I am very upset at the Energy Bill compromise.

[rumpel]

LATimes has an overview within their article:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-energy27jul27,1,6657395.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

The bill's highlights

An energy bill could get final votes in the House and Senate this week and then go to the White House for President Bush's signature. Key elements of the bill, along with items that were dropped in recent days:

Incentives

• Offers about $11.5 billion in tax breaks and incentives over five years, mostly to boost oil and natural gas production, with lesser amounts for nuclear, coal, wind and solar power.

Oil and gas

• Requires a delay of at least 141 days in a U.S. government review of the $18.5-billion bid for American oil giant Unocal Corp. by Chinese-government-owned oil company CNOOC Ltd.

• Offers energy companies federal royalty relief for drilling in deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

• Requires an inventory of offshore oil and natural gas resources, including areas off Florida where drilling is banned.

• Gives the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, not the states, exclusive authority to approve liquefied natural gas import terminals.

Expands the Strategic Petroleum Reserve by 300 million barrels to 1 billion barrels.

• Bans oil drilling in the Great Lakes.

• Dropped language requiring the federal government to find ways to cut U.S. oil demand or to require better fuel mileage on new sport utility vehicles and other gas guzzlers.

• Dropped language to open the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve to drilling, but this is expected to be added to a separate government funding bill later this year.

Motor fuel

• Requires the use of 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol a year as a gasoline additive by 2012, almost double the current use.

• Gives makers of the fuel additive methyl tertiary-butyl ether, such as Exxon Mobil Corp., transition assistance of $250 million a year through 2012 to switch to other additives. Phases out use of MTBE.

Utilities and nuclear power

• Repeals a Depression-era law, the Public Utility Holding Company Act, which prevents certain utility mergers.

• Offers $2 billion in federal insurance to cover delays in building six nuclear power reactors.

• Imposes reliability operating standards on utilities to protect the U.S. electric grid from blackouts.

• Extends expiring accident insurance protection for owners of nuclear power plants by 20 years.

• Spends $1.3 billion for an experimental Idaho reactor that would also produce hydrogen fuel.

• Permits power lines across federal public lands, overriding federal agency objections to siting decisions.

• Dropped a proposal that would have required U.S. utilities to generate 10% of their electricity from renewable sources, such as windmills, by 2020.

Miscellaneous

• Moves the start of daylight saving time in 2007 from the first Sunday in April to the second Sunday in March and extends it by one week to the first Sunday in November.

• Increases funding to develop low-emission power plants fueled by coal.

This does not represent my wishes!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. You expect a Republican Congress to represent your wishes?

I would hope not, since you are a DUer!

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. You and me both *hugs*

[rumpel]

3. I was hoping the Dems would put up a better fight than this. Again

steamrolled.

[G_j]

4. Seismic Testing

Reject Seismic Testing!

THIS WEEK, the Senate votes on the Energy Bill, and the possibility of a seismic survey of the U.S. coastline. At decibel levels of 260, seismic blasts have a devastating impact on whales, dolphins and other marine mammals that rely on their sense of hearing to survive. In fact, they can lead to permanent hearing loss, brain hemorrhaging and even cause entire pods of whales and dolphins to beach.
This action is limited to residents of United States

http://usactions.greenpeace.org/

[fooj]

13. I am sick over this.

:cry:

[Robbien]

21. The fragile coral reef around Florida will also be a victum

In the budget bill negotiations Martinez gave up ANWR for RNC's promise not to do this. It is surprising the RNC gave back ANWR and reneged on the Florida promise.

Wonder what vote got Martinez in Delay's bad graces.

[One_Life_To_Give]

5. Phase out of MTBE, Yes!

And we won't be setting the clocks back just before Halloween. So maybe I can get home from work before the kids start running around the dark streets.

[DJ MEW]

6. When are they voting on it?

Is there still time to write congress to complain about it?

It looks like renewable energy isn't even on the back burner, it's in the fridge behind that half eaten bowl of macaroni and cheese from last week that needs to be thrown out.

