As the Senate debated and concluded action on its bill, a House committees continued their work on two more energy bills -- which are expected to be combined into one comprehensive bill and considered on the House floor shortly after the July 4 recess. House Ways and Means Reports Tax Title
On June 20, the House Ways and Means Committee, largely along party lines with only one Republican (Jim Ramstad (R-MN) on board, approved HR 2776, the "Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007."
The energy tax title included an extension of the Clean Renewable Energy Bond (CREB) program with a $2 billion cap ($1.2B for public power). It also included a number of technical modifications designed to make the CREB program work more efficiently, such as a definition of public power utilities "with an obligation to serve," as well as allocation methodology that is "pro rata" based on the projects size.
In addition, the energy tax title included a five-year extension of the production tax credit (PTC) for renewable resources, and incentives for conservation, energy efficiency, alternative fuels, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, among other things.
House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee Reports Energy Title
Also on June 20, Chairman of the House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee Rick Boucher (D-VA) reported a series of draft bills addressing energy efficiency; loan guarantees; renewable fuel infrastructure; and plug-in hybrid technologies, among other things. A number of the more controversial topics, such as coal-to-liquids (CTL), alternative fuels, and fuel economy standards were eliminated from the Boucher draft bills. He said he would address these issues when climate change legislation is advanced later in the 110th Congress.
The Subcommittee markup lasted 13 hours and foreshadowed the difficult task ahead for the Democrats trying to craft broader climate change legislation. For example, although the CTL amendment was defeated, it was evident that Speaker Pelosi, who opposes CTL plants, may have to compromise with Democrats like Boucher, who represents a district rich in coal. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the full Energy and Commerce Committee, said that he would work with Barton to include CTL in a larger energy bill, to be considered this fall.
Chairman Dingell has scheduled a markup on the subcommittee reported bill for Wednesday, June 27. It is anticipated to be contentions, with many partisan amendments being considered.