Climate-Friendly Technology Proposals from the 110th Congress

H.R. 729: [1] [1]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. Sponsor: Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) (30 cosponsors)

H.R. 931: [2] [2]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. 1126: [3] [3]An act to reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988. The bill adds language to the reauthorized Act which refers to “[t]he development of technologies which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” Sponsor: Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) (9 cosponsors) - Action: 2/28/07: Reported by the House Committee on Science and Technology by voice vote. 3/12/07: Passed by the House by voice vote. 7/15/07: Reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources by voice vote.

H.R. 2272: [4] 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) – Action: 5/21/07: Passed the House by voice vote. 7/19/07: Senate strikes all after enacting amendment and substitutes the language of S. 761, then passes the bill by unanimous consent. 8/1/07: House-Senate conferees file conference report. 8/2/02: Passed the house 367-57; passed the Senate by unanimous consent. 8/9/07: Signed by the President. Public Law 110-69.

H.R. 2304: [5] 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) Action: 6/21/07: Reported by the House Committee on Science and Technology by voice vote. 8/4/07: Incorporated into H.R. 3221, which passed the House by 241-172.

[6]H.R. 2641: [6] 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) Action: 6/6/07: Reported by the House Appropriations Committee by voice vote. 7/17/07: Passed by the House by 312-112.

[7]H.R. 2809: [8] 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 [9]. 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: [10] 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 cosponsor)

H.R. 2950: [11] 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. 3236 [12]: [12] 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 cosponsor) Action: 8/3/2007: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce by a vote of 27-18. 8/4/07: Incorporated into H.R. 3221, which passed the House by 241-172.

H.R. 3237 [13]: [13] 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 cosponsor) Action: 8/3/2007: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce by voice vote. 8/4/07: Incorporated into H.R. 3221, which passed the House by 241-172.

[14]H.R. 3358: [14] 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 cosponsor)

S. 761: [15] [15]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: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) (69 cosponsors) – Action: 4/25/07: Passed the Senate 88-8. 7/19/07: Incorporated into HR 2272 as an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and passed by unanimous consent. (See summary HR 2272 for further legislative action).

S. 859: [16] [16]Ethanol Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2007. The Act, which requires the Secretary of Energy to “award funds to study the feasibility of constructing dedicated ethanol pipelines to increase the energy, economic, and environmental security of the United States.” Among its provisions, the bill cites as one benefit of ethanol that it provides “reduced greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.” Sponsor: Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) (1 cosponsor)

S. 1016: [17] Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights 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 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: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

S. 1072: [18] Federal Agency Environmental Responsibility Act. Among other provisions, the Act requires the head of each Federal agency to implement sustainable practices within the agency for avoiding or reducing GHG emissions. The bill also directs the Administrator of the General Services Administration to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from Federal buildings through the use of energy efficient light bulbs, requiring that within five years of the bill’s enactment, all light bulbs—including those in traffic signals and exterior lights on Federal property—should be replaced by energy-efficient bulbs, and mandating that only energy-efficient bulbs may be used in Federal buildings. The Administrator can make those exceptions deemed necessary, and “energy efficient bulbs” are defined as those with a lumens-per-Watt rating of not less than 30 until January 1, 2018; and for calendar years ending after 2017, a lumens-per-Watt rating of not less than 45. Sponsor: Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)

[19]S. 1187 [20]: [20] Clean Capitol Act of 2007. This bill requires the Architect of the Capitol to develop a plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the Capitol complex, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality at the complex by December 31, 2020. The bill gives priority to methods which would make the complex more energy efficient and use off-and on-site renewable sources of energy, but allows the purchase of carbon dioxide emission offsets if necessary. Sponsor: Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)

 

Also see: H.R. 182: [21], H.R. 670: [22], H.R. 370: [23], H.R. 823: [24], H.R. 1186: [25], H.R. 1215: [26],
H.R. 1551: [27], H.R. 1300: [28], S.6: [29], S. 133: [30], S. 280: [31], S. 309: [32], S. 317: [33], S. 339: [34],
S. 485: [35], S. 701: [36], S. 731: [37], S. 962: [38]

 

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