Climate-Friendly Technology Proposals from the 109th Congress Proposals (page 2 of 2)

H.R.6 E.H.: The Energy Policy Act, as passed by the House, which, among other things, would authorize several programs to promote the development and deployment of technologies that would capture and sequester CO₂ emissions; a program of fossil research, development, demonstration, and commercial application by 2015 with the capability of reducing CO₂ emissions by at least 40% through efficiency improvements and by 100 percent with sequestration; a 10-year program of research and development aimed at developing CO₂ capture technologies for pulverized coal combustion units, focusing on developing add-on CO₂ capture technologies and increasing the efficiency of the overall combustion system in order to reduce the amount of CO₂ emissions released from the system per megawatt generated.
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) (2 cosponsors) – Action: 4/21/05: Passed in the House by a vote of 249-183.

H.R.6 E.N.R.: The Energy Policy Act, as enacted (also referred to as Public Law 109-190), which, among other things, would promote the deployment of GHG intensity reducing technologies, both domestically and in developing countries; authorize several programs to promote the development and deployment of technologies that would capture and sequester CO₂ emissions; direct DOE to commission an NAS study of fuel cell technologies, among other things, considering whether other technologies would be less expensive or more quickly implemented to significantly reduce GHG emissions. In addition to the provisions that directly addressed climate change and GHG emissions, the law includes several measures intended to promote climate-friendly technologies and activities. In particular, the law:

• Establishes a national biofuel standard mostly in the form of ethanol for gasoline. This will increase the biofuels from 4 billion gallons per year in 2006 to 7.5 billion gallons per year in 2012.
• Increases the requirement for the purchase of renewable power by the federal government to 3% in 2007 and 7.5% in 2013.
• Establishes new efficiency standards for 15 new commercial and residential products.
• Extends, through the end of FY 2005, the renewable electricity production credit of 1.9¢ per kWh during their first ten years of operation.
• Creates a new tax credit for residential investments in solar power and fuel cell systems of 30% at an estimated $31 million.
• Increases the credit for commercial solar installations from 10% to 30% for two years at an estimated $222 million.
• Provides for investment tax credits for improving residential energy efficiency at an estimated $556 million.
• Allows for deductions for commercial buildings that cut their energy consumption by 50% for an estimated $243 million.
• Provides credits to manufacturers of energy efficient appliances ($180 million) and for building contractors that meet certain efficiency standards ($28 million).
• Offers tax incentives for the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles beginning in 2006 for an estimated cost of $874 million.
• Provides a 30% credit to alternative refueling installations at both residential and commercial properties.
• Authorizes a $200 million annual clean coal initiative to go primarily towards coal gasification projects.
• Creates three new investment tax credits for clean coal facilities with an expenditure cap of $1.612 billion. (20% for industrial gasification projects, 20% for IGCC, 15% for other electricity producing projects)
• Authorizes a $1.25 billion fund for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant at Idaho National Laboratory to produce both electricity and hydrogen.
• Provides a tax credit of 1.8¢ per kWhfor new nuclear power facilities during their first eight years of operation.
• Provides financial support for to up to six new nuclear power reactors in case of unforeseen construction delays.
  Action: 8/8/05: Signed into law as Public Law 109-190.

H.R.610: Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercial Application Act, which, among other things, would establish at research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs at DOE, among whose objectives would be: to develop technologies by 2015 with the capability of reducing CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel use by at least 40% through efficiency improvements and by 100% with sequestration; to develop CO₂ capture technologies for pulverized coal combustion units; and to develop technologies based on the biological functions of genomes, microbes, and plants to convert CO₂ to organic carbon; and would make development of technologies that reduce GHG emissions one of the priorities of the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988.
Sponsor: Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) (1 cosponsor) – Action: 2/10/05: Passed by the House Science Committee.

H.R.612: Energy Basic and Applied Sciences Act, which, among other things, would establish research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs at DOE, among whose objectives would be: to develop technologies by 2015 with the capability of reducing CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel use by at least 40% through efficiency improvements and by 100% with sequestration; and to develop technologies based on the biological functions of genomes, microbes, and plants to convert CO₂ to organic carbon; and would make development of technologies that reduce GHG emissions one of the priorities of the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988.
Sponsor: Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) (1 cosponsor)

H.R.1158: To reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act, which, among other things, would make development of technologies that reduce GHG emissions one of the priorities of the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988.
Sponsor: Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA) (2 cosponsors) – Action: 4/26/05: Passed the House by voice vote.

