USA Energy Independence

Energy Independence and Security Act 2007

2007-12-26T09:37:00.000-06:00

Energy Independence and Security Act (Wikipedia)

2007-12-26T07:32:00.001-06:00

Clean Energy Act of 2007
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, originally named the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007(H.R. 6) was a bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Democrats as part of their 100-Hour Plan for the actions they took during the first 100 business hours of the 110th Congress.[1] Sponsored by RepresentativeNick Rahall of West Virginia and cosponsored by 198 other representatives, it passed in the House without amendment in January 2007 and an amended version[2] passed the Senate on 2007-06-21.[3]
The stated purpose of the act is “[t]o reduce our Nation’s dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean,renewable, and alternative energy resources, promoting new emerging technologies, developing greater efficiency, and creating a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to invest in alternative energy, and for other purposes.”[4]. It primarily seeks to cut subsidies to the petroleum industry in order to promote petroleum independence and different forms of alternative energy.
A revised bill passed both houses and was signed into law on December 19, 2007.
Contents [hide]
1 Provisions of the act
2 Support for the bill
3 Opposition to the bill
4 Status
4.1 Senate action on revised version
5 References
6 External links

[edit]Provisions of the act
Title I of the original bill, the “Ending Subsidies for Big Oil Act of 2007,” denies certain tax deductions to producers of oil, natural gas, or primary products of oil or natural gas, and increases from five to seven years the period during which five major integrated oil companies must write off their expenditures on geological and geophysicalstudies related to oil exploration.
Title II, the “Royalty Relief for American Consumers Act of 2007,” addresses an oversight that occurred when theInterior Department issued oil and gas leases for off-shore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in 1998 and 1999. The leases didn’t include price thresholds that require companies to pay royalties to the Federal Government when the price of oil and gas exceeds a certain level. These companies will be required to renegotiate their leases to include price thresholds that are equal or less than thresholds described in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Companies who do not renegotiate their leases or pay the fees will not be allowed to obtain any oil or gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

A solar trough array is an example of green energy.
Title II also repeals several provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. One provision suspended royalty fees on oil and gas production in certain waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A provision of the Energy Policy Act that protects drilling permit applicants from additional fees to recover the cost of processing paperwork is also repealed, and special policies for leases in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska and royalty relief for specific offshore drilling in Alaska will be discontinued.
Title III of the bill creates a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve, an account to hold additional money received by the Federal Government as a result of the enactment of the act, and to offset the cost of subsequent legislation.

[edit]Support for the bill
The majority of the support for this proposed bill are Representatives that are from the Democratic party. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi gave an idea about the bill after it passed in the House of Representatives. She described the vote as “the first step toward a future of energy independence.” Moira Chapin, Environment CaliforniaFederal Field Organizer, said “… the 110th Congress made a down payment on a new energy future,” referring to is the investment in a renewable energy resource coming from solar and wind power generation facilities.[1] The House passed their version of the bill 264-163 while the Senate version passed 65-27.
Proponents also say the act provides an incentive for the purchase of energy-efficient appliances, buildings, and other equipment. A new energy alternative also adds to the future of energy by enabling more people to buy hybrid vehicles. New energy resources will create new industry, creating more jobs and helping to reduce American dependency on oil imports. Investing in an alternate energy resource could create as many as 3.3 million new jobs and could cut the amount of unemployment, add $1.4 trillion to the gross national product in our economy, and pay for itself within ten years.[1] Air quality will be improved by reducing the amount of emissions released by using a cleaner energy source other than oil.
Another supporter of the bill, Representative Steve Rothman of New Jersey, said that if the proposed bill passes, “the U.S. can improve air quality, create jobs, and corner a new business market.”[5]

[edit]Opposition to the bill
Opponents argue that the act will “increase Americans reliance on foreign sources of energy by making new domestic exploration and production more costly" and state that markets should drive U.S. energy policy. They are concerned that the Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve could be used for “politically-connectedpet projects,” citing a similar fund created by the Carter administration that went bankrupt after only a few years.[6]
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says that the bill punishes an industry that has made many Americans wealthy for generations, adding that “Congress and various Administrations have perhaps imposed more regulations on the oil and gas industry than any other industry in the United States.” The Chamber says it supports the rapid development of alternative fuels but that the new technologies are not developed enough, and are insufficient to make any real difference. It believes more regulation on oil and gas producers is not the answer to the energy problem.[7]
Conservative activist and president of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist characterizes the bill’s provisions regarding renegotiation of leases as a violation of binding contracts, calling the bill “a violation of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge” since it doesn’t create tax cuts to offset the additional revenue it would raise.[6]
Representative Ted Poe says the bill “will decrease U.S. exploration and will increase our dependence on foreign oil,” and goes on to say, “by raising taxes and fees on oil and gas companies that choose to manufacture in America, the U.S. will become a less attractive place to produce oil and natural gas. This essentially creates incentives for foreign importation and could kill manufacturing jobs in an industry that employs nearly 1.8 million Americans.”[1]
Opponents included Democratic Senators Claire McCaskill, Mary Landrieu, Carl Levin, and Debbie Stabenow. House Democratic opponents were John Barrow and Jim Marshall of Georgia, Nick Lampson of Texas, and Dan Boren of Oklahoma

[edit]Status
The bill has passed both houses of Congress, but the Senate version was different than the House version. The Senate voted to increase automobile emission standards, but removed Title I of the bill, which would have raised taxes on oil producers by an estimated US$32 billion.[8] Instead of resolving differences in conference committee, a separate bill, H.R. 3221 was passed by the House and introduced in the Senate. In December a new version of H.R. 6 was passed by the House and sent to the Senate. The bill has been renamed the "Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007".[9][10]

[edit]Senate action on revised version
On December 13, 2007 the Senate passed a revised version of the bill by a vote of 86 - 8.The final version increased fuel efficiency standards to 35 mpg by 2020, increased energy efficiency standards for appliances and buildings, and set a mandate for the vastly expanded use of ethanol and other biofuels. The bill also included $1.46 billion in increases in revenue to offset the estimated $2 billion that would be lost to gasoline taxes because of the improved automobile gasoline mileage.[11]
The earlier version of the bill with $13 billion raised from the oil industry, a mandate that utilities rely on renewable energy for at least 15 percent of their power generation, and a $21.8 billion 10-year tax package failed by a one vote margin. A final attempt the end debate and make way for a vote failed by 59 - 40 despite the return of four Democratic presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton (NY), Barack Obama (Ill.), Christopher Dodd (Conn.), andJoseph Biden (Del.). Nine Republicans voted in favor of ending debate while one Democrat, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) voted against it. Sen. John McCain was not present.[11]
The failed vote to end debate came after the White House and Sen. Domenici warned that Bush would veto the bill because of the tax portion. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Democrats had "shown how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory" by "inserting an enormous tax hike, a tax hike they knew would doom this legislation." Reid said Congress should not be intimidated by a veto threat, "We are the Congress of the United States. We can write things even though the president may not like them." Democrats said that the tax measure was modest and only took back tax breaks the oil companies received in 2004 and that they did not need them with oil prices at about $90 a barrel.[11]

Energy Security Act

2007-12-26T07:25:00.001-06:00

H.R. 6 would reduce our Nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources, promoting new emerging energy technologies, developing greater efficiency, and creating a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to invest in alternative energy.

Detailed Summary

Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 - Title I: Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation - Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act of 2007 - Subtitle A: Renewable Fuel Standard - (Sec. 111) Directs the President to promulgate regulations to ensure that motor vehicle fuel and home heating oil sold or introduced into commerce in the United States on an annual average basis, contains the applicable volume of renewable fuel determined in accordance with a specified calendar year schedule for 2008-2022.

