Bush Re-nominates Kelliher to Chair FERC
On March 7th, President Bush re-nominated Joe Kelliher for a second term as Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Kelliher's term on the Commission expires on June 30, 2007. Kelliher issued a statement that said, "I am deeply honored that President Bush has announced his intent to re-nominate me for a second term at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. This expression of confidence is humbling, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue in public service to my Country."
Kelliher will now have to be re-confirmed by the Senate. A hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee is expected to be scheduled in the Spring. Kelliher was orginally sworn in at FERC in 2003 and asended to the Charimanship position on July 9th, 2005.
White House Meets with "Big Four" to Discuss Energy
On February 27, President Bush met with key House and Senate Members to discuss ways to craft new energy legislation. The goal of the meeting was to start a dialogue on energy matters with the "Big Four," which includes the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate Energy and Resources and House Energy and Commerce Committees. Though the Administration does not have a set timeframe for action, a chief White House priority is to implement a 35 billion gallon renewable fuel standard.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) expects to have some energy legislation to his panel within a few weeks. Bingaman noted that he wants to establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), but he will not link the RPS to a carbon cap-and-trade plan in the same bill. Instead, plans for cap-and-trade will be included in a standalone bill. Bingaman's spokesman said that royalty relief, biofuels, the RPS, energy efficiency and climate change are all possible topics for stand alone bills.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said the House will act on similar legislation in June.
Dingell Seeks Climate Change Input from Industry
On February 27, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA) sent a letter addressed "Dear INDUSTRY" seeking guidance from 24 association and industry leaders, including APPA, on climate change. The two asked for responses by March 19, 2007. A similar letter was also sent to environmental and other interested organizations.
Legislation Introduced to Launch Sequestration Inventory
On March 1, Sens. Ken Salazar (D-CO), Jim Webb (D-VA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Jim Bunning (R-KY) and Jeff Bingaman introduced the National Carbon Dioxide Storage Capacity Assessment Act of 2007 (S. 731) that would mandate a U.S. inventory on the potential for underground storage of greenhouse gas. A companion bill (H.R. 1267) was introduced by House Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN),.
Scientists and regulators need to prove carbon sequestration technology can be implemented "safely and effectively," Salazar said. "We must know that the scientific data is uniform and reliable for our nation to be able to use it with confidence."
Both bills instruct the U.S. Geologic Survey, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the EPA with calculating storage capacity in all 50 states, as well as estimate potential volumes of oil and gas that could be recovered after carbon injections. Federal agencies also would determine the risk tied to carbon sequestration.
Yucca Mountain: DOE Works on Repository Fix
On March 7, the DOE plans to re-submit legislation to Congress aimed at boosting efforts to build the troubled Yucca Mountain high-level nuclear waste repository. The legislation would change the budgeting process for the Nuclear Waste Fund, eliminate the current 70,000 metric ton limit, and provide permanent land withdrawals, among other things. While there is strong bipartisan support in both chambers for the Yucca program, any bill faces immediate and substantial hurdles -- starting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) fierce opposition to the project. The metric ton limit is a key issue.
Next year, DOE is expected to report to Congress on the need for a second national repository, and thus the need to lift the 70,000-ton limit. DOE also provided Congress with estimates of the government's growing liability due to its failure to take nuclear waste off the nuclear utilities' hands by the original 1998 opening date for the repository. He said the $7 billion in liability grows by another $500 million each year the repository opening is delayed.
The most recent goal would be to open the Yucca Mountain High-level nuclear waste repository by 2017.