[Robbien]

8. Democrats get it for review today

the House and Senate are expected to vote on it Friday.

[rumpel]

10. Moved to freezer as UFO unidentified freezer object

[rumpel]

31. Just received this e-mail from Defenders

DENlines Alert



Stop the Energy Bill Before It's Too Late

Dear Sabine Kaneko: In the next few days, Congress is expected to vote on whether to give final approval to the energy bill. Some of the worst provisions in this environmentally destructive legislation would let oil and gas companies use underwater explosions to explore for oil in previously off-limits coastal areas, allow industrial logging in old growth and roadless forests in the name of "energy production" and encourage oil drilling on public lands by weakening Clean Water Act protections. This energy bill is merely a wish list for the oil, gas and nuclear industry and doesn't address our nation's real energy needs. Please call your U.S. Representative right now and ask them to oppose this environmentally destructive energy bill. Then, even if you've never done it before, forward this email to your friends and ask them to do the same. HOW YOU CAN HELP: Call your U.S. Representative NOW by dialing the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. If you don't know who your legislator is, that's o.k., the operator can help identify who the person is. When you are connected, tell them that the energy bill is environmentally and economically destructive legislation that will not address our nation's real energy problems. The House is expected to vote on this legislation tomorrow, so please call TODAY. Sincerely,
Robert Dewey
Vice President, Government Relations
Defenders of Wildlife SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS WHEN MAKING YOUR PHONE CALLS: * As a supporter of the environment and our public lands, I am calling today to vigorously oppose the recently-released Energy Bill conference report. Without addressing the nation's real energy needs, the bill contains over $25 billion in subsidies for oil, gas, coal and nuclear power industries. * Here are some reasons why my Congressional representatives should oppose final passage of the energy bill conference report: 1) It will clear the way for the industrial exploitation of our nation's off-shore areas. 2) It will encourage oil and gas drilling on our public lands by weakening Clean Water Act protections. 3) It gives away $550 million in subsidies to timber companies that could be used to log old growth and roadless areas in our national forests for energy production. FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO: http://www.defenders.org/habitat/renew.html

[Robbien]

7. Repeals a Depression-era PUHCA, which prevents certain utility mergers

Love how they tack on the Depression era.

PUHCA guarded against monopolies and privatization, but to the RNC thats outdated unneccessary regulation.

The entire bill does not reflect my wishes, except for the Great Lakes clause. Who knew the Great Lakes were in danger and needed this protection.

[One_Life_To_Give]

9. Seems Ironic to protect

Lake Michigan from Oil Exploration.

[rumpel]

11. Reps from those States must have had some great influence others did not

[Robbien]

14. More likely

The RNC threatened to drill in the Great Lakes as a threat only. Just a way to arm-twist votes. "Vote for the bill and we will remove the threat".

[xxqqqzme]

12. Repeals a Depression-era law,

the Public Utility Holding Company Act...

like Social Security, rethugs have been trying to get rid of this for decades now! Watch rates SOAR!

Phases out use of MTBE. AND eliminates ANY liability or responsibility for cleaning polluted water supplies.

[Robbien]

17. The responsibility and liability for cleaning up MTBE was

dropped on Monday when the EPA refused to share the environmental threat report with the Senate.

Is it back in now?


On PUHCA, not only will rates soar, the clause also allows holding companies to raid utility assets and use profits to invest in anything the holding company wants, for instance coin collections. The holding company can declare bankruptcy and we will be left with just a raided out shell of a untility. Enron ring a bell?

[xxqqqzme]

23. I remember that , thanx 4 reminding us all.

Moyers did a NOW show on what could/will happen when PUHCA goes away. He highlighted the rethug efforts thru the years 2 weaken it.

[Robbien]

27. Please use Public Citizen's action form to fight this

Public Citizen has an easy action page

just fill in your email info

click and you are done

http://action.citizen.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=998

[G_j]

33. thanks & done

[charlie]

15. Expands the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to 1 billion barrels

Someone's expecting a big oil shock pretty soon. The largest reserve before Bush was 600 million barrels in 1994.

or, perhaps more likely...