Requires the President also to: (1) implement a credit program to manage the renewable fuel requirement; and (2) establish criteria for a system of voluntary labeling of renewable fuels based on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions. Requires the Secretary of Energy to arrange with the National Academy of Sciences to assess for Congress the impact of the renewable fuel standard.

Directs the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration to study renewable fuel blending to determine where there are excessive seasonal variations in the use of renewable fuel. Requires the President, if such study finds a certain deficiency in the quantity of renewable fuel necessary to meet renewable fuel program requirements, to promulgate regulations to ensure that 25% or more of such quantity is used during each of the two periods: (1) of April through September; and (2) of January through March and October through December.

(Sec. 112) Directs the President to provide a credit to the owner of a facility that uses renewable energy to displace more than 90 % of the fossil fuel normally used in the production of renewable fuel.

(Sec. 113) Expresses the sense of Congress that it is the goal of the United States that the agricultural, forestry, and working land of the United States should by January 1, 2025: (1) provide from renewable resources at least 25 % of the total energy consumed in the United States; and (2) continue to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fiber.

Subtitle B: Renewable Fuels Infrastructure - (Sec. 121) Instructs the Secretary to establish a competitive grant pilot program to establish refueling infrastructure corridors for gasoline blends containing specified ratios of renewable fuel or diesel fuel.

(Sec. 122) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to: (1) increase funding for bioenergy research and development; (2) direct the Secretary to establish bioresearch centers that target biofuels; and (3) authorize loan guarantees for renewable fuel facilities.

(Sec. 125) Directs the Secretary to provide grants to: (1) eligible entities to research, develop, and implement renewable fuel production technologies in states with low rates of ethanol (including cellulosic biomass ethanol) production; and (2) Indian tribal and local governments and other eligible entities to promote the development of infrastructure to support the separation, production, processing, and transportation of biomass to local biorefineries, including by portable processing equipment.

(Sec. 127) Directs the Secretary to establish a biorefinery information center.

(Sec. 128) Directs the Secretary and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology jointly to establish and make available to the public: (1) a database that describes the physical properties of different types of alternative fuel; and (2) standard reference materials for different types of alternative fuel.

(Sec. 129) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to require clear labeling of the fuel tank cap of each U.S.-manufactured alternative fueled vehicle stating that such vehicle can operate on alternative fuel, beginning with model year 2010.

(Sec. 130) Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on any research and development challenges inherent in increasing to 5% the proportion of diesel fuel sold in the United States that is biodiesel.

Requires the President to promulgate regulations: (1) providing for the uniform labeling of biodiesel blends certified to meet applicable standards published by the American Society for Testing and Materials; and (2) ensuring that each diesel-equivalent fuel derived from renewable biomass and introduced into interstate commerce is tested and certified to comply with such standards.

(Sec. 131) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make transitional assistance payments to an agricultural producer during the first year in which the producer devotes land to the production of a qualified cellulosic crop.

(Sec. 132) Instructs the President to establish a grants program for low-carbon fuel research. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013.

Subtitle C: Studies - (Sec. 141) Requires studies regarding advanced biofuels technologies, including: (1) increased consumption of ethanol-blended gasoline with higher levels of ethanol; (2) feasibility of the construction of dedicated ethanol pipelines; (3) flexible fueled vehicles to operate using E-85 fuel; (4) the feasibility of issuing credits to electric vehicles powered by electricity produced from renewable energy sources; (5) the effects of the use of biodiesel on engine durability; (6) financial incentives for the biofuels industry; (7) streamlined lifecycle analysis tools for the evaluation of renewable carbon content of biofuels; (8) the effects of ethanol-blended gasoline on off-road vehicles and recreational boats; and (9) offshore wind resources.

(Sec. 150) Authorizes appropriations for the offshore wind resources study.

Subtitle D: Environmental Safeguards - (Sec. 161) Directs the Secretary to establish a grant program to encourage advanced biofuels production. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2015.

(Sec. 162) Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) offer to enter into arrangements with an independent research institute to conduct studies on the effects of increased domestic use of renewable fuels under this Act; and (2) complete a study to determine whether the renewable fuel volumes required by EPA will adversely impact air quality as a result of changes in vehicle and engine emissions of air pollutants.

Title II: Energy Efficiency Promotion - Energy Efficiency Promotion Act of 2007 - Subtitle A: Promoting Advanced Lighting Technologies - (Sec. 211) Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to require all general purpose lighting in federal buildings by the end of FTY2013 to be Energy Star products or products designated under the Federal Energy Management Program.

(Sec. 212) Exempts from current standards certain incandescent reflector lamps.

(Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary to establish and award Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prizes for solid state lighting. Establishes a Bright Light Tomorrow permanent fund to award such prizes. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 214) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Senate should: (1) pass a set of mandatory, technology-neutral standards to establish firm energy efficiency performance targets for lighting products; (2) ensure that the standards become effective within the next 10 years; (3) establish efficiency requirements to ensure that replacement lamps will provide consumers with the same quantity of light while using significantly less energy; (4) ensure that consumers will continue to have multiple product choices; and (5) work with industry and key stakeholders on measures that can assist consumers and businesses in making the important transition to more efficient lighting.

(Sec. 215) Instructs the Secretary to use appropriations under this Act to make grants to implement renewable energy projects. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle B: Expediting New Energy Efficiency Standards - (Sec. 222) Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to prescribe or revise standards affecting: (1) regional efficiency for heating and cooling products; (2) procedures for new or amended standards; (3) energy conservation; (4) energy efficiency labeling for consumer electronic products; (5) residential boiler efficiency; (6) electric motor efficiency; and (7) home appliances.

(Sec. 223) Requires the Secretary to publish a final rule on the annual fuel utilization efficiency of furnace fans by December 31, 2014.

(Sec. 225) Requires the Secretary to review test procedures for all covered products at least once every seven years.

(Sec. 231) Requires research into technologies to improve the energy efficiency of appliances and mechanical systems for buildings in cold climates.

(Sec. 232) Directs the Secretary to: (1) award, competitively, financial incentives for the manufacture of high-efficiency consumer products; and (2) establish a program to support, develop, and promote the use of new materials manufacturing and industrial and commercial processes, technologies, and techniques to optimize energy efficiency. Authorizes appropriations for the latter program.

Subtitle C: Promoting High Efficiency Vehicles, Advanced Batteries, and Energy Storage - (Sec. 241) Directs the Secretary to establish a research and development (R&D) program to determine ways to reduce: (1) the weight of vehicles to improve fuel efficiency without compromising passenger safety; and (2) the cost of lightweight materials (such as steel alloys, fiberglass, and carbon composites) required for the construction of lighter-weight vehicles.

(Sec. 242) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide grants and loan guarantees to automobile manufacturers and suppliers.

(Sec. 243) Directs the Secretary to provide facility funding awards to automobile manufacturers and component suppliers to pay not more than 30% of the cost of: (1) reequipping, expanding, or establishing a manufacturing facility in the United States to produce advanced technology vehicles or qualifying components; and (2) engineering integration performed in the United States of qualifying vehicles and qualifying components.

(Sec. 244) United States Energy Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 - Instructs the Secretary to: (1) implement an R&D and demonstration program for energy storage systems for motor transportation and electricity transmission and distribution; and (2) establish an Energy Storage Advisory Council and up to four Energy Storage Research Centers.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2017.

(Sec. 245) Instructs the Secretary to establish a grants program for: (1) demonstrations of plug-in electric drive vehicles; (2) qualified electric drive transportation deployment projects; and (3) programs or activities to encourage owners of electrice drive transportation technoligies to use off-peak electricty or to have the load managed by the grant-receiving public or private utility. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2013.

