Hill Heat

The Committee will explore the importance of basic research to U.S. competitiveness. The hearing will examine research and development budgets at agencies in the Committee’s jurisdiction, particularly the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as interagency science programs addressing climate change, nanotechnology, and information technology.

Witnesses

• C.H. “Bud” Albright Jr., Under Secretary of Energy
• Alexander Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• James Slutz, Acting Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy
• Kevin Kolevar, Director, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability

The Subcommittee will review recommendations from policy experts, the Government Accountability Office and the Inspector General’s office for improving the Federal oil and gas royalty system in light of the recent report to the Minerals Management Service’s Royalty Policy Committee entitled “Mineral Revenue Collection from Federal and Indian Lands and the Outer Continental Shelf.”

Witnesses

Panel 1

• Mr. Earl Devaney, Inspector General, Department of the Interior
• Mr. David Deal, Vice Chair, Royalty Policy Committee, Department of the Interior
• Mr. Frank Rusco, Acting Director, Natural Resources and Environment, General Accounting Office

Panel 2

• Hon. C. Stephen Allred, Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior
• Mr. Randall Luthi, Director, Minerals Management Service
• Mr. Larry Finfer, Deputy Director, Office of Policy Analysis, Department of the Interior
• Ms. Linda Stiff, Acting Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service
• Mr. Dennis Roller, Royalty Audit Section Manager, Office of the State Auditor, North Dakota

On March 10, 2008, The Ecological Society of America will host a one-day conference on the Ecological Dimensions of Biofuels. 500 attendees will have the opportunity to hear invited presentations by leading scientists on:

• sustainable development and use of biofuels;
• social, biogeographic, land use, and biodiversity considerations; and,
• ecological dimensions of alternatives for crop selection and production, harvest and transport of product to refinery, and refining of liquid fuels and other co-products.

A keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Jose Goldemberg, Co-President of the Global Energy Assessment (GEA) Council and Professor at the Universidade de Sao Paulo. Goldemberg recently served as Secretary for the Environment of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and was a lead author of the World Energy Assessment.

The conference will conclude with an evening social featuring additional poster presentations and opportunities for attendees to network with presenters and others working in this important field.

Full details, including an agenda, confirmed speakers, registration information, and sponsorship opportunities, are available at http://www.esa.org/biofuels.

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

See the January 31, 2008 white paper.