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Congress wins final passage of historic energy bill

December 18, 2007

With House approval of the Energy Independence and Security Act, H.R. 6, Congress overcame the threat of a Senate filibuster and presidential veto to pass landmark energy-independence legislation.

“The world has been waiting for the country that took mankind to the moon to spur a clean-energy revolution that can save the earth,” said U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), a member of the House Energy and Commerce and House Natural Resources committees who helped shape the energy package.  “We are taking the first steps in a new Apollo Project that will do for energy what Kennedy did for space.”

Three major provisions in the energy bill that mirror initiatives included in Inslee’s comprehensive clean-energy plan, the New Apollo Energy Act, H.R. 2809, include a vehicle-efficiency standard of 35 miles per gallon by 2020 for new cars and trucks – the first Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard increase in 30 years; a Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that calls for 36 billion gallons a year of homegrown biofuels, with a focus on next-generation cellulosic ethanol, at the pump by the year 2022; and, visionary requirements for lighting, heating, cooling and building efficiency.

"More steps will come, and soon,” continued Inslee, referring to a requirement for 15 percent of the nation’s electricity mix to come from renewable sources by 2020, the repeal of over $20 billion in tax subsidies for Big Oil, and incentives for Americans to buy and build clean-energy products that were included in previous versions of the energy package, but left out of the final compromise, not to mention ongoing work in Congress on an American cap and trade system for carbon dioxide.

As a member of two committees with jurisdiction over the energy bill, Inslee helped shape the energy bill and even authored several provisions that were included in the version approved by the Senate last week and passed by the House today.  They include a program that authorizes $90 million per year through 2013 for projects that encourage the use of plug-in electric hybrid vehicles or other emerging electric vehicle technologies; a program that authorizes $50 million per year through 2012 for research to develop technologies to harness renewable energy in waves, tides and river currents; and language that urges public utilities to separate, or decouple, gas and electricity sales from profits to promote energy conservation.

The passage of the energy-independence package will help create nationwide markets for renewable sources of energy, many of which are being developed in Washington state. 

"Congressman Inslee's leadership has helped create a solid foundation for this new industry of making electricity from ocean renewable technologies of all kinds," stated Sean O'Neill, president of the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition.  "This bill provides support for marine and hydrokinetic technologies that promise to be substantial contributors to a clean, reliable energy portfolio."

John Plaza, founder and president of Imperium Renewables, which runs the nation’s largest biodiesel production facility, commented, “The energy bill passed by the House is truly groundbreaking.  The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) included in the bill will greatly expand our nation’s use of biofuels – and in doing so, create ‘green’ jobs, reduce our carbon emissions and lessen our dependence on foreign and fossil based fuel.  I applaud the leadership shown by Rep. Inslee and his colleagues in passing this monumental legislation.”

“All of us at Ramgen are very pleased with congressional passage today of the energy bill.  This legislation recognizes the importance of carbon capture and sequestration research in curtailing the march of global warming, and we are proud that the bill highlights our company's CO2 compression technologies as part of this national effort.  Rep. Inslee was one of the first to provide real leadership in drawing attention to the urgent problem of climate change and in recognizing the importance of innovative technologies that curb carbon emissions.  We salute the congressman's foresight and perseverance and look forward to playing an important part in this national and global effort,” added Doug Jewett, CEO of Ramgen Power Systems, Inc.

Now that the energy bill has cleared both chambers of Congress in the same form, it will go to the president’s desk for signature.  The White House is expected to sign the bill into law, marking another significant victory for Democrats who took control of Congress last November.  If enacted, the package is estimated to reduce U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by 24 percent.