(Sec. 246) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to extend its coverage to specified electric vehicles entitled to credits for alternative fuel usage. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2013.

(247) Directs the Secretary, if specified conditions are met, to establish a commercial advanced insulation demonstration program.

Subtitle D: Setting Energy Efficiency Goals - (Sec. 251) Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to publish an oil savings target and action plan.

(Sec. 252) Declares national energy efficiency improvement goals. Requires the Secretary to develop a strategic plan and conduct a national media campaign. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.

(Sec. 253) Directs the Secretary, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and other appropriate federal agencies to support the use, development, and demonstration of advanced transmission and distribution technologies as part of a program to modernize the electricity grid system.

(Sec. 255) Requires the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress concerning the status of smart grid deployments nationwide and any regulatory or government barriers to continued deployment; and (2) implement smart grid technology R&D program, including power grid digital information technology and a smart grid regional demonstration initiative.

(Sec. 257) Directs FERC to coordinate with smart grid stakeholders to develop protocols to establish a flexible framework for the connection of smart grid devices and systems to enable all electric resources, including demand-side resources, to contribute to an efficient, reliable electricity network.

(Sec. 258) Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require states to consider requiring that, before undertaking investments in nonadvanced grid technologies, a state electric utility demonstrate that it has considered an investment in a qualified smart grid system.

(Sec. 259) Declares it is U.S. policy to provide support for projects and activities to facilitate the energy independence of the United States so as to ensure that all but 10% of U.S. energy needs are supplied by domestic energy sources.

(Sec. 260) Establishes the National Commission on Energy Independence to conduct a comprehensive review of U.S. energy policy and to report to Congress and the President on the progress of United States in meeting its long-term goal of energy independence.

Subtitle E: Promoting Federal Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - (Sec. 261) Amends EPCA to set forth federal fleet conservation requirements, including a mandatory reduction in petroleum consumption that achieves: (1) by October 1, 2015, at least a 20% reduction in petroleum consumption by each federal agency; and (2) increased alternative fuel consumption by 10% annually by each federal agency.

(Sec. 262) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to revise the federal requirement to purchase electricity generated by renewable energy.

(Sec. 263) Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to repeal: (1) mandatory availability of certain energy and water cost savings for agency expenditure for additional energy efficiency measures; and (2) the sunset of (thus making permanent) federal agency authority to enter into energy savings performance contracts.

Instructs the Secretaries of Energy and of Defense to report to Congress and the President on the potential of energy savings performance contracts to reduce energy consumption and provide energy and cost savings in nonbuilding applications.

(Sec. 264) Increases the energy performance requirements for federal buildings.

(Sec. 265) Instructs the Secretary to identify federal sites that could achieve significant cost-effective energy savings through the use of combined heat and power or district energy installations.

Permits such energy savings to be applied to meet agency energy performance requirements.

(Sec. 266) Amends ECPA to set forth a schedule for reduced consumption of fossil fuel-generated energy by federal buildings.

(Sec. 267) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to modify the application of international energy conservation code to public and assisted housing.

(Sec. 268) Instructs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a consortium of business, academic, and governmental entities to implement an Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Initiative to: (1) reduce the quantity of energy consumed by commercial buildings in the United States; and (2) achieve the development of energy efficient commercial buildings. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 269) Amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Secretary to designate as a national interest electric transmission corridor any geographic area experiencing electric energy transmission capacity constraints or congestion that adversely affects consumers.

(Sec. 270) Prescribes product requirements for any federal agency purchasing a commercially available, off-the-shelf product using external standby power devices or containing an internal standby power function (eligible product) that is also listed in a Department of Energy (DOE) compilation.

(Sec. 270A) Amends ECPA to require that, if life-cycle cost-effective, at least 30% of the hot water demand for each new or substantially modified federal building be met through the installation and use of solar hot water heaters.

(Sec. 270B) Directs the Secretary to implement a Renewable Energy Innovation Manufacturing Partnership Program to make assistance awards to eligible entities for R&D relating to the manufacturing of renewable energy technologies. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2013.

(Sec. 270C) Amends the Small Business Act to provide for express loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

(Sec. 270D) Instructs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) promulgate final rules that ensure compliance with a statutory small business education and assistance program; (2) publish a detailed plan regarding how the Administrator will assist small business concerns in becoming more energy efficient; and (3) build on the Energy Star for Small Business Program of DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Establishes an Assistant Administrator for Small Business Energy Policy to: (1) administer the Energy Star for Small Business Program; and (2) promote energy efficiency efforts for small business concerns and reduce their energy costs.

Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish a Small Business Energy Efficiency Pilot Program to provide energy efficiency assistance to small business concerns through small business development centers; and (2) select small business development center programs from designated states.

Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate and report to certain congressional committees on the Efficiency Pilot Program. Authorizes appropriations.

Requires the Administrator to conduct a pilot program to provide information regarding telecommuting to small business concerns, especially those owned by or employing individuals with disabilities, particularly veterans. Authorizes appropriations.

Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator to ensure that certain federal agencies give high priority to small business concerns that participate in or conduct energy efficiency or renewable energy system R&D projects.

Subtitle F: Assisting State and Local Governments in Energy Efficiency - (Sec 271) Amends ECPA to: (1) increase funding for weatherization assistance for low-income persons; and (2) extend through FY2012 the authorization of appropriations for such assistance as well as for the State Energy Conservation Plan program.

(Sec. 273) Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require each electric utility to: (1) integrate energy efficiency resources into utility, state, and regional plans; and (2) adopt policies establishing cost-effective energy efficiency as a priority resource.

Requires each natural gas utility to: (1) integrate energy efficiency resources into its plans and planning processes; and (2) adopt policies that establish energy efficiency as a priority resource in its plans and planning processes.

(Sec. 274) Instructs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to state energy offices, public utility regulatory commissions, and nonregulated utilities regarding the energy efficiency and demand response programs.

(Sec. 275) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to direct the Secretary to provide: (1) block grants to state, Indian tribal, and local governments to implement environmentally beneficial energy strategies; and (2) a supplemental grant to pay the federal share of costs of any activity relating to implementation of such a strategy. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.

(Sec. 276) Amends EPCA to direct the Secretary to award grants to institutions of higher education (including those with small endowments) to: (1) implement improved energy efficiency on the institution grounds and facilities; and (2) engage in innovative energy sustainability projects.

(Sec. 277) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to instruct the Secretary of Labor to establish an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program that includes: (1) assistance to support national research to develop labor market data and to track future workforce trends resulting from energy-related initiatives; (2) National Energy Training Partnerships Grants to develop an energy efficiency and renewable energy industries workforce; (3) grants for states to administer labor market and labor exchange informational programs; and (4) grants for states administer renewable energy and energy efficiency workforce development programs.

(Sec. 278) States that Congress encourages each local educational agency receiving federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to develop a policy to reduce the incidence of school bus idling at schools while picking up and unloading students. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.

(Sec. 279) Amends ECPA to extend weatherization assistance for low-income persons to Puerto Rico.

(Sec. 280) Instructs the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration to: (1) review and analyze information on planned refinery outages to determine whether scheduling of a planned refinery outage may nationally or regionally affect the price or supply of any refined petroleum product; and (2) report biannually to the Secretary of Energy.

Requires the Secretary, upon receipt of the report, to make such information available to refinery operators to encourage reductions of the quantity of refinery capacity that is out of service at any time.

(Sec. 281) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to revise the technical criteria for the year 2020 governing gasification projects for the clean coal power initiative.

