Climate science, policy, politics, and action
The Subcommittee will examine the underground injection of carbon dioxide as a method for increasing production from domestic oil and gas fields while decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere.
Witnesses:
Panel 1
Panel 2
From E&E News:
A major 2007 report by the National Petroleum Council - an advisory body to DOE - also touted the potential of the technique as a way to help slow declines in U.S. oil production and address climate change. The report called for streamlining regulations and expedited permitting of enhanced recovery projects, pipelines and related infrastructure.
The report notes that the oil industry is already using naturally occuring CO2 for enhanced recovery projects without trying to store the CO2 underground permanently. The technology could be modified with “relative ease” to emphasize storage, the report said, adding that industrial sources of CO2 can also be used.
Enhanced oil recovery would likely only provide a small fraction of the capacity needed for CO2 sequestration, “it does offer a strong technology bridge to carbon sequestration technologies and should be encouraged as an important element of a CCS [carbon capture and storage] strategy,” the report noted.
But not everyone sees using CO2 for enhanced oil recovery as a promising way to help fight global warming. Joseph Romm, a climate expert with the liberal Center for American Progress, says it is a bad idea because the gains of storing the carbon are negated through the refining and burning of the recovered oil.
From E&E News:
For the Interior and Environment bill, the subcommittee will likely make up for what it considers to be major shortfalls in the president’s proposed budget for basic programs for the sake of administration pet projects.
The Bush administration’s $10.7 billion fiscal 2009 budget proposal for the Interior Department represents a slight decrease from last year’s budget and shifts funding from some standard functions like construction and range improvement for specific department initiatives such as the National Park Service’s Centennial Challenge.
Subcommittee Chairman Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) has said his priorities are to increase funding for wildlife refuges and national parks. He plans to increase allocation levels for wildlife refuges, even beyond the boost he gave refuges last year.
Congress gave a $39 million boost to refuges last year, in light of a funding crisis that threatened to downscale refuge programs and lay off staff. Dicks’ spending panel had proposed even more, but the number was lowered in negotiations with the Senate.
Wildfire funding could also see a major boost following months of criticism from Dicks and other members of the subcommittee over what they believe is a lopsided budget for addressing wildfires.
Forest Service fire suppression efforts would get a $148 million increase – to just under $1 billion – under the plan, a total based on the 10-year average of fire suppression costs.
The suppression figure is unlikely to change, but Dicks and others on the committee have slammed other aspects of the Forest Service proposal, claiming it puts too much emphasis on suppression and not enough on preventive measures like fuels reduction. The Bush administration budget proposal would provide $297 million for projects to reduce hazardous fuels, down from $310 million in fiscal 2008.
The subcommittee may also consider an effort by Rep. John Peterson (R-Pa.) to open up part of the outer continental shelf to oil and gas drilling.
The House Natural Resources Committee, led by Chairman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), will meet in open markup session to mark up the following bills:
Witnesses
The bill provides incentives to lenders and financial institutions to provide lower interest loans and other benefits to consumers, who build, buy or remodel their homes and businesses to improve their energy efficiency. This timely legislation reflects the input of a broad coalition of housing advocates, financial institutions, government leaders, developers, and the environmental community.
Witnesses
Panel One
Panel Two
As prices at the pump reach record levels on a daily basis, many consumers and analysts are asking the same questions: How bad could prices get? And what policies are needed to address America’s oil crisis?
On Wednesday, June 11, Chairman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will examine the long term prognosis for oil’s global supply and demand, and what solutions could be implemented to reduce demand and decrease prices.
A barrel of oil reached a new record price on Friday, and many analysts are saying $200 oil is a potentially imminent threat. Yet our own government energy analysts are saying oil could slide back to $50 a barrel, and supplies could increase, even as the private sector disagrees. The Select Committee will discuss this disconnect, as well as the global warming concerns of non-traditional oil retrieval methods like oil shale and oil sands.
Witnesses
In light of recent reports by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Research Council on the problems associated with the disposal of coal combustion waste, the Subcommittee will examine the appropriate role of the federal government in assuring the safe disposal of coal combustion waste.
Witnesses
Panel 1
Panel 2
The Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 3044, a bill to provide energy price relief and hold oil companies and other entities accountable for their actions with regard to high energy prices, and for other purposes; provided, that there be one hour for debate prior to the cloture vote, equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees, with the final 20 minutes equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees, with the Majority Leader controlling the final 10 minutes prior to the cloture vote on the motion to proceed.
In addition, cloture has been filed on H.R. 6049, an act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes.