May 2009 Archives

Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed historic legislation that would control U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, attempt to put the brakes on global warming and promote green energy technologies. But the committee vote is just the first step in getting climate change legislation to the president's desk. The measure is expected to get close scrutiny in the House Agriculture Committee, where Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., has been critical of the legislation. It also awaits review by Ways and Means Committee members, some of whom would prefer a carbon tax instead of a cap-and-trade program.

What are the most daunting hurdles standing between the legislation and House approval? How likely is the bill to clear them?

14 responses: Mark Muro, David Parker, John Larsen, Larry Schweiger, Margaret Kriz, Denise Bode, Jack Gerard, Chuck Gray, Paul Sullivan, Margaret Kriz, Kateri Callahan, Tom Kuhn, Paul Sullivan, Cal Dooley

Editor's Note: This week, Texas oil and gas executive T. Boone Pickens is providing the question and joining in the discussion.

Recent news reports highlight the national security threat posed by our escalating dependence on foreign oil. A lot of our oil comes from nations that aren't friendly to us, and we live in a world where nations aren't afraid of using energy as a weapon, or where we don't have guaranteed supply. Russia cut off natural gas supplies to much of Europe last winter to force Ukraine to make concessions. And a recent AP piece leads: "A Kremlin policy paper says international relations will be shaped by battles over energy resources, which may trigger military conflicts on Russia's borders." China's entered supply deals with Brazil, Venezuela, Russia and Iran, and it's negotiating with Kuwait.

Is our continued -- and growing -- dependence on foreign oil an issue the Congress should address in its energy legislation? If so, how?

16 responses: Marvin Odum, T. Boone Pickens, Paul Sullivan, T. Boone Pickens, Bill Johnson, Margaret Kriz, Skip Horvath, Paul Sullivan, T. Boone Pickens, Margaret Kriz, Paul Sullivan, Carl Pope, Thomas J. Pyle, T. Boone Pickens, Paul Sullivan, Barry Russell

A cross-section of Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are backing legislation that would require U.S. electric companies to generate 15 percent of their power from renewable sources of energy and to demonstrate annual electricity savings of 5 percent by 2020. The provision includes an out for states that can't meet the mandate: Governors would have the option of reducing the renewable mandate to 12 percent and increasing the efficiency requirement to 8 percent.

House backers of the renewable electricity standard include committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif.; Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey, D-Mass.; and moderate Reps. John Dingell, D-Mich., and John Boucher, D-Va.

Does the proposal go far enough to promote the use of renewable electricity? Would all states reasonably be expected to meet the 15 percent renewable mandate? How would it affect the electricity industry? Will it create winners and losers? Is there a better way to push for more renewable electricity?

6 responses: Donna Harman, Thomas J. Pyle, Larry Schweiger, Denise Bode, Jon A. Anda, David Kreutzer

Should Congress create a new independent agency to pass out cash for clean energy investments?

The Energy Department has dragged its heels in handing out billions of dollars in congressionally mandated loans and loan guarantees for renewable and clean technology projects. Now the House and Senate are considering legislation setting up a new Clean Energy Deployment Administration within the Energy Department to speed money to environmentally friendly energy technologies.

Is it a good idea, or will the new agency just mean more red tape? What are the potential pros and cons? Should nuclear power, clean coal technology and other traditional energy sources be included in the program?

6 responses: David Kreutzer, Paul Dickerson, Marvin Fertel, Carl Pope, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., Jon A. Anda

The federal government is funneling billions of dollars into renewable energy projects. When evaluating those investments, should the main criterion be the number of jobs "created" by the project? What other standards should be used to evaluate those projects? Is the Obama Administration focusing too much of its attention on renewable energy projects, to the exclusion of traditional sources of energy?

13 responses: Marvin Odum, David Parker, Margo Thorning, Thomas J. Pyle, Kevin Knobloch, Bill Meadows, Skip Horvath, Bill Kovacs, Paul Portney, Margaret Kriz, David Kreutzer, Marvin Fertel, Jack Gerard