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http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/5/3/131842.shtml?s=lh
Senate May Force U.S. to Go Green
NewsMax.com Wires Thursday, May 3, 2007
WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Senate may vote later this month on an
energy bill that would by 2020 require that 15 percent of U.S. electricity
be produced by renewable sources such as wind and solar.
The same bill would require 10 percent of federal power purchases to be
produced by "green" methods by 2010.
The Senate Energy Committee on Wednesday sent to the full chamber a bill
that also targets demand for gasoline - the biggest chunk of U.S. petroleum
use - by increasing fuel economy and boosting production of nonpetroleum
fuels like ethanol. For full story, double-click on
While much of the bill centers around a plan to cut gasoline consumption by
20 percent by 2017, 35 percent by 2025 and 45 percent by 2030, it also would
set goals for "green" power production and authorize $315 million to study
carbon dioxide emission storage at power plants, oil refineries and other
industrial plants.
This is the fourth time a federal "renewable portfolio standard" for
electricity production has been attempted in Congress. Three times before it
has passed the Senate, only to be felled by a Republican-controlled House of
Representatives.
The bill's major co-sponsor and chairman of the Senate energy panel, Sen.
Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat from New Mexico, is confident that, with Democrats
now controlling the House, a federal standard can be set, his spokesman said
on Wednesday.
Bingaman said he would try to modify the legislation on the Senate floor to
include a requirement that 15 percent of U.S. electricity supplies be
generated by solar, wind and other renewable energy sources by 2020.
More than 20 states have established "renewable portfolio standards"
requiring green power production. At least 12 of them are at least as
stringent as the Senate proposal, and this bill would not trump state-level
renewable power efforts.
"This is an issue where the states are ahead of the federal government,"
said Bill Wicker, spokesman for Bingaman and the Senate Energy Committee.
"There is no federal preemption of existing state renewable portfolio
standards."
Existing hydropower projects or any nuclear power plants would not be
considered renewable power, Wicker said. New output at hydropower projects
would count, he said.
Wicker said Bingaman got a letter on Tuesday signed by 50 of the chamber's
100 senators. Add the letter's recipient to the count and a Senate majority
"is on the record saying they will support it," Wicker said.
Bingaman said Democratic leaders may have the Senate take up the bill this
month. If the legislation is accepted by the Senate, it still must be
approved by the House and signed by President George W. Bush before it could
become law.
Senate May Force U.S. to Go Green
NewsMax.com Wires Thursday, May 3, 2007
WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Senate may vote later this month on an
energy bill that would by 2020 require that 15 percent of U.S. electricity
be produced by renewable sources such as wind and solar.
The same bill would require 10 percent of federal power purchases to be
produced by "green" methods by 2010.
The Senate Energy Committee on Wednesday sent to the full chamber a bill
that also targets demand for gasoline - the biggest chunk of U.S. petroleum
use - by increasing fuel economy and boosting production of nonpetroleum
fuels like ethanol. For full story, double-click on
While much of the bill centers around a plan to cut gasoline consumption by
20 percent by 2017, 35 percent by 2025 and 45 percent by 2030, it also would
set goals for "green" power production and authorize $315 million to study
carbon dioxide emission storage at power plants, oil refineries and other
industrial plants.
This is the fourth time a federal "renewable portfolio standard" for
electricity production has been attempted in Congress. Three times before it
has passed the Senate, only to be felled by a Republican-controlled House of
Representatives.
The bill's major co-sponsor and chairman of the Senate energy panel, Sen.
Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat from New Mexico, is confident that, with Democrats
now controlling the House, a federal standard can be set, his spokesman said
on Wednesday.
Bingaman said he would try to modify the legislation on the Senate floor to
include a requirement that 15 percent of U.S. electricity supplies be
generated by solar, wind and other renewable energy sources by 2020.
More than 20 states have established "renewable portfolio standards"
requiring green power production. At least 12 of them are at least as
stringent as the Senate proposal, and this bill would not trump state-level
renewable power efforts.
"This is an issue where the states are ahead of the federal government,"
said Bill Wicker, spokesman for Bingaman and the Senate Energy Committee.
"There is no federal preemption of existing state renewable portfolio
standards."
Existing hydropower projects or any nuclear power plants would not be
considered renewable power, Wicker said. New output at hydropower projects
would count, he said.
Wicker said Bingaman got a letter on Tuesday signed by 50 of the chamber's
100 senators. Add the letter's recipient to the count and a Senate majority
"is on the record saying they will support it," Wicker said.
Bingaman said Democratic leaders may have the Senate take up the bill this
month. If the legislation is accepted by the Senate, it still must be
approved by the House and signed by President George W. Bush before it could
become law.
