Energy In Da Hooouuuse!

House passes landmark energy bill; Senate up next 6

Today, by a 235-181 vote mostly along party lines, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an energy bill that represents a decisive break with decades of energy policy focused on fossil fuels. The bill, shepherded through the House via the tenacious arm-twisting and ass-kicking of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), would: raise auto fuel-economy standards for the first time in over 30 years, to 35 miles per gallon by 2020; establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) mandating that utilities produce 15 percent of their energy from renewables by 2020; establish a Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that would call for 36 billion gallons of biofuels in the fuel supply by 2022, 15 billion of it from corn ethanol by 2015; and provide some $13 billion in renewable and efficiency investments, paid for by cutting tax breaks and subsidies to oil companies. The bill now goes to the Senate, where Republicans have threatened to filibuster; Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said he will hold a vote to end the filibuster on Saturday. President Bush has said he will veto the bill if it includes the tax provisions or the RPS.

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  1. Tasermons Partner Posted 6:58 am
    06 Dec 2007

    It's a good symbolic vote......but sadly, not much more than that.  It didn't get the 2/3 majority needed to override a veto.
    And for Bush not to veto this we would need a Christmas Miracle.

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  2. randino Posted 9:10 am
    06 Dec 2007

    To paraphrase Mao into American termsThe journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
    Have a drink and celebrate. Then get ready to fight like hell for the other 999 miles.
    Randy Cunningham

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  3. Delay And Deny's avatar

    Delay And Deny Posted 1:16 pm
    06 Dec 2007

    "Hooray, We're Safe!"

    --said the corn farmers receiving subsidies
    "15 billion of it from corn ethanol by 2015;"
    Why?
    Why does the ethanol have to come from corn?
    And why is Grist celebrating this destructive bill?

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  4. Tasermons Partner Posted 2:12 pm
    06 Dec 2007

    Hooray, we're safe! ...NOT! (maybe?)...How can they be safe when the ethanol subsidies are part of a bill which the president will likely veto and that we don't have enough votes to override if he does?
    Don't get me wrong, I didn't want the ethanol standards and subsidies either, but now the 15% wind and solar requirements, the tax breaks for those renewables, and the increased taxes and royalties on the oil and gas industries are also...well...not very safe.  Same also goes for the new CAFE standards.
    Unless they modify the bill, or Bushy suddenly does a complete or near 180 on his stance, then we may get none of it.
    I'm bettin' that best case scenario (and it looks unlikely) other than a miracle, is that they strip the bill of the increased taxes and then maybe he'll sign onto it.
    Worst case is that the'll also strip the RES (which would doom the 15% solar and wind) and basically make the bill worthless.  Or they'll scrap it altogether and start all over again.
    But there's always hope.  So, who's up for another Christmas Miracle that'll help save the world?  It's been 'bout 2 millenia since the first one, so I think we're overdue for a new one, ne?

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  5. John former Marine Posted 11:26 pm
    06 Dec 2007

    Weak!Ok, not like I expect anything better from Democrats these days.  We need to get rid of the electoral college so that the country can elect politicians that it actually needs and so the vote of the majority won't be trumped by Monsanto, Conagra...err...I mean, good Iowa family farmers.
    Ethanol is a farce.  

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  6. dotcommodity Posted 1:31 am
    07 Dec 2007

    Instead of just griping, callWe could get enough Senate Republicans to over ride a Bush veto if enough of us CALLED THEM. As chapter1 at dailykos says:

    Energy Bill 2007: Crashing the Senate Gates

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/7/82626/3791/151/41 ...
    "This Bill is a start.  The 2009 Energy Bill will be better...if we convince Senators that how they vote on this Bill will affect their careers.
    Who to call.

    Obviously, we want to work as hard as possible on the weakest link in the chain of fossil-fuel supporters.  Who is that?  I'm not an expert on this, beyond saying obviously GOP Sens, preferably those up for re-election.  One AltEn lobbying organization is focusing efforts on
    Bob Corker (R-TN) 202 224-3344

    John Ensign (R-NV)  202 224-6244

    Judd Gregg (R-NH)  202 224-3324

    Mel Martinez (R-FL)  202 224-3041

    John Sununu (R-NH)  202 224-2841

    Norm Coleman (R-MN) 202 224-5641

    Susan Collins (R-ME) 202 224-2523

    Gordon Smith (R-OR) 202 224-3753
    If any of these represent you, call them.  Heck, if any non-hopeless Republican represents you, check the list of Senate phone numbers and call.  

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