(Sec. 282) Amends the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act to set forth requirements for personnel administration by the Federal Coordinator without regard to federal civil service requirements for appointments in the competitive service.

(Sec. 283) Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to revamp the criteria upon which a lease, easement, or right-of-way will be issued on a noncompetitive basis.

Subtitle G: Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion - (Sec. 292) Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) a marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy research program; (2) national ocean energy research centers at institutions of higher education. Authorizes appropriations: (1) for FY2008-FY2012 for the former program; and (2) indefinitely for the latter.

Title III: Carbon Capture and Storage Research, Development, and Demonstration - Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act of 2007 - (Sec. 302) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to establish an R&D program for carbon capture and storage. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.

(Sec. 303) Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) complete a national assessment of capacity for carbon dioxide; (2) enter into partnerships to collect and integrate data from other drilling programs relevant to carbon dioxide storage in geologic formations.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.

(Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary of Energy to implement a program to demonstrate technologies for the large-scale capture of carbon dioxide from industrial sources of carbon dioxide. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2012.

(Sec. 305) Instructs the Architect of the Capitol to evaluate methods to establish a competitive grant demonstration program for the capture and storage or use of carbon dioxide emitted from the Capitol power plant as a result of burning coal. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 306) Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to complete a national assessment of: (1) the quantity of carbon stored in and released from terrestrial ecosystems, including from man-caused and natural fires; and (2) the annual flux of covered greenhouse gases in and out of terrestrial ecosystems. Prescribes methodology and implementation procedures. Requires development of adaptation or mitigation strategies employable to enhance sequestration of carbon in each terrestrial ecosystem, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and adapt to climate change.

(Sec. 307) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a research program on abrupt climate change.

Title IV: Cost-Effective and Environmentally Sustainable Public Buildings - Subtitle A: Public Buildings Cost Reduction - Public Buildings Cost Reduction Act of 2007 - (Sec. 402) Instructs the Administrator of General Services (GSA) to establish a program to accelerate the use of more cost-effective technologies and practices and geothermal heat pumps at GSA facilities. Prescribes procedures for GSA facility technologies and practices.

(Sec. 403) Instructs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a demonstration grant program for local governments to: (1) deploy cost-effective technologies and practices; and (2) achieve operational cost savings, through the application of cost-effective technologies and practices.

Requires a final report that summarizes total cost savings achieved, and recommendations for further action.

Subtitle B: Installation of Photovoltaic System at Department of Energy Headquarters Building (Sec. 411) Directs GSA to install a photovoltaic system at department of energy headquarters building ( Forrestal Building).

Subtitle C: High-Performance Green Buildings - High-Performance Green Buildings Act of 2007 - Part I: Office of High-performance Green Buildings (Sec. 432) Instructs the GSA Administrator to establish the Office of High-Performance Green Buildings managed by a Director in the career-reserved Senior Executive service.

Requires such Director to: (1) submit biennially to Congress a status report on the green building initiatives; (2) establish the Green Building Advisory Committee; (3) maintain a national high-performance green building information clearinghouse; (4) develop a high-performance green building research plan; (5) implement a federal facilities indoor air quality program to ensure occupant safety; and (6) analyze budget and contracting practices that affect high-performance green buildings, including barriers to green building life-cycle costing and budgetary issues.

Part II: Healthy High-Performance Schools (Sec. 442) Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Administrator) to provide grants to state agencies to implement EPA programs that target environmental quality of school buildings.

(Sec. 443) Requires the EPA Administrator to develop voluntary school site selection guidelines regarding: (1) special vulnerability of children to hazardous substances or pollution where potential school site contamination exists; (2) modes of transportation available to students and staff; (3) efficient use of energy; (4) potential use of a school as an emergency shelter; and (5) state implementation of school environmental health program.

Part III: Strengthening Federal Leadership (Sec. 451) Requires the Director of the Office of High-Performance Green Buildings (Director) to identify incentives to encourage the use of green buildings and related technology in the operations of the federal government.

(Sec. 452) Requires the Director of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to issue guidance to federal procurement executives providing direction and the option to renegotiate the design of proposed facilities, renovations for existing facilities, and leased facilities to incorporate improvements consistent with this Act.

(Sec. 453) Instructs the Comptroller General to report to Congress and selected officials on the results of an audit of the implementation of this Act governing high-performance green buildings.

(Sec. 454) Prescribes storm water runoff requirements for federal development projects.

Part IV: Demonstration Project (Sec. 461)Instructs the Director to establish guidelines to implement a demonstration project to contribute to the research goals of the Office.

Title V: Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (Sec. 501) Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act -Amends federal transportation law to instruct the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe average fuel economy standards for automobiles, commercial medium-duty or heavy-duty on-highway vehicles for model years 2011 - 2020.

(Sec. 503) Revises fuel economy standards governing: (1) feasibility criteria governing maximum average fuel economy; and (2) alternative standards.

(Sec. 505) Requires such Secretary to issue a motor vehicle safety standard that addresses management of crash forces in multiple vehicle frontal and side impact crashes between different types, sizes, and weights of automobiles.

(Sec. 506) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a corporate average fuel economy credit trading program to allow manufacturers whose automobiles exceed prescribed average fuel economy standards to earn credits to be sold to manufacturers whose automobiles fail to achieve such standards.

(Sec. 507) Revises fuel economy labeling information to include: (1) fuel economy and greenhouse gas and other emissions consequences of operation; (2) a green label program; and (3) a fuelstar program.

(Sec. 509) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to execute an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to develop a report evaluating vehicle fuel economy standards.

(Sec. 510) Modifies standards governing executive agency automobiles to require the head of an Executive agency to ensure that each new automobile procured by the agency is as fuel efficient as practicable.

(Sec. 511) Instructs the Secretary of Energy to prescribe regulations that require the manufacturer of automobiles for sale in the United States to: (1) prominently display on each automobile that it is capable of operating on alternative fuel.

(Sec. 512) Requires the EPA Administrator to review periodically the accuracy of fuel economy labeling procedures and report thereon to certain congressional committees.

(Sec. 513) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) promulgate rules establishing a national tire fuel efficiency consumer information program for tires designed for use on motor vehicles; and (2) report thereon to certain congressional committees.

(Sec. 514) Instructs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) implement an Advanced Battery Initiative to support R&D of battery technologies through competitively-awarded grants; and (2) select an Industry Alliance to represent private, for-profit firms whose primary business is battery manufacture.

(Sec. 515) Requires the EPA Administrator to promulgate regulations to ensure that diesel-equivalent fuels derived from renewable biomass that are introduced into interstate commerce are tested and certified to comply with American Society for Testing and Materials standards.

(Sec. 516) Instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Secretary of Transportation and to the Energy Security Fund those civil penalties obtained from legal actions to enforce this Act.

(Sec. 517) Establishes the Energy Security Fund to implement the Alternative Fuels Grant Program implemented by the Secretary of Energy to expand availability of alternative fuels to consumers.

(Sec. 519) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to implement an action plan to ensure that, beginning with model year 2015, the percentage of new alternative fuel automobiles for sale in the United States is not less than 50%.

(Sec. 521) Directs the Secretaries of Transportation and of Energy to study and report to Congress on the adequacy of transportation of domestically-produced renewable fuels by railroad and other modes.

Title VI: Price Gouging - Petroleum Consumer Price Gouging Protection Act (Sec. 603) - Prohibits the sale of crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates at unconscionably excessive price by a supplier during any period declared to be an energy emergency by the President.

(Sec. 604) Prohibits: (1) market manipulation or market deception in connection with the purchase or sale of crude oil gasoline or petroleum distillates at wholesale; (2) reporting false information regarding such products.

