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Senators to begin work on energy measure:
Senate to begin work on measure seeking efficiency in everything from cars to dishwashers
Jun 9 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - David Ivanovich Houston Chronicle With consumers continuing to grumble about high gasoline prices, the Senate plans to take up an energy conservation package next week that would force automakers to churn out more fuel-efficient cars and require motorists to use more renewable fuels. "Poll after poll shows that after Iraq, energy is at the top of Americans' concerns," noted Bill Wicker, a spokeman for Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. "There's a tremendous hunger out there to get something done on energy policy." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., cobbled the package together using bills from a number of committees. The Senate Finance Committee is still working on a series of tax provisions that could be added to the bill, while individual senators have a host of amendments they would like to attach. A vote on the bill is expected by the full Senate before the end of the month. Over in the House, the debate over energy legislation has been marked by infighting among Democrats, with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich., at odds with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over a proposal to block California and 11 other states from enforcing tougher rules limiting tailpipe emissions. House Democrats had hoped to have their bill on the floor before the Fourth of July, but now Capitol Hill watchers don't expect the House to vote on its energy package until later in July. The centerpiece of Reid's proposal would require that new cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. average a fuel mileage rating of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, up by about 10 miles per gallon, or about 40 percent, from current levels. Then between 2021 and 2030, the fuel mileage standards would rise 4 percent per year. If implemented, those fuel economy standards would reduce the U.S. thirst for oil by about 1.3 million barrels a day by 2020, said Eli Hopson, with the Union of Concerned Scientists, an environmental group. That would represent a 5 percent reduction from the federal government's projection for petroleum demand by that time. The legislation would allow regulators to suspend the tougher fuel mileage requirements if they were deemed not technologically achievable or would "materially" reduce overall safety. Detroit has long warned against imposing such tough fuel mileage requirements, but auto industry executives in town this week acknowledged that some kind of increase is likely. The bill also would require Americans use 36 billion gallons worth of renewable fuels such as ethanol by 2022. That's an ambitious goal. Americans consume 6.3 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol annually, according to the Renewable Fuels Association, along with about 250 million gallons of biodiesel made from vegetable oil, the National Biodiesel Board reports. Proposals to mandate greater use of ethanol have always been popular on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers from farming states try to give a hand to constituents. But the Senate proposal would also try to force technological innovation by requiring that 21 billion gallons of the new, renewable fuels come from "advanced biofuels," such as "cellulosic" ethanol made from switch grass and corn stalks. In response to the loud public outcry over the rise in gas prices, the bill would prohibit price gouging at the pump if the president were to declare a national energy emergency. Under the bill, lawmakers also would tinker with the standards for some consumer products -- mandating the energy efficiency of light bulbs, for example, and limiting the amount of water standard dishwashers could use to 6.5 gallons per wash cycle. While many of the bill's provisions have broad support in the Senate, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called it "seriously flawed." "It laudably seeks to improve our energy efficiency and encourage alternative sources," Cornyn said. "But, it does little to address some of the most current and pressing needs, like increasing our domestic supply of energy. It would also impose federal mandates that overreach, cannot be met, and will cost American businesses and consumers billions of dollars." To subscribe or visit go to: http://www.chron.com |