The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (SENRC) passed an energy bill with a 15-8 vote. The bill is a sweeping reform in energy policy with the intent to move the nations energy policy forward.
Chairman Bingaman, democrat from New Mexico, labeled the bill a compromise amongst all committee members. He went on to say that no member got everything they wanted and no member was completely excluded from having something they wanted in the bill.
The bills provisions impose a national standard for renewable electricity, impact clean energy through federal financing of projects, set standard measurements for efficiency, allow for more gas and oil leasing off the eastern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and implement new mandates for electricity transmission power siting at the federal level. Provisions for cybersecurity, the creation of a strategic reserve for refined products, increased work force training for energy agencies, setting of liability protection for participants of the Energy Department sponsored carbon sequestration project.
The bill is not expected to pass the Senate floor without further debate. Senator Nelson, democrat from Florida has stated there will be a battle against a portion of the bill added last week. The provision would bring oil and gas drilling platforms closer to the coast of Florida. In 2006 a deal was struct that provided for a radius of up to 235 miles of no drill zone around Florida's coast through the year 2022.
Senator Durban, democrat from Illinois has said that the party leadership has not yet taken a stance on the drilling buffer being proposed of 45 miles.
Other expected debates include renewable electricity standard (RES). Environmental groups are calling for increased goals.
The bill will require that utility companies demonstrate that 15% of their power come from renewable resources such as solar or wind by 2021. A portion of the measure can be met through energy savings. Environmentalists would like to see the goal be set at 25% by 2025.
The changes are meeting with mixed support and there is a delicate balance. Some are calling for increased presence of nuclear energy in the bill.
Written on Wednesday, 17 June 2009 18:19 by
Glenn Pearston
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