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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:July 27, 2005

News and Events Michigan Takes Narrow Lead in North American Solar Challenge Illinois Adopts Requirements for Efficiency, Renewable Energy Massachusetts Joins Effort to Build “Green” Affordable Housing Subway Station in Coney Island Features Integrated Solar Roof Wal-Mart “Experimental Store” Uses Efficiency, Solar, and Wind Wind Power Benefits Port in Duluth, Minnesota Site NewsHydrogen Pathways Program at UC Davis News and EventsMichigan Takes Narrow Lead in North American Solar ChallengeThe University of Michigan holds a narrow lead over the University of Minnesota and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as today’s much-anticipated final stage of the North American Solar Challenge gets underway. The 2,500-mile solar car race started on July 17th in Austin, Texas, and will end today in Calgary, Alberta. Eighteen solar cars remain in the race, which is sponsored by DOE, DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Natural Resources Canada. According to DOE’s Richard King, the race has highlighted all aspects of solar racing: early in the race, rainy weather challenged teams on several days; on some sunny days, the only thing holding back the leaders was the speed limit; on Sunday, a strong head wind favored the most aerodynamic cars; and on Monday (and Tuesday, for some teams) the […]

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House-Senate Conferees Complete Energy Bill

The House-Senate conference committee today approved the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R. 6). The action clears the way for final passage this week and will satisfy President Bush’s ambitious goal of completing a comprehensive energy bill this month. H.R. 6 is expected to easily win a bipartisan majority in the House and the Senate, sending the bill to the White House. The conference committee met five times in sessions open to the media and the general public. In addition, the main four conferees, Barton, U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., and U.S. Sens. Domenici and Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., met 11 times altogether. The renewable energy portfolio standards and measures to increase vehicle petroleum efficiency did not make it into the bill. Drilling in the Arctic National Refuge was also dropped by the conference committee!! Specifically the bill: * Encourages more domestic production of oil with incentives such as a streamlined permit process; promote greater refining capacity to bring more oil to market; and includes measures to stop the proliferation of regional boutique fuels. To scale back demand for oil, the proposal encourages vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells and increases funding for Department of Transportation work to improve fuel-efficiency standards. […]

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U.S. Senator Hatch Scores Big Win in Energy Tax Conference

After four bruising days of intense negotiations, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) secured a number of provisions in the House-Senate conference report on energy tax legislation that will make a significant impact on Utahns’ energy concerns. Hatch was one of the three Senate conferees to negotiate the tax provisions of the comprehensive energy bill that were completed early this morning. “We’re providing good incentives that hit right at the heart of our energy problems ? lack of refining capacity and the need for more alternative sources of energy,” Hatch said. “Utah has vast and largely untapped alternative and renewable fuel resources, and the hybrid provisions will go a long way in increasing the number of high-milage, environmentally friendly cars on Utah’s highways.” The compromise House-Senate energy tax bill includes the following Hatch-sponsored provisions: ? Clean Efficient Vehicles Resulting from Advanced Car Technologies (CLEAR ACT, S. 971): The CLEAR ACT provides tax incentives to consumers who purchase alternative-fuel and hybrid-electric vehicles, tax incentives at the pump for the purchase of alternative transportation fuels, and tax incentives for the purchase and installation of alternative fueling equipment. ? Gas Price Reduction Through Increased Refining Capacity Act (S. 1039): This provision would provide for […]

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Energy Bill: Curbs on Fossil Fuel Consumption Killed

Working furiously to try to strike a deal on broad energy legislation, congressional negotiators Monday killed two major provisions intended to curb consumption of traditional fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal. House members rejected an effort to incorporate a plan passed by the Senate to require utilities to use more renewable energy such as wind and solar power to generate electricity. They also defeated a bid to direct the president to find ways to cut the nation’s appetite for oil by a million barrels a day. Backers of the initiative to identify the oil savings said it was an alternative to the politically difficult approach of increasing automotive gas mileage standards and would demonstrate that Congress was serious about cutting the nation’s dependence on oil imports. “We are having an energy bill that is doing so much on the supply side that we need to address the demand side,” said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, who said the goal was the “bare minimum of what we ought to be doing.” But Republican opponents of the plan said the fuel savings target could lead to unpopular restrictions such as mandatory carpools and put too much responsibility for achieving the […]

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Energy Bill – A Waste of Energy

Natural Resources Defense Council, by Karen Wayland, July 26, 2005 With the House-Senate Conference Committee reporting out comprehensive energy legislation, environmentalists are left wondering, “What’s the point of an energy bill that doesn’t save energy?” The following is a statement by Karen Wayland, legislative director for Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): “Congress has failed to deliver a responsible energy policy that moves America towards energy independence and energy security while providing affordable energy and a clean environment. By every measure, the energy bill put forth by this Congress turned out to be not just a missed opportunity but a huge waste of energy. In fact, clearly nothing good can come from this bill, so why the rush? We urge Congress to quit while it’s behind and put the brakes on what really is an energy bill in name only. “Everyone agrees that the energy bill must reduce America’s growing dependence on oil and lower energy prices for consumers. Most also believe that we should invest aggressively in U.S. technologies to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy sources that can create jobs. And reducing global warming pollution is of paramount importance. To this we would add that any energy bill must […]

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