(Sec. 606) Sets forth conditions of supply shortages under which the President is authorized to declare that a federal energy emergency exists.

(Sec. 607) Provides for: (1) Federal Trade Commission enforcement of this Act; and (2) state Attorneys General enforcement of this Act.

(Sec. 609) Subjects violators to civil and criminal penalties.

Title VII: Energy Diplomacy and Security - Energy Diplomacy and Security Act of 2007 (Sec. 703) Expresses the sense of Congress regarding national energy security and implementation of United States international energy policy among the relevant federal agencies engaged in relevant agreements and activities, including: (1) there should be established within the Office of the Secretary of State a Coordinator for International Energy Affairs; and (2) there should be established within the Department of Energy an Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Security.

(Sec. 704) Authorizes the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy to: (1) expand strategic energy partnerships with foreign governments and submit annual progress reports thereon to Congress; and (2) establish petroleum crisis response mechanisms with the Governments of China and India; and (3) establish a Western Hemisphere energy crisis response mechanism.

Directs the President should place on the agenda for discussion at the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency, the merits of establishing an international energy program application procedure.

Requires the following reports to be submitted to congressional committees regarding: (1) coordination of the domestic strategic petroleum reserve and the international petroleum reserve; (2) establishment of the international petroleum crisis response mechanisms; and (3) actions in connection with the emergency application procedure.

(Sec. 706) Instructs the Secretary of State to establish the Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum to implement: (1) an Energy Crisis Initiative that will establish measures to respond to temporary energy supply disruptions; (2) an Energy Sustainability Initiative to foster reliable supply sources of fuels; and (3) an Energy for Development Initiative to promote energy access for underdeveloped areas.

Authorizes the Secretary of State to seek cooperation with other governments in the Western Hemisphere in establishing a Hemisphere Energy Industry Group, and to report thereon to certain congressional committees.

(Sec. 707) Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to add the Secretary of Energy as member of the National Security Council.

(Sec. 708) Requires the President to report annually to Congress on the national energy security of the United States.

(Sec. 710) No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2007, or `NOPEC', Amends the Sherman Act [sic] to prohibit any foreign state, or entity from taking specified actions in restraint of trade (including setting prices) when such action, has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or other petroleum product in the United States.

Empowers the Attorney General to enforce this Act.

(Sec. 711) Provides a statutory mechanism to allocate the contingent costs associated with participation by the United States in the international nuclear liability compensation system established by the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (Convention).

Declares that: (1) funds made available under certain indemnification provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 shall be used to cover the contingent cost resulting from any Price-Anderson incident; and (2) funds made available to the United States under the Convention with respect to a Price-Anderson incident shall be used to satisfy public liability resulting from the Price-Anderson incident.

Requires each nuclear supplier to participate in a retrospective risk pooling program to cover the contingent cost resulting from a covered incident outside the United States that is not a Price-Anderson incident.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to make available to nuclear suppliers, and insurers of nuclear suppliers, information to support the voluntary establishment and maintenance of private insurance against any risk for which nuclear suppliers may be required to pay deferred payments under this Act.

Title VIII: Miscellaneous (Sec. 801) Instructs Secretary to study and report to Congress on the laws affecting the siting of privately owned electric distribution wires on and across public rights-of-way.

A New Energy

2007-11-06T09:49:00.001-06:00

Annotation of http://usaenergyindependence.com/

2007-08-15T13:22:00.000-05:00

Click here to view an annotation of http://usaenergyindependence.com/

Four Dollar a Gallon Gasoline Doesn’t Scare Me, but What Does Scare Me Is……

2007-05-15T08:23:00.000-05:00

It’s just a matter of time, this month, next month, this year, next year $4.00 a gallon gasoline and higher will be a factor in our lives.

May 15 AOL quoted Phil Flynn, a senior market analyst at Alaron Trading in Chicago as saying, "I think it's going to happen. Unless things change dramatically, I think we're going to see $4 a gallon." Flynn said, “Gasoline stocks have fallen for the past twelve weeks straight and are now at their lowest level for this time of year since 1956.”

In the same article “Peter Beutel, an oil analyst at consulting firm Cameron Hanover, noted in a recent report that refineries have not operated above 95 percent capacity since Hurricanes Rita and Katrina in 2005. Before 2005, the refineries, clustered around the Gulf coast and badly damaged in the storms, routinely operated at over 95 percent capacity.”

However, $4.00 a gallon gasoline doesn’t scare me.

Despite some inflation, a change in life style by some, $4.00 a gallon gasoline can probably be digested by the American economy. It won’t be pleasant, but will probably spur some of us to opt for more flex fuel and/or more efficient fuel consuming vehicles.

What does scare me is the continuing trouble in Nigeria. The United States imports approximately 14% of its oil from that African country.

Today, The NIGERIAN TRIBUNE reported “As at last week, the militants in the Niger Delta put Nigeria oil industry on edge. Eni [Agip] Companies in Nigeria were the worst hit as the attackers paralysed operations at the Brass oil terminal of Agip by sabotaging the pipelines feeding the terminal. Chevron Nigeria Limited also announced that it would begin to withdraw staff from offshore location because of escalating violence in the creeks after six of its workers were kidnapped and it also had to shut in 57,000 barrels of oil.”

What happens if the terrorists continue their endeavors and eventually bring Nigeria’s oil exports to a stop?

All we need to do is look back to the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973. Then the United States was only importing 30% of its oil consumption in more than 60% in 2006.

The Arab oil embargo of 1973 created a 6%-7% percent decline in consumption of oil by the United States, . Yet, the price of oil quadrupled and the NYSE lost $97 billion of value.

Now here is what really scares me.

Imagine if the situation in Nigeria continues to deteriorate to the point where its oil fields are shut down creating a 14% shortfall in oil supplies to the United States. That’s more than double the shortfall that was created in 1973 by the Arab Oil Embargo.

The results of such a shortfall would make the consequences the United States suffered from the Arab Oil Embargo pale in comparison.

It is easy to imagine a nightmare of double digit inflation, a downward spiraling of the standard of living, long lines at gas and even food stations, and possible riots and worse.

That nightmare is what spurs me to urge all who read this to work for U.S. energy independence through:

The development of U.S. fuel resources.
The continuing development of alternative fuel resources , such as ethanol, wind, solar, and even such esoteric sources such as the fusion of Helium³.
Conservation in vehicle fuel consumption.
The development of and the use of more energy efficient housing, manufacturing and transportation.
Development of new modes of mass transit..

If the United States can achieve near energy independence than the nightmare of severe energy shortages will never occur. Instead the nightmare is replaced greater prosperity throughout the world through the development of new and alternative energy resources. These developments will raise the standard of living of even those in third world nations, without increasing the environmental footprint that such development created in the past.

That’s why USA Energy Independence dot com exists. To provide you our reader a format of news and views of technology and leadership that can prevent a nightmare and create a dream.

Stossel Sacrifices Solid Reporting in "Corn God..." report

2007-05-06T21:21:00.000-05:00

The rebuttal of Keith Sanderson, President and Co-Founder U.S.A. Energy Independence to John Stossel of ABC's recent piece "Sacrificing our Children to the Corn God."

John,

I am usually quite impressed by your objectivity and in-depth research regarding "Myths and Lies and Downright Stupidity". . However this time you and your team showed about as little in-depth knowledge about ethanol as you accuse many of your colleagues about having about science or economics.

