Representatives offered a resounding yes ù twice ù to two House bills aimed at streamlining energy storage and efficiency.

One bill passed by the full House on a voice vote Monday focuses on energy-storage technologies and the other enhances industrial energy efficiency research and development. Both had passed the Science and Technology Committee and the Energy and Environment Subcommittee earlier in October. The Senate has not yet acted on either bill.

Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., who chairs the science committee, wrote what’s called the Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act of 2007. It authorizes $780 million to improve energy storage for electrical grids and hybrid- and electric-vehicle batteries. Funding would be allotted to the Energy Department between 2009 and 2014.

The idea behind the bill is to bump up diversified electricity sources such as wind and solar, and reduce the country’s carbon footprint and dependence on foreign oil by making more reliable and longer-lasting batteries.

Rep., Nick Lampson, D-Texas, who chairs the subcommittee, wrote the other bill. What’s called the Industrial Energy Efficiency Research and Development Act of 2007 authorizes $750 million to the Energy Department between 2009 and 2013.

The Energy Department’s Industrial Technologies Program would collaborate with universities and energy-intensive industries ù aluminum, chemicals, forest products, glass, metal casting, mining, petroleum refining and steel among them ù to improve efficiency and explore alternative sources for heat and power.

Lampson’s legislation was prompted by recent cuts in the Industrial Technologies Program’s budget. Funding for fiscal year 2007 was $45.6 million, about a quarter of the $175 million devoted to the program in fiscal year 2000, according to subcommittee figures.

To subscribe or visit go to:  http://www.wastenews.com