Climate science, policy, politics, and action
The Committee on Rules is expected to meet Thursday, August 2, 2007 to grant a rule which may structure the amendment process for floor consideration of H.R. 2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007, and H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act.
Any Member wishing to offer an amendment to H.R. 3221 must do so by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, August 1, 2007.
At 10:30 am on Thursday, August 2, in the hearing room of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (Dirksen 406), Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and John Warner (R-VA), the Chairman and Ranking Republican, respectively, of the Senate Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection, will unveil the particulars of the agreement that they have reached on economy-wide climate legislation. This agreement synthesizes ideas contained in other climate change proposals while also incorporating new thinking. It will form the basis of a bill that the two Senators will introduce when the Senate reconvenes in September.
H.R. 1534, the “Mercury Export Ban Act of 2007”.
Recent advances in clean coal technology, including the prospects for deploying these technologies at a commercial scale in the near future.
Witnesses
The Subcommittee on Energy will receive testimony on how to improve our renewable fuels infrastructure to accommodate the increasing volumes of renewable fuels in the transportation sector.
Witnesses
2:44 PM Klobuchar Ethanol and biodiesel are near and dear to Minnesota, but I believe this is also an issue of national security. I’m glad the energy bill requires auto manufacturers to have 50% of their vehicles be flexfuel by 2015. Minnesota ranks first in E85 infrastructure.
2:56 PM Karsner An E85 infrastructure should be a goal but not an exclusive goal. We see no technical reason why flexfuel vehicles cannot be more ubiquitous across all markets.
Dorgan Do you think the marketplace will solve this problem?
Karsner I think the question is whether we have the proper stimulus.
Dorgan I’ve talked about the gas company impediments.
Karsner I had lunch with Gov. Pataki. On a state by state basis those issues are being addressed. On E85 we have a need to address it.
Dorgan Franchises are barred from listing E85 on their signs.
Karsner I can’t speak for the position of the franchise owner, but the New York model may be something we need to examine.
Dorgan Conoco Phillips will not allow sales on the primary island. Should we just wait for the states to deal with it?
Karsner The New York example has been tested. I’m not an expert on contract law. Is it an impediment? Obviously, yes.
Dorgan When we see this kind of restraint on the sale of E85, should we act, or say so be it?
Karsner Something needs to be done. Some policy stimulus. I don’t start with the premise that the oil companies are necessarily an adversary to the outcome.
Dorgan It appears to me their actions are adversarial to the sale of E85.
Karsner Were I a franchisee I likely would see it that way.
Dorgan What about as a policy maker? Keep it off the main island, don’t allow credit cards, don’t allow advertising.
Karsner I understand your meaning. Fundamentally you have a conflict between the national imperatives and the law. The problem is that this is private contract which both parties have joined freely with.
Dorgan You seem to suggest the intermediate blends might get faster adoption.
Karsner Intermediate blends goes as low as anything above E10. All pumps are certified for E15. In theory you could aggressively pursue E85 and E15 at the same time.
Dorgan Our goal is 36 billion gallons. If we don’t market it, we won’t get there.
3:22 PM Under questioning from Tester: Karsner It may be that the oil companies’ agreements are not aligned with the national security imperative.
Tester There’s a lot of misinformation out there about ethanol. Is there action on the part of the DOE to solve that problem?
Karsner It’s not a one-time story.
Business meeting to consider
the nominations of
S.1785 requires the EPA to make a decision on the California waiver by September 30. It passed out of committee by a party-line 10-9 vote.
S.300, to authorize appropriations for the Bureau of Reclamation to carry out the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program in the States of Arizona, California, and Nevada, S.1258, to amend the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 to authorize improvements for the security of dams and other facilities, S.1477, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the Jackson Gulch rehabilitation project in the State of Colorado, S.1522, to amend the Bonneville Power Administration portions of the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2014, and H.R.1025, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a studyto determine the feasibility of implementing a water supply and conservation project to improve water supply reliability, increase the capacity of water storage, and improve water management efficiency in the Republican River Basin between Harlan County Lake in Nebraska and Milford Lake in Kansas