Here are four reasons you are wrong regarding your piece "Sacrificing our Children to the Corn God,"

1. Those who are in the hunt for ethanol such as Andy Karsner, Undersecretary of State, Vinod Khosla cited as one of the most influential venture captiaists by both Forbes and Fortune magazines, Admiral Woolsey, VP Booz & Allen and former head of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Dr. Chu of of the Livermore research center who just received a $500,000,000 research grant from BP will all agree that corn ethanol is only a tranistional fuel source. They would likely agree that the U.S could not depend upon corn or row crop ethanol as the primary source for ethanol. The future of ethanol is in cellulosic ethanol. And had your team done its job they would have known that. You and your team failed to either understand the transitional nature of corn ethanol or chose not to include the whole story about ethanol in your report.

2. Luddite-like you chose to report on ethanol as if all things will remain the same as far as energy. Here are the facts. According to the U.S. department of energy the U.S. imported more than 60% of its petroleum needs in 2007. Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Nigeria each provide us more than 10% of our oil. These nations are either unstable politically or located in unstable parts of the world. Imagine what would happen if something occurred to interrupt their oil to us. To help you imagine just think of the oil crisis in 1973. At that time the United States was importing far less oil as a percentage of its needs than the 60% of its consumption that it imports today. Gasoline rose in price from $.30 a gallon to $1.20. Today, a similar curtailment of oil supply could raise gasoline pump prices from $3.20 a gallon to almost $12.00 a gallon. Without both corn and cellulosic ethanol development a curtailment in oil imports to the U.S. will be crippling to your economy and have a much greater negative impact on our children than your claims of danger from ethanol development will ever have..

3. Transport. Yes corn or cellulosic ethanol are more corrosive than gasoline. However, there is not the need to transport ethanol the great distances one must transport gasoline. Why? Because ethanol refineries are not scalable as are gasoline refineries. The nature of ethanol refineries (corn or celluolsic) scatter them across the country. Yes some modifications will have to be made to transport ethanol, but there will not be a need to secure pipelines in unstable areas such as Nigeria, and the Middle East, or secure ports and shipping lanes from those nations. In addition, Louisiana, Texas,California refine 45% of the nation's gasoline. We luckily escaped severe damage on Louisiana refineries by Hurricane Katrina. Experts such as Admiral Woolsey suggest that having our gasoline refining assets concentrated leaves this country open to supply interruptions due to both natural disasters and terrorism. The very nature of ethanol scatters our refining assets across the country.

4. Technology moves on despite the fact your reporting doesn't recognize it. The automakers tell us they will have hybrid vehicles within the next ten years that will get more than 100 miles per gallon. The average commuter (40 miles per day) will not consume a drop of gasoline with new lithium battery technology. The increased gasoline mileage coupled with the production of corn ethanol and increased production of cellulosic ethanol can and will seriously decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

Mr. Stossel, I invite you to unlike most of your peers, admit that you made an error in reporting and set the record straight by busting the unfair myth you have created about ethanol by concentrating on corn ethanol and not on the total ethanol story.

Keith W. Sanderson
President and Cofounder

Annotation of http://usaenergyindependence.com/

2007-04-15T11:02:00.000-05:00

Lease or Buy Your Next Car?

2007-01-08T12:27:00.000-06:00

USAEnergyIndependence.com » Autoshow » Article
Jan. 8, 2007 16:10
New E85 Flex Fuel Vehicles, Hybrids, Diesel Engines Indicate Lease
By Dr. Energee

Lease or Buy Your Next Car?
Green Technology Signals Lease

The 1990s should have taught us something about laying down hard cash for rapidly changing and evolving technologies.

Like me, you probably bought a new computer for yourself or your business about once every two years starting around 1988. The fast pace of development led to computers with increased clock speeds, greater hard drive storage, evolving operating systems (Windows 95?), and the bulge in software code that pushed the envelope further. These were the impetus behind constant new investments in hardware, software upgrades and storage devices. By the mid 90s, most IT managers figured that it was better to lease than buy.

The evolving technology game it appears confronts us now with automobiles. At the Detroit Auto Show this week, GM introduced the Chevy Volt. The Volt can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110-volt outlet for approximately six hours a day. When the lithium-ion battery is fully charged, the Volt can deliver 40 city miles of pure electric vehicle range. GM's future vision power plant relies on E-Flex technology that translates to (E) electric propulsion generated through battery power maintained from a small engine fueled by [Flex) flexible fuel alternatives such as E85, biodiesel or hydrogen. Although a concept vehicle, earlier blog-meisters talked about a vehicle with these characteristics being available mid 2008. This week they are talking about "?". Point is these new vehicles are coming and coming soon at GM, especially with Toyota at their heels with their own 113 mpg vehicle due out in 2008.

Rapid technology changes in the automotive industry are already in play. GM announced at the Los Angeles Auto show in late November its intention to produce a plug-in hybrid SUV that can achieve 113 mpg through use of lithium ion batteries by 2009, as part of its VUE Green line 2 mode system.

In 2008, the 2-mode hybrid system will expand to the Cadillac Escalade full-size SUV and the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra crew cab pickups.

In 2007, the GM Hybrid system will expand to the Saturn AURA Green Line and Chevrolete Malibu front wheel drive midsize sedans.

In 2007, the 2-mode hybrid system will debut in the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon full size SUVs.

TOYOTA already has four hybrid models, Camry, Highlander, Prius, and Explore.

That does not take into account the growing availability of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) available for 2007 including the recently announced FFV-capable H3 Hummer. See bottom of this article or a list of 2007 E85-capable (Ethanol blend of 85% Ethanol and 15% gasoline) models from our USAEnergyIndependence.com and EthanolIsUs.com websites. (Check our websites for the E85 fuel station closest to you.)

Still, we’re not through. A flood of new diesel engines, some capable of burning Biodiesel blends up to B100 (all biodiesel, no petroleum diesel), will be available for 2008.

DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen said that their Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, VW and Audi brands were designing nearly a dozen cars and sport utility vehicles with diesel engines using an emission-cleaning technology called Bluetec.

The Bluetec emission-cleaning technology was developed by Mercedes-Benz to meet the new U.S. diesel emission standards. The system uses special filters to trap particulate matter that causes sooty emissions.

To meet California standards, a special catalytic converter or a device to inject ammonia-based liquid into the fuel stream will be added to reduce smog-causing nitrogen oxide emissions.

Mercedes-Benz debuted a trio of Bluetec-equipped cars last November — an E320 sedan, an ML sport utility and an R-Class sport wagon at the Los Angeles auto show, and said it intended to add the system to its GL sport utility next year. Those vehicles are sold in 45 states where emission rules aren't as strict as in California.

Chrysler said its initial Bluetec diesel would be a Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV. Volkswagen intends to use a 4-cylinder diesel in its Jetta sedan and a new small SUV called the Tiguan in 2008, and diesel versions of its Touareg large SUV and Passat midsize sedan by 2009. Audi is expected to launch a diesel vehicle in 2008.

New hybrids. New Flex Fuel capable vehicles. New diesel engines. There’s a lot to choose from in the next few years. Most of these technology-changed vehicles will start hitting showrooms throughout 2008, which we predict will be a pivotal year for Green automotive technology.

So we’re recommending anyone looking to buy this year instead lease (and negotiate for a short term one at that) a fuel-efficient FFV-capable or hybrid vehicle. You may end up paying more this year as a down payment and with greater monthly outlay for the lease, but the technology upgrade will reward you in 2009-2010 and bring us all toward greater energy independence in the near term.

