Although the Senate defeated efforts to add the energy tax title developed by the Finance Committee to the recently passed energy bill, H.R. 6, most observers believe that Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) will try to resurrect the measure. At this point, it is not clear whether the finance leaders will try to bring a new, stand-alone energy tax bill to the Senate floor, add the tax title to another bill pending before the Senate, or try to attach it to whatever energy bill the House approves.
With this in mind, Morgan Meguire met last week with offices Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and John Kerry (D-MA), both members of the Finance Committee, to ask for assistance to modify the CREB provisions in the tax title. Proposed modifications include:
- Modifying the definition of "governmental issuers" to create a separate "pot" of CREB financing for "public power providers with an obligation to serve";
- Revising the allocation methodogy to mirror a proposal endorsed by APPA and LPPC; and
- Striking the inclusion of "transmission" infrastructure as an eligible project for CREB financing.
Morgan Meguire, APPA and LPPC representatives will be meeting (7/12) with Finance Committee staff to discuss the need for these modifications as well.