They still regard Operation Stir Some Serious Shit With Iran as a Go. The only time the strategic reserve was tapped for emergency reasons was during Desert Storm.

[Robbien]

19. I have been wondering if they are piling up

just in case BushCo goes throught with his threats of taking care of the Venezuela problem. During the NED instigated strike leading up to the coup attempt, Venezuela did not ship oil to us for a year and a half.

[Darkhawk32]

16. Running out of oil??? Make more fuel!!! Great logic in the Repuke party.

:puke:

[Deja Q]

18. Drill away. We're ALL beyond recrimination at this point anyway.

[G_j]

20. *Everything we may be afraid to know:

watch Retro Power, a short Flash animation by Mark Fiore.
http://www.nukeretro.com/

++++++++++++++
From Public Citizen:

http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy%5Fenviro%5Fnuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The House-Senate energy bill conference committee has finalized the energy bill (H.R. 6, "The Energy Policy Act of 2005"), and the measure will be voted on imminently. Most of positive measures that were in the Senate bill, such as a renewable portfolio standard, have been taken out of the conference report.

The energy bill should be rejected because it (1) fails to decrease our dependence on foreign oil for its lack of mandatory improvements in automobile fuel efficiency ("CAFE" standards); (2) provides billions of dollars in unjustified subsidies to the fossil fuel and nuclear energy industries; and (3) repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA), an essential consumer protection that ensures that electric utilities exist to serve the people, not the profit interests of large corporations.

Continued, vocal opposition to this bill is crucial. We urge you to contact your senators and representatives to voice your opposition to this regressive bill.

Understanding this complex legislation is no easy task. To better comprehend this bill and its potential impacts - and thus most effectively prevent it from becoming law - Public Citizen will continue to create helpful fact sheets, analyses, and reports on key issues in the energy bill. To find out more about the legislation, please click on the hyperlinked items below.

General Guides

Section-by-Section Analysis of Key Provisions Affecting Consumers in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Senate Draft, June 8, 2005
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=13405

Section-by-Section Analysis of Key Provisions Affecting Consumers in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 - passed by the House of Representatives April 21, 2005
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=13354

Incentives Title in the Senate Energy Bill: May the Best Lobbyist Win
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=13547

Tax Breaks Benefiting Energy Companies in the Corporate Tax Bill, passed October 2004 http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=12395

109th Energy Conference Committee

Campaign Contributions to Members of the House-Senate Energy Bill Conference Committee since 2001
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=13728

Nuclear

Nuclear Provisions in the Energy Bill Conference Report
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=13405

Nuclear Production Tax Credits: A $5.7 Billion Giveaway
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=13575

Nuclear Provisions in the Senate Energy Bill
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=13518

Nuclear Provisions in House Energy Bill
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=13303

Price-Anderson Act: The Billion Dollar Bailout for Nuclear Power Mishaps
http://www.citizen.org/documents/priceandersonbackgrounder.pdf

The Advanced Hydrogen Reactor Co-generation Project: A Clean Energy Travesty
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/articles.cfm?

Energy Bill Offers Licensing Favors for Multinational Energy Consortium’s Proposed Uranium Enrichment Plant
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=10943

Electricity Deregulation

Analysis of Harmful Provisions in the Electricity Title of the Senate Energy Bill
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=13545

Access to Books and Records of Utility Owners if Puhca is Repealed: 9 Reasons Why It's a Joke
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=13527

PUHCA for Dummies: An Electricity Blackout and Energy Bill Primer and PUHCA Repeal for Dummies: The Sequel
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/deregulation/puhca/articles.cfm?ID=13574

PUHCA Repeal: Congress Prepares to Abandon Consumer & Investor Protections
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/articles.cfm?ID=10323

Analysis of Impact of Deregulation on Electricity Reliability and Price for Consumers
http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1535

Bush Puts FirstEnergy First, Consumers Last
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/deregulation/articles.cfm?ID=10285

Oil & Gas

Report: Big Oil Keeps Gas Prices High; Energy Bill Won't Help
http://www.citizen.org/documents/oilmergers.pdf

Myths and Facts about Oil Refineries in the United States
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/Oil_and_Gas/articles.cfm?ID=11829

GOP Protects Fuel Additive Manufacturers Despite Drinking Water Contamination
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/2005/articles.cfm?ID=10546

Drilling for Tax Credits: Runaway Coalbed Methane Development Doesn't Need a Tax Break
http://www.citizen.org/documents/coalbedfactsheet.pdf

[G_j]

22. nominated

[xxqqqzme]

24. nominated as well.

