Hill Heat

Opening statement from Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.): In today’s hearing in the new Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure, we look forward to hearing testimony on advanced coal technologies. As we discuss energy policy and how to best use coal, a natural resource that we have in abundance, to enhance our energy security, it is important that we learn more about the feasibility of various advanced clean coal technologies that feature clean emissions and allow carbon sequestration and storage.

In our current tax code, we have several tax incentives for these technologies, including investment tax credits for investments in advanced coal technologies and accelerated depreciation to address the capital costs involved in these technologies. We hope during this hearing to collect testimony regarding the response of the market in general, and of coal producers and utilities in particular, to these incentives. We are also interested in hearing your views on new incentives that might be more effective in helping us achieve our energy policy goals. In particular, we sought testimony from experts on:

• Clean coal and gasification projects, including the newly announced Wyoming Coal Gasification Project, a private-public partnership formed to develop an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant.
• Coal to liquids, the process of making liquid fuels from coal
• Refined coal production tax credits
• The costs of establishing new facilities as well as retrofitting existing coal-fired power plants.

We also look forward to hearing these experts’ views on the feasibility and future of carbon capture and sequestration as well as the market for sequestered carbon. Sequestered carbon can be used in many useful technologies, including enhanced oil recovery. A primary focus of energy policy discussions is the abundance of coal in the U.S. This hearing represents our first examination of the possibilities of that endowment.

Witnesses

• Steve Waddington, Executive Director, Wyoming Infrastructure Authority
• Dr. Nina French, ADA-ES, Director, Clean Coal Combustion
• John Diesch, President, Rentech Energy Midwest Corporation
• Dr. Brian McPherson, Research Scientist, Petroleum Recovery Research Center, NM Tech and Manager, Carbon Engineering Group Energy and Geoscience Institute, University of Utah
• Bill Townsend, CEO, Blue Source

The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, led by Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), and Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, led by Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), will hold a joint oversight hearing on “Land-Use Issues Associated with Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Development.” Witnesses: Panel 1 Henri Bisson, Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior Tony L. Ferguson, Director, Minerals and Geology Management, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture

Panel 2 John Emmerich, Deputy Director, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Jewell James, Member, Lummi Nation Honorable Maxine Natchees, Chairwoman, Northern Ute Tribe

Panel 3 Steve Adami, Powder River Basin Resource Council Ashley Korenblat, Owner, Western Spirit Cycling Claire M. Moseley, Executive Director, Public Lands Advocacy Roger Muggli, Northern Plains Resource Council Peggy Utesch, Western Organization of Resource Councils & Western Colorado Congress

The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans, led by Del. Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU), and Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, led by Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), will hold a joint oversight hearing on “Renewable Energy Opportunities and Issues on the Outer Continental Shelf.” Witnesses: Panel 1 Mike Olsen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior Ann F. Miles, Director, Division of Hydropower Licensing, Office of Energy Projects, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Tim Keeney, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce Ted Diers, Coastal States Organization

Panel 2 Sean O’Neill, President, Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition Jason Bak, Chief Executive Officer, Finavera Renewables Zeke Grader, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association Doug Rader, Ph.D., Principal Scientist for Oceans and Estuaries, Environmental Defense George Hagerman, Senior Research Associate, Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute Porter Hoagland, Ph.D., Research Specialist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S.1115, a bill to promote the efficient use of oil, natural gas, and electricity, reduce oil consumption, and heighten energy efficiency standards for consumer products and industrial equipment, and for other purposes.

The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, led by Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), will hold an oversight hearing on “Renewable Energy Opportunities and Issues on Federal Lands: Review of Title II, Subtitle B – Geothermal Energy of EPAct.” Other renewable programs and proposals for public resources will also be discussed.

Witnesses:

Panel 1

• Mr. Jim Hughes, Director, Bureau of Land Management
• Professor Jeff Tester, Chair, MIT Climate Change Panel
• Mr. Daniel Kunz, President, US Geothermal Inc.
• Mr. Paul Thomsen, Public Policy Administrator, ORMAT Nevada

Panel 2

• Mr. Randall Swisher, Executive Director, American Wind Energy Association
• Mr. Robert Gough, Secretary, Intertribal Council on Utility Policy
• Ms. Lynn Jungwirth, Executive Director, The Watershed Research and Training Center
• Mr. Joshua Bar-Lev, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Bright Source Energy
• Mr. Will Lutgen, Jr., Executive Director, Northwest Public Power Association

The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Water and Power, led by Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), will meet in an open markup session of the following bills: H.R. 487 (Herseth), “Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Amendments Act of 2007,” to amend the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Act to provide compensation to members of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for damage resulting from the Oahe Dam and Reservoir Project, and for other purposes. H.R. 1114 (Young), “Alaska Water Resources Act of 2007,” to require the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey, to conduct a study on groundwater resources in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes. H.R. 1140 (Calvert), “South Orange County Recycled Water Enhancement Act,” to authorize the Secretary, in cooperation with the City of San Juan Capistrano, California, to participate in the design, planning, and construction of an advanced water treatment plant facility and recycled water system, and for other purposes. H.R. 1337 (Cole), To provide for a feasibility study of alternatives to augment the water supplies of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District and cities served by the District. H.R. 1662 (Napolitano), To amend the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to authorize improvements for the security of dams and other facilities.

Action: The Subcommittee on Water and Power met in open markup session on Thursday, April 19, 2007, and considered the following bills: H.R. 487 (Herseth) To amend the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Act to provide compensation to members of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for damage resulting from the Oahe Dam and Reservoir Project, and for other purposes, the “Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Amendments Act of 2007.”

Forwarded to Full Committee by unanimous consent.

H.R. 1114 (Young) To require the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey, to conduct a study on groundwater resources in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes, the “Alaska Water Resources Act of 2007.”

Forwarded to Full Committee by unanimous consent.

H.R. 1140 (Calvert) To authorize the Secretary, in cooperation with the City of San Juan Capistrano, California, to participate in the design, planning, and construction of an advanced water treatment plant facility and recycled water system, and for other purposes, the “South Orange County Recycled Water Enhancement Act.”

Forwarded to Full Committee by unanimous consent.

H.R. 1337 (Cole) To provide for a feasibility study of alternatives to augment the water supplies of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District and cities served by the District.

Forwarded to Full Committee by unanimous consent.

H.R. 1662 (Napolitano) To amend the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to authorize improvements for the security of dams and other facilities.

Forwarded to Full Committee by unanimous consent.