H.R.1640: The Energy Policy Act, as passed by the House, which, among other things, would authorize programs to promote the development and deployment of technologies that would capture and sequester CO₂ emissions.
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) (14 cosponsors)

H.R.5143: H-Prize Act, which would authorize the Secretary of Energy to award monetary prizes for achievements in overcoming scientific and technical barriers associated with hydrogen energy, including transformational changes in technologies for the distribution or production of hydrogen that minimizes carbon emissions.
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) (26 cosponsors)

H.R. 5331: the BOLD Energy Act, contains provisions for vehicle fuel economy, alternative fuel vehicles, domestic production of oil and gas, electricity and renewables, and energy efficiency. In a program awarding grants for coal-to-liquids refineries, it lists “carbon capture capability” as one of the project criteria, and one of many hydrogen-based projects is dedicated to the incorporation of carbon sequestration strategies into hydrogen production. The bill would increase tax credits for enhanced oil recovery projects using CO₂ from industrial sources and natural gas separation. It also extends the production tax credit for renewables through 2012; requires that by 2020, 10% of electricity sold nationwide must come from renewables; and requires that by 2017, all vehicles must be “advanced technology” vehicles (dual-fuel, hybrid-electric, electric, fuel cell, etc.)
Sponsor: Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND)

H.R.5634: Advanced Energy Initiative Act of 2006, which would require the Department of Energy to carry out a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for low emissions technologies including, among other things, advanced clean coal technologies, which would achieve at least a 90% reduction in CO₂ emissions after enactment in 2012. (See Related Bill H.R.5656.)Sponsor: Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) (3 cosponsors)

H.R.5656: Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercial Application Act, which would appropriate funds to the Department of Energy to carry out programs of research development, demonstration and commercial application for, among other things, advanced clean coal energy that would achieve at least 90% reduction in CO₂ emissions.
Sponsor: Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) (16 cosponsors) – Action: 7/28/06: Reported by the House Science Committee.

H.R.5965: Progress Act, which would authorize the National Commission on Energy Security and Transition to New Fuels to make recommendations to Congress and the President for the purposes of safeguarding the national energy security in the event of terrorism or natural disaster; the Commission shall: address fuel supply and infrastructure needs to support the development of wide-scale use of alternative fueled vehicles, including flexible-fuel vehicles, electric hybrid vehicles, advanced diesel engines, and hydrogen fueled vehicles, for passenger cars, commercial fleets, and industrial vehicles; specifically, the Secretary shall award grants to those motor fuel dealers which maximize the availability ofalternative fuels by increasing the number of vehicles that can utilize E-85 fuel. Additionally, the bill would target vulnerabilities in energy infrastructure, such as overreliance on refining capacity concentrated in areas susceptible to hurricane damage. The Commission would also propose legislation to promote efficiency and biomass use and pursue alternatives to reduce transportation fuel demand.
Sponsor: Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (MD) (126 cosponsors)

H.R.6248: To authorize the Secretary of Energy to make certain loan guarantees for advanced conservation and fuel efficiency motor vehicle technology projects. The Department is authorized to guarantee loans to motor vehicle manufacturers and suppliers for advanced conservation and fuel efficiency motor vehicle technology projects which would produce new vehicles, not to exceed 10,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight, including gasoline and diesel vehicles, flexible fuel vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles, that reduce dependence on oil and the emissions of GHGs.
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) (4 cosponsors)

H.R.6266: 21st Century Energy Independence Act, which would authorize the Secretary of Energy to make loan guarantees for cellulosic ethanol production technology development in order to ensure the availability of 200% of the volume of renewable fuels required to be available in the United States by 2013 under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Additionally, this bill would reduce CO₂ emissions from the production and use of renewable fuels by 25%.
Sponsor: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) (25 cosponsors)

Proposed House Amendment (Inslee #50) New Apollo Energy Amendment, which establishes a national goal of reducing total CO₂ emissions in the United States to the 2000 level by 2015. (Similar to H.R. 2828 but does not include the H.R. 759 GHG cap-and-trade provision.)
Sponsor: Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) – Action: 4/19/05: The sponsor requested the opportunity to offer the provision as an amendment in the nature of a substitute to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6) during debate by the House, but was denied the opportunity by the House Rules Committee (an instrument of the House majority party).

H.R.6356: America's Domestic Fuels Act, which, among other things, would direct the Department of Energy to provide grants to states for research into the applicability of carbon dioxide capture and sequestration technologies, including adsorption and absorption techniques and chemical processes, to coal gasification as an energy source in ethanol production.
Sponsor: Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) (4 cosponsors)

H.R.6417: Climate Change Investment Act of 2006, which, among other things, would establish a greenhouse gas intensity reduction investment tax credit for projects that reduce GHG emissions, improve efficiency and in the case of projects located outside the United States, provide technology transfer. The amount of the credit would be dependent on the percentage reduction in GHG intensity, with a limitation of $600,000,000 for each of calendar years 2008 through 2012, and zero thereafter.
Sponsor: Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA)