Senate Energy Bill encourages nuclear development
Environment News Service ENS Latest Environmental Information Education Current Issues RSS: "Senate Energy Bill Sidesteps Arctic Drilling
WASHINGTON, DC, June 1, 2005 (ENS) - The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed a bipartisan energy bill Thursday by a vote of 21-1. The bill avoids the two most controversial issues that have derailed past versions of energy legislation - drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the release of MTBE manufacturers from liability for water contamination.
The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior in cooperation with the State of Alaska, North Slope Borough, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and other federal agencies, to establish a long term effort to improve coordination and collection of scientific information needed by regulatory and land management agencies in managing public resources on the North Slope of Alaska.
But the legislation stops short of authorizing oil exploration and extraction from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an issue that has roused fierce debate across the country for years.
The bill modernizes and expands the nation’s electricity grid, and encourages the design and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies, clean coal technologies and hydrogen technologies aimed at moving America away from its dependence on foreign oil.
For nuclear energy, the bill requires the Energy Secretary to support education in nuclear engineering and nuclear-related technologies through grants to university departments for research and support for facilities.
It requires the secretary to investigate new techniques to reduce the volume and toxicity of spent fuel from commercial nuclear reactors. And the bill creates a program to study measures to improve the safety and security of nuclear facilities from natural disasters and deliberate attacks.
The legislation establishes requirements for energy and water savings in Congressional Buildings and requires an annual reduction in the consumption of energy by federal buildings. The bill also reduces U.S. oil consumption by one million barrels of oil per day by 2015.
The bill’s conservation and efficiency measures will save 1.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas by 2020 - equivalent to current annual consumption of New York State, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEE).
The bill also reduces peak electric demand by 2020 by 50,000 MW – equivalent to the capacity of 170 300-MW power plants, according to an analysis released by ACEE.
The legislation creates the Next Generation Lighting Initiative, a public-private partnership to develop advanced solid-state lighting devices. These devices are longer lasting and more energy efficient and cost-effective than incandescent or fluorescent lighting.
The measure eases and streamlines exploration and drilling for oil and gas on federal lands by designating energy facility rights-of-way and corridors on federal land, including national forests.
The legislation provides incentives for natural gas production from deep wells in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The bill directs the Secretary of Energy, in cooperation and consultation with Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Homeland Security, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and governors of coastal states, to convene at least three forums to discuss siting issues for liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals - siting, safety, and emergency response. The purpose of the forums is to identify and develop best practices related to LNG and to foster cooperative efforts.
The Interior Department is directed to make an assessment of oil and gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf.
For renewable energy, the bill requires the Energy Secretary to conduct cutting-edge research and development of renewable sources, including bioenergy from celluosic feedstocks, concentrating solar power, ocean energy, and cogeneration of hydrogen and electricity from renewable sources.
The bill is expected on the Senate floor for a vote later this month. If the Senate approves the measure, a conference committee will attempt to reconcile it with the House version of energy legislation passed earlier this year.
"
WASHINGTON, DC, June 1, 2005 (ENS) - The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed a bipartisan energy bill Thursday by a vote of 21-1. The bill avoids the two most controversial issues that have derailed past versions of energy legislation - drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the release of MTBE manufacturers from liability for water contamination.
The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior in cooperation with the State of Alaska, North Slope Borough, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and other federal agencies, to establish a long term effort to improve coordination and collection of scientific information needed by regulatory and land management agencies in managing public resources on the North Slope of Alaska.
But the legislation stops short of authorizing oil exploration and extraction from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an issue that has roused fierce debate across the country for years.
The bill modernizes and expands the nation’s electricity grid, and encourages the design and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies, clean coal technologies and hydrogen technologies aimed at moving America away from its dependence on foreign oil.
For nuclear energy, the bill requires the Energy Secretary to support education in nuclear engineering and nuclear-related technologies through grants to university departments for research and support for facilities.
It requires the secretary to investigate new techniques to reduce the volume and toxicity of spent fuel from commercial nuclear reactors. And the bill creates a program to study measures to improve the safety and security of nuclear facilities from natural disasters and deliberate attacks.
The legislation establishes requirements for energy and water savings in Congressional Buildings and requires an annual reduction in the consumption of energy by federal buildings. The bill also reduces U.S. oil consumption by one million barrels of oil per day by 2015.
The bill’s conservation and efficiency measures will save 1.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas by 2020 - equivalent to current annual consumption of New York State, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEE).
The bill also reduces peak electric demand by 2020 by 50,000 MW – equivalent to the capacity of 170 300-MW power plants, according to an analysis released by ACEE.
The legislation creates the Next Generation Lighting Initiative, a public-private partnership to develop advanced solid-state lighting devices. These devices are longer lasting and more energy efficient and cost-effective than incandescent or fluorescent lighting.
The measure eases and streamlines exploration and drilling for oil and gas on federal lands by designating energy facility rights-of-way and corridors on federal land, including national forests.
The legislation provides incentives for natural gas production from deep wells in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The bill directs the Secretary of Energy, in cooperation and consultation with Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Homeland Security, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and governors of coastal states, to convene at least three forums to discuss siting issues for liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals - siting, safety, and emergency response. The purpose of the forums is to identify and develop best practices related to LNG and to foster cooperative efforts.
The Interior Department is directed to make an assessment of oil and gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf.
For renewable energy, the bill requires the Energy Secretary to conduct cutting-edge research and development of renewable sources, including bioenergy from celluosic feedstocks, concentrating solar power, ocean energy, and cogeneration of hydrogen and electricity from renewable sources.
The bill is expected on the Senate floor for a vote later this month. If the Senate approves the measure, a conference committee will attempt to reconcile it with the House version of energy legislation passed earlier this year.
"
posted by Greta Jane at Wednesday, June 01, 2005
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