2007 FFV Capable Vehicles
DAIMLER/CHRYSLER
4.7 L H3 Hummer
4.7L Dodge Durango
4.7L Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 Series
4.7L Chrysler Aspen
4.7L Jeep Commander
4.7L Jeep Grand Cherokee
4.7L Dodge Dakota
3.3L Dodge Caravan, Grand Caravan and Caravan Cargo
2.7L Chrysler Sebring Sedan

FORD
4.6L Ford Crown Victoria (2-valve, excluding taxi and police units)
5.4L Ford F-150
4.6L Lincoln Town Car (2-valve)

GM
5.3L V-8 engine Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra half-ton pickups 2WD & 4WD
5.3L Vortec-engine Avalanche, Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon & Yukon XL
3.5L Chevy Impala (LS, 1LT & 2LT)
3.5L Chevy Monte Carlo (LS and LT models only)
5.3L Chevy Express
5.3L GMC Savana
3.9L Chevy Uplander
3.9L Pontiac Montana (Offered only in Canada and Mexico by special order)
3.9L Saturn Relay
3.9L Buick Terraza

MERCEDES
2.5L C230 Sedan automatic AND manual transmission

MERCURY
4.6L Mercury Grand Marquis (2-valve)

NISSAN
TITAN 5.6L Titan V8 engine
5.6L Armada V8 engine

Iran threatens to stop oil flow via Hormuz strait

2007-01-08T11:31:00.000-06:00

JPost.com » Iran » Article
Jan. 8, 2007 16:10
Iran threatens to stop oil flow via Hormuz strait
By JPOST.COM STAFF

A senior Iranian officer warned that if the West continues to threaten Iran's economy over its nuclear program, Teheran will discontinue the flow of oil via the Strait of Hormuz, Israel Radio reported Monday.

According to the officer, 40% of the world's oil is transferred through the strait, and the world is dependent on Iran for a source of energy and a stable economy.

Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, added that Iran cannot allow itself to give up the right to develop its nuclear technology program.

Energy Independence | USAEnergyIndependence.com

2006-10-19T21:40:00.000-05:00

Energy Independence | USAEnergyIndependence.com

Thank You. Mr. President

2006-10-16T08:42:00.000-05:00

October 12, 2006

“I really appreciate that. Thank you.”

With true earnestness and heart-felt sincerity I did not think I’d get or warrant, I had simple phatic communion with the President yesterday. We were in a receiving line at the Advancing Renewable Energy Conference in St. Louis. “We” were about 200 or so conference-goers composed of DOE and USDA PHD economists, agronomists and staffers, renewable energy industry association members, business leaders and others who were fortunate to be close to the podium. There were about 1000 conferees in the Hall whose expertise covered Wind, Solar, Ethanol, E85, Biodiesel, and other abstracts and permutations of bioenergy.

Mike Johanns, Secretary of USDA, Sam Bodman, Secretary of DOE were there too.
(How often do you get the President and 2 Cabinet Level members in the same space at the same time?) I don’t think anyone can quibble about the Administration’s commitment to our Energy Independence, not with these guys passionately pushing the Agenda.

Concern for the future of Renewable Energy from an Oil Man, as the President described himself, was refreshing. But like others in the audience, including Partner Keith Sanderson and I whose careers started in the Mining business 30 years ago, it was important to share the same communion and passion. There were others in the audience there who had been working on the Renewable Energy “experiment” for the last 30 years who never gave up the hope for a brighter, less oil-dependent future. Their time for recognition had come. We are grateful to them.

When I reached out to shake the President’s hand, I said “Thank you for all you’ve done for us sir.” Distracted by the line-of-hands, he first looked forward to the next person in the receiving line, then looked back to me and said, “I really appreciate that. Thank you.” He then looked ahead, looked back at me again with a quick glance, smiled and moved on.

OPEC’S GREED ANOTHER REASON FOR ALTERNATIVE FUEL !

2006-10-06T08:14:00.000-05:00

During the recent spike in oil prices the members of the OPEC Cartel saw an interesting phenomenon reinforced. Oil Consuming nations are willing and seemingly able to pay increasingly higher prices for oil.

Now that demand has lessened for oil and oil prices have returned to more moderate levels, it seems OPEC plans to hold a meeting of its members and make a decision to reduce oil production in to prevent oil prices from continuing their current downward trend.

I want to thank the members of OPEC for being greedy and showing the world their true colors. Perhaps your greed will be like a cold dose of reality. Maybe more Americans will wake up to the fact that when one is dependent on a substance, be it oil, or drugs, and a cartel controls the supply, price is a matter of how greedy the cartel wishes to be. The brutal truth is a cartel will gladly hike its prices as the substance it controls becomes in shorter supply or the consumer becomes more and more addicted; OPEC is no different.

The conference for Advancing Renewable Energy is being held in St. Louis on October 10-12. USA Energy Independence is proud to be a sponsor of this event. Members of our staff look forward to listening to the speakers and interviewing some of them. Some leading companies will be exhibiting at the conference and we plan to visit their exhibit booths, as well talk with other attendees.

We will then post what we heard, saw and learned on www.usaenergyindpendence.com in order to provide our visitors with information about what is going on in the quest for Advancing Renewable Energy. We believe it is activity such as advancing renewable energy that will reduce this nation’s dependency on the OPEC Cartel and move us closer to USA Energy Independence.

Keith Sanderson
Cofounder USA Energy Independence
President and Editorial Director

Motorweek Discusses Biodiesel on PBS in 2005

2006-09-23T06:50:00.000-05:00


Biodiesel information as presented by Motorweek in 2005.

The Ethanol Boom

2006-09-22T12:59:00.000-05:00

Americans Find A Fuel Source In Corn

Technology Energy Gas Oil Fuel

As oil prices continue to rise, Americans are getting their fuel from an unlikely source Ã¢Â€Â“ corn.

Across the country, plants are opening that convert corn into ethanol - a clean burning, renewable fuel. Ethanol improves car performance since it cleans the engine, fuel lines and increases the octane of a blended fuel. It also helps the environment Ã¢Â€Â“ a 10 percent blend of ethanol in fuel can reduce emissions by up to 30 percent.

Thousands of gas stations across the country offer drivers 10 percent ethanol blend fuel, and more than 600 stations offer 85 percent ethanol. That number is expected to grow with the recently passed energy bill that mandates an increase in ethanol fuel production. As demand grows, producers are using automation technology to produce ethanol more efficiently.

SOT:
- David Vandergriend, ICM
- David Meyer, Siemens
- Ron Fagen, Fagen Inc.
- David Reisz, Farmer
- Al Jentz, Plant Manager, Amaizing Energy
- Kate Brookes, On Scene
- Becky Constant, Amaizing Energy, Board of Directors
- Eugene Gochenour,Farmer

B-roll:
- Corn stalks
- Trucks unloading corn at plant
- Gas stations offering ethanol blend
- Cars on road

Produced for Siemens

Ethanol vs. Gasoline

2006-09-22T08:08:00.000-05:00

KEYWORDS: General Motors Automobiles Cars Consumer Fuel Gas

STORY SUMMARY:
As the price of gas hits record highs, alternative fuel sources continue to be debated. One alternative fuel which has been touted for years as a renewable, low-emission resource that could replace oil is gaining momentum.

More than four million vehicles on the road today can run on gasoline as well as ethanol, the clean-burning fuel made from corn and other biomass sources. The number of stations offering ethanol has also jumped 60 percent since the beginning of the year.

Current flexible fuel vehicles can run on as much as 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. A gallon of ethanol is 20 to 30 cents less than regular gasoline, with little difference in ease-of-use at the pump or car performance. General Motors says as much as 30 percent of our gasoline consumption could be replaced by ethanol if it were to become available across the country.

