February 2010 Archives

A draft bill crafted by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and circulated around the Hill last week proposes a national "clean energy" production mandate that would include not only renewables but also nuclear energy and "clean" coal. Graham's plan is more robust than similar provisions included in legislation last year (the Senate Energy and Natural Resources energy-only bill and the Waxman-Markey climate bill). For example, the Graham draft includes traditional energy sources and would require that electric power companies shift more rapidly to clean energy.

Should Congress embrace a "clean energy" standard that includes cleaner forms of traditional energies, like nuclear and coal-fired plants that employ carbon, capture and storage technology? Or should such a standard be reserved for renewables, such as wind and solar? If his proposal were incorporated into a larger package, could it attract other Republicans? Would it lose Democrats?

11 responses: Marvin Fertel, Frank M. Stewart, Donna Harman, David Parker, William O'Keefe, Jack Gerard, Richard Revesz, Thomas J. Pyle, Marlo Lewis, Skip Horvath, Bill Snape

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently added climate change risks to the list of things public companies must disclose to investors. And the Defense Department included for the first time climate change in its Quadrennial Defense Review (as did the Homeland Security Department in its first QDR).

Does it make sense for these agencies and departments to consider the risks of climate change? What are the potential advantages and disadvantages? Do these announcements help further comprehensive climate change legislation?

13 responses: Christine Parthemore, Carl Pope, Robert J. Shapiro, Marlo Lewis, Amy Harder, Kevin Knobloch, Paul Sullivan, Mindy Lubber, Mark A. Cohen, Bob Bendick, Graciela Chichilnisky, Amy Harder, William O'Keefe

How can renewable energy keep up the momentum?

In the last year, renewables have been booming, according to recent reports. But due to the recession, electricity demand isn't increasing as much as anticipated, and experts say that could translate into lower demand for all new sources of electricity, including renewables. On top of that, President Obama recently told Democrats that "we're not going to be able to ramp up solar and wind to suddenly replace every other energy source anytime soon, and the economy still needs to grow. So we've got to look at how to make existing technologies and options better." And in his State of the Union address, Obama threw his weight behind nuclear energy and offshore drilling.

For the immediate future, how can renewable sources of electricity position themselves to become the top energy source? How should Congress balance emerging technologies with existing ones? Is it wise for Obama to pour resources into adapting traditional technologies, like clean coal, or should he focus more on wind, solar and other renewable sources of energy?

17 responses: David Parker, Rhone Resch, Donna Harman, Bill Meadows, Graciela Chichilnisky, Alan Oxley, Thomas J. Pyle, Jan Mueller, Bill Snape, Amy Harder, Amy Harder, Paul Sullivan, Denise Bode, Gary Fazzino, Margo Thorning, William O'Keefe, Lewis Hay

Nuclear power and renewable energy won out over the fossil fuel industries in the administration's FY2011 budget proposal. The Energy Department plan would triple nuclear loan guarantee funding, yank its application to store nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain, and cut tax subsidies for the oil and natural gas industries. DOE would allocate $11 billion of its $28.4 billion budget to nuclear security, an increase of 14 percent. It also would dedicate between $4 billion and $5 billion to clean energy projects. Unlike last year, the budget doesn't include a specific estimate for revenue from a market-based climate change bill.

What's the likely impact of this year's budget proposal? Will the additional money for nuclear loans -- which Energy Secretary Steven Chu said could fund up to 10 reactors -- finally usher in the next generation of nuclear power plants? Will domestic oil and gas development be hindered? What signal is the administration sending Congress by including a placeholder for market-based climate bill revenue? Are the changes likely to withstand congressional scrutiny?

5 responses: Paul Sullivan, Marian Hopkins, William O'Keefe, Larry Schweiger, William O'Keefe