As ad-hoc staff discussions of major US energy legislation continued
Friday in Congress, it emerged that another effort may be afoot to start a
formal conference process to reconcile House-passed H.R. 3221 and
Senate-passed H.R. 6.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Republican Joe Barton of
Texas said that he had asked Representative Dennis Hastert,
Republican-Illinois, to work with Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell of
Michigan to compile energy supply "principles" that Dingell could take into a
formal conference as likely chair of the House delegation.

These talks have not yet begun, but if they were successful and Dingell
agreed to carry the mantel of traditional energy supply, Barton said he would
support a formal conference.

As a Republican, Barton would be a minority member on the conference
committee. He said he saw little point in promoting a process "if you know
going in you're going to be outvoted."

A Republican staffer said that if he wished, Barton could convince Senate
Republicans who have placed a "hold" on the conference process to let it go
forward.

Republicans have long protested that both versions of 2007's energy bill
focus on curbing demand for energy, but make no attempt to increase supplies.
House GOP leaders are planning a series of hearings in the coming weeks that
will highlight their own priorities, including increased access and
utilization of coal, petroleum, and nuclear energy.

Barton said he favors an energy bill that would include coal-to-liquids
technology and expand oil production opportunities on the Outer Continental
Shelf and in Alaska.

He also sponsored his own Corporate Average Fuel Economy bill earlier in
2007, which was less stringent than the standard Dingell and others support.
Dingell supports a 32 to 35 mpg standard by 2022, which is presented as an
alternative to the Senate bill's 35-mpg by 2020 standard.

--Jean Chemnick, jean_chemnick@platts.com