fundamental science and engineering research; field testing of carbon dioxide sequestration in operating and depleted oil and gas fields, and geological formations including saline formations and unmineable coal seams; not less than 7 large-volume sequestration tests involving at least 1 million tons of carbon dioxide per year in a diversity of geological formations across the United States; and an assessment of the national capacity for carbon dioxide storage. The bill also directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a competitive grant program for the demonstration of carbon capture and storage from industrial sources.

· The bill also requires the Administrator of the EPA to establish a competitive grant demonstration program for projects to capture and store or use the carbon dioxide emitted from the Capitol power plant as a result of burning coal.

Sponsor: Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) (198 Cosponsors)

Fund	2010-2019		2020-2050		2012-2050
Fund	% of allowance value	Est. annual funding ($ billions)	% of allowance value	Est. annual funding ($ billions)	Est. cumulative funding ($ billions)
General Fund of the Treasury	51	110	48	110	4,290
Climate Trust Rebate Fund	7.5	110	7	110	4,290
Low-Carbon Technology Fund	12.5	24	12.5	25	963
National Energy Efficiency Fund	12.5	24	12.5	25	963
Agriculture and Forestry Carbon Fund	4.5	8	5	10	378
Climate Change Worker Transition Fund	1.5	3	2	4	147
National Climate Change Adaptation Fund	2	7	2.5	9	332
Natural Resource Conservation Fund	1.5	7	2	9	332
International Forest Protection Fund	1.5	3	2	4	147
International Clean Technology Fund	3.5	7	4	8	301
International Climate Change Adaptation Fund	2	4	2.5	5	185

Sign up for E-Newsletter

Climate-Friendly Technology Proposals from the 110th Congress