Everyone needs to get on the phone NOW!

[realFedUp]

25. sickening, but expected from Republican majorities...

Get them out.

[Robbien]

26. In one easy click you can help fight this bill

Public Citizen has an easy action page

just fill in your email info

click and you are done

http://action.citizen.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=998

[Lannes]

28. Makes me sick to my stomach to read it.

This shows graphically the competing Democratic and Republican versions of the bill on specific issues and the final percentage of democracts and republicans that voted for and against it:

http://www.newrules.org/misc/votesenergybill.html

[G_j]

32. very revealing

good find

thanks!

[G_j]

29. Union of Concerned Scientists: Energy Bill a Dirty and Dangerous Failure

http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0727-03.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
JULY 26, 2005
4:08 PM CONTACT: Union of Concerned Scientists
Eric Young 202-331-5439
Alden Meyer 202-223-6133


National Energy Bill a Dirty and Dangerous Failure
House and Senate Should Reject Legislation

WASHINGTON - July 26 - The Union of Concerned Scientists today urged Congress to reject an energy bill that ignores our oil dependence, fails to promote renewable energy, disregards global warming, and even raises the risk of nuclear terrorism.

"For the third time in four years, Congress is on the brink of passing an energy bill that will pollute our air and water while costing the average consumer more money," said Alden Meyer, Director of Strategy and Policy for the Union of Concerned Scientists. "This bill does virtually nothing to relieve the twin energy burdens on energy consumers -- high gasoline prices and high home energy costs - and adds insult to injury by jeopardizing the security of every American."

The House conferees ignored overwhelming evidence that renewable energy will save consumers money and stripped the renewable electricity standard (also known as a renewable portfolio standard) from the final bill. The renewable standard, which passed the Senate with bi-partisan support, would have required major electric companies to gradually increase sales of electricity from wind, solar, and other renewable sources from two percent today to about 10 percent by 2020.

"The energy bill funnels billions of dollars in taxpayer money to polluting industries while ignoring practical solutions to global warming such as a renewable electricity standard, which would create jobs, spur economic development and save consumers money," said Meyer. "The legislation also includes a provision that will harm U.S. energy security by increasing our oil dependence. The proposed extension of the "dual-fuel vehicle" loophole in the energy bill will increase our gasoline consumption by 10 billion gallons through 2015, increasing oil demand in 2014 alone by nearly 130,000 barrels per day.* At the same time, the energy bill ignores conventional technology that could increase fuel economy, generate hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and save consumers billions at the pump."

The small bright spot for vehicles policy is a radically pared down tax credit package for hybrids and other advanced technology vehicles.

One of the most startling aspects of the bill is a provision that would severely weaken export controls on highly enriched uranium, the key ingredient in the most basic nuclear weapons. If terrorists were to acquire about 100 pounds of this material they could fashion a crude but devastating nuclear explosive in short order.

"At a time when the threat of nuclear terrorism is growing, Congress should not make it easier for highly enriched uranium to fall into the wrong hands," said Dr. Ed Lyman, a senior scientist in UCS's Global Security Program. "This reckless provision is reason enough to reject the energy bill."


* This loophole allows automakers to receive credit toward meeting fuel economy standards by selling vehicles that have the capability of running on alternative fuel but almost always run on gasoline.



###

[G_j]

30. is there one more nomination out there?

[Robbien]

34. This is the fight which starts tommorrow

Delay proposed this bill be approved before they go on vacation.