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• U.S. Department of State

Summary

This report reviews the status of energy efficiency and renewable energy legislation introduced during the 110th Congress. Most Senate action led to the Senate version of H.R. 6, an omnibus energy bill that the Senate passed on June 21, 2007. Most House action led to the omnibus energy bill H.R. 3221, which the House passed on August 4, 2007. A second area of focus has been on the funding-related bills for energy efficiency and renewable energy, especially H.R. 2641, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for FY2008. The Senate-passed version of H.R. 6, the proposed Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007, was composed from several bills. The key provisions of the bill are appliance efficiency standards, an increase of the renewable fuel standard (RFS) to 36 billion gallons by 2022, and an increase of the combined corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards to 35 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2020. Tax provisions and a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) were not included. The House-passed version of H.R. 3221 includes two divisions. Division A contains the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act, which was composed from several bills. An adopted floor amendment (H.Amdt. 748) added a 15% renewable portfolio standard (RPS). Division B, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007, contains the House-approved version of H.R. 2776, and adds four titles to H.R. 3221. It includes a four-year extension of the renewable electricity production tax credit and other efficiency and renewables incentives. Key challenges remain. First, there are significant differences between the two bills. Second, further action will be required in at least one chamber before a conference committee could be arranged. Third, concerns about certain oil and natural gas provisions have led the Administration to threaten to veto each bill. (For a comparison of major provisions in the two bills, see CRS Report RL34135.) DOE's FY2008 budget request seeks $1,236.2 million for DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) programs. In H.R. 2641, the House approved $1,873.8 million for EERE, which is $637.6 million, or 52%, more than the DOE request. The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $1,715.6 million for EERE, which is $158.3 million, or 8%, less than the House level. More than 280 bills on energy efficiency and renewable energy have been introduced. About one-third of these bills are focused on renewable fuels and about one-third would provide a tax incentive for investment, energy production, fuel use, or fuel reduction. For each bill listed in this report, a brief description and a summary of action are given, including references to committee hearings and reports. Also, a selected list of congressional hearings, CRS reports, and Government Accountability Office (GAO) documents on energy efficiency and renewable energy are included. This report will be updated periodically.

Related Legislation:
• H.R.6
• H.R.3221
• H.R.2641
• H.R.2776

Related Reports:
• RL33831

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