This weekend, the House of Representatives voted to pass “The New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act” (H.R. 3221), including an amendment to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The passage of the RES along with the package of legislation included in H.R. 3221 will make significant steps toward a cleaner and more secure energy future for the United States.
“We applaud today’s clean energy breakthrough in the U.S. Congress and the strong leadership of New Mexico’s bill sponsor, Representative Tom Udall,” said Environment New Mexico Advocate, Lauren Ketcham “The House of Representatives improved a good energy bill by adding a 15% renewable electricity standard that will dramatically increase clean renewable power in this country,” continued Ketcham.
Despite massive opposition by coal-fired utility companies and their allies, a broad coalition of environmentalists, labor unions, farm groups, clean energy developers and investors, was able to pass the RES amendment 220 to 190.
"The benefits are clear. Today the New Direction Congress has moved steps to strengthen our energy security, lower our energy bills, create jobs, revitalize rural America, spur our economy and slow global warming," concluded Representative Tom Udall. "I am proud this Congress has taken this significant first step toward a more stable, secure future."
H.R. 3221 would require that utilities generate 15% of their electricity from renewable energy such as wind, solar, or biomass, or through energy efficiency savings by 2020. The amendment was offered by Representatives Udall (NM), Rodriguez (TX), Platts (PA) and others. Specifically the RES:
· Requires that utilities generate a gradually increasing amount of their electric generation from renewable energy sources including solar, wind, biomass and geothermal, starting in 2010.
· Establishes a national system for trading renewable energy credits.
· Allows up to 27% of their targeted requirement through energy efficiency savings (the equivalent of up to 4% of the 15% requirement).
Other important provisions in the bill include:
The Natural Resources Title (Title VII) which will take important steps toward restoring sound stewardship to the management of our public lands, ensuring responsible domestic energy development, developing alternative energy sources and helping America’s fish and wildlife, public lands, coasts and oceans adapt to global warming.
Title IX sets aggressive targets for strengthening state building energy efficiency codes, adopts beneficial reforms to Department of Energy (DOE) authority to issue energy efficiency standards for appliance and equipment products and establishes new efficiency standards for products such as light bulbs, dishwashers and clothes washers.
The House also passed HR 2776 which includes an extension of the energy efficient commercial buildings deduction, closure of the SUV tax loophole and an extension of the renewable production tax credit. The bill would also eliminate approximately $15 billion in unnecessary oil and gas tax breaks.
"I am very proud to say that as a result of the extraordinary work of our amendment’s cosponsors and supporters, the House has passed a base Renewable Electricity Standard which will spur our nation one step closer to a clean energy future," said Representative Tom Udall, who first introduced this measure in 2002. "Almost half of the states in our nation have already proven this standard is both achievable and realistic."
Missing from the legislation considered today was an improvement in fuel economy. The energy bill passed by the Senate in June includes fuel economy provisions, which will be brought to conference with the House bill.
New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman, who sponsored a similar RES amendment in the Senate, and who is likely to chair the conference committee, noted, “I commend the House for passing legislation that will help our nation better secure its energy future. The Members who supported those bills were reflecting the consensus of the American public – that we can, and should, do more to help our country become more energy self-reliant. In particular, I am pleased that the House adopted the Udall-Platts amendment, making renewable electricity conferenceable. I look forward to working with the House when we get together on our bills this fall.”
“We applaud the House for promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy in this bill. We look forward to seeing Congress pass a comprehensive energy bill that addresses energy efficiency, fuel economy and renewable energy. We urge the Congress to add the Senate –passed fuel economy provisions in the final bill,” said Ketcham. “We applaud Representative Wilson for joining Rep. Udall in supporting this critical step toward a new energy future, although we are disappointed that Representative Pearce failed to stand up for what’s right for New Mexico by supporting this measure.”
