HR 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act, passed at 5:40 PM by a vote of 241-172. 26 Republicans voted in favor of the bill and 9 Democrats against.
At 4:39 PM the Udall renewable energy standard (RES) amendment passed 220-190. 32 Republicans voted for the provision and 38 Democrats against.
At 8:16 PM, HR 2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act, was passed by a vote of 221-189. 9 Republicans voted in favor and 11 Democrats against. The bill was subsequently attached to HR 3221 and the combined bill will go into conference with the Senate.
Among the provisions included in the energy package are three bills authored by House Science Committee Chairman Gordon. Those are:
- H.R. 364, Establishing the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), which would create a new agency charged with reducing US dependence on oil through the rapid development and commercialization of transformational clean energy technologies
- H.R. 1267, which would direct the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a national assessment of our country’s potential capacity for the sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2); and
- H.R. 2083, which would raise the energy efficiency standards for home appliances, such as refrigerators and clothes washers.
HR 3221 also includes a provision to manage data on global climate change that was introduced by Space & Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Mark Udall (D-CO). The measure would provide federal, state, regional and local user groups better access to climate change information when making decisions to cope with or mitigate climate change impacts.
Mr. Udall also contributed a section to enhance carbon dioxide capture and storage. The measure authorizes large-scale demonstrations of both CO2 capture technologies and sequestration.
Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) led the effort to authorize the research and development of technologies to locate and develop geothermal energy resources. The measure would greatly expand R&D and demonstration for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) – an emerging resource where geothermal reservoirs are engineered and which could significantly expand the use of geothermal energy across the country.
The energy bill also included a provision to support R&D of technologies to produce electric power from ocean waves. Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-OR) introduced the measure which supports the study of marine renewable technologies in order to bring them to commercial readiness and establishes a research center for information and outreach on the issue.
Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Nick Lampson (D-TX) authored a provision to significantly expand authorized funding levels for biofuels research and development. The measure also supports research into biofuels infrastructure needs and the efficiency of biorefineries.
Finally, a solar power R&D measure authored by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was also included in the package. This measure aims to improve technologies to store solar power and studies the steps necessary to integrate concentrate solar plants (CSP) into the national electric grid.