SOT:
- Tom Stephens, General Motors
– Rick Hittle, Arizona Petroleum

911 Remembrance

2006-09-11T12:23:00.000-05:00

On 9-11 2001 my lawyer son was in an elevator on his way up to the 77th floor of the Sears Tower. His mother and I reached him by phone each individually to let him know in no uncertain terms to get the hell out of the building. It was about 9 a.m. A short time later, as I watched a BBC broadcast on my computer, the first tower fell. I called my son again who was now on the street and told him what I saw. No further words were needed. He ran away from the building.

For those other sons and daughters, the ones in the Towers, at the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, the ones who couldn't run, no further words are needed! We remember them, the sacrifice of the First Responders, this day, and pray that tomorrow all the cowards behind the act will soon be delivered to their Maker.
So, let us join with the President and First Lady, and say a few words, in silence. Let us all remember them today and forever.
We've stopped running.

The Prices, They Are A-Changin!

2006-08-14T15:52:00.000-05:00

Bob Dylan said it in his song, “The Times, They Are A-Changin.” And when it comes to energy, the times have changed. We have found that the times have changed from an abundance of available energy reserves to seemingly that of teetering on the brink of shortages.

Now, a new tune might be better titled “Prices, They Are A-Changin.” The hard undeniable fact is that cheap and abundant energy, the very stuff that helped make this nation great are no longer either cheap or seemingly abundant.

The history of this country has been one of having and using vast energy resources. It’s that availability and the development of technologies to develop the resources that has helped make this country great.

When the first Europeans arrived they found vast forests which supplied them a seemingly infinite amount of wood to heat their homes and to stoke their forges.

Through the 1600’s and into the 1700’s the colonies grew and prospered. One reason for their growth and prosperity was the abundance of water to power their grain and saw mills.

Then, what should be awaiting the industrial revolution when it came to this young nation in the 1800’s? Coal. Coal was plentiful. Throughout the nineteenth century coal driven steam engines powered the boats, the trains, and the factories that through the decades drove the engines of commerce.

When the internal combustion engine made its entrance, again, as if by magic the United States was blessed with an abundant resource. This time it was petroleum that could be refined into gasoline and diesel fuel. And again the economy grew and prospered as a direct consequence of the combination of ample petroleum resources and the internal combustion engine’s proliferation across the landscape.

Now, a very serious question confronts us. What happens when a society faces the prospect of continuously increasing energy prices and energy shortages? Answer: Inflation, unemployment, and worse; a spiraling decrease in the standard of living of its citizens.

The irony is the United States really doesn’t have an energy resource shortage. The nation faces a shortage of the will to act in becoming energy independent. Coal, oil shale, hydrogen, biofuels, solar, wind and other alternative sources all hold the promise for both short term solutions and long term solutions.

There is even a possibility of the discovery and development of an energy source that is not even currently perceived as existing. Does that prospect seem far fetched? Think about this. Who knew about gasoline in the 1850’s? Few if any visionaries in the mid 19th century could imagine the impact of gasoline, the internal combustion engine and the network of highways that tied this nation together in the 20th century.

The predictable technological future of those 19th century experts was steam engine driven technology. They could not foresee the amazing changes in energy resources and technology that propelled us through the 20th century. It just may be that there is a great and wonderful and unexpected technological energy surprise awaiting us. Even if there isn’t there are many options near at hand that can provide us USA Energy Independence,

However, unless we act… Unless our leaders forge a Declaration of USA Energy Independence policy that attacks our dependency on offshore oil, you, and I, our children and grandchildren will pay the consequences. Instead of continuing to be a nation built on a combination of abundant energy resources that are utilized to continually raise the standard of living, we will decline to a second rate power, faced with not only food shortages, but shortages of almost everything.

Keith Sanderson is co-founder USA-EI

Without Energy, We Will Be Extinct.

2006-08-07T15:58:00.000-05:00

As the most powerful nation in the history of the world, the U.S. faces today its most critical challenge. It’s not from a foreign foe, from Iranian threats of $200/barrel oil, from war between Israel and Hezbollah, but from our own appetite for energy, primarily oil.

We are on tender hooks. An interruption of the Alaskan oil field supply leading to a loss of daily production of nearly 400,000 barrels is what has confronted us just this morning. That loss will take days, weeks, perhaps months to fix according to BP, the oil field owner/operator. The production loss may trigger the draw down of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the first time since the Clinton Administration.

That loss alone could send gasoline prices up another $1.00/ gallon over the next several weeks according to my commodity broker friends. But WAIT THAT’S AN EASY PROJECTION. It doesn’t stop there. T. Boone Pickens, the hedge fund oilman and billionaire geologist, said last week that annual worldwide consumption is 86 million barrels/day and production is 80 million barrels/day. You do the math: $4.00/gallon gasoline is an almost surety even before this Alaskan production shortfall.

And it’s not going away this time. No energy cycle from expensive to cheap. I spent the first 10 years of my career in the mining business, riding the energy-induced mining equipment boom (and bust) following the Arab Oil Embargo. By the mid ‘80s cheap oil was again in front of us and it fueled anew our dependence on unstable sources of supply.

Are we in la la land or what? This country lives on oil. We consume most of the world’s energy, our transportation network feeds our lifestyle “oil- habitation” and sprawl… we’ve all seen this coming.

USA Energy Independence needs an emergency, a national call to action. I’ve heard just in the last few weeks (sound bites all) John Kerry, George Bush, Howard Dean, Joe Lieberman and Hillary call for USA Energy Independence. Some of them actually have a plan. But the plans involve Ethanol or Oil Sands Or Coal or BioDiesel or Hydrogen, singularly or in some loose concert. It needs cohesiveness and greater immediacy, a central non-partisan focus, with statesmen not politicians, to pull us together.

We already have a national energy emergency, so we need a 911 energy-independence mentality, a Cabinet level position on Energy National Security, a daily review in the Oval Office of Energy Self Reliance initiatives, a Press Corps asking for daily Energy briefings, and more, for us to finally turn the corner on this Oil-Induced Hard Reality and Pain-at-the-Pump.

Join with us. Send a message to our leadership. Give us your email address and your zipcode (we’ll never share it) at http://www.usaenergyindependence.com. Maybe together we can bring the President from Crawford to the White House now to address this issue. He can even bring Cindy Sheehan and her Press entourage.

Bill Wolski is co-founder USA-EI.

To plan or not to plan for USA energy independence

2006-08-02T16:57:00.000-05:00

In the late 1990’s a barrel of oil cost $10 on the world market. Today’s cost is over $70 per barrel, and some analysts are predicting it to go to $100 per barrel within the next couple of years.
In 2003 over 30,000 people died in France as a result of a heat wave, which appear with greater frequency and ferocity than at any time since weather records have been kept. Glaciers are receding. As a group, scientists have accepted global warming as a reality, and many of those same scientists place the blame squarely on our burning of fossil fuels.
Over the past 50 years, everything’s changed, yet nothing’s changed. Simply stated, there are human beings and more human beings using fossil fuels for personal transportation than ever before. There is more air conditioning, more refrigeration, and more lighting. All of which require greater amounts of electricity. Those are major changes.
Yet for all the significant changes that have occurred, there has been little change in the types of energy consumed, or – or more importance – our approach to solving any of our long-term energy issues. And, of more immediate importance to Americans, over the past 50 years we are less energy independent, not more.
If energy independence is the objective, is it better to have a plan, or is it better to let market forces determine who purchases the energy resources, and for how much? I put this question to Arnold Baker, Chief Economist for Sandia National Laboratories and former president of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE).
Baker indicated that having a comprehensive plan for energy independence is important, noting “it does make sense for the government to have an integrated policy for energy independence, because it is not just energy we are talking about, but economics and the environment as well. An integrated policy would balance our need for energy with our need for a clean environment and a strong economy. Additionally, it would provide a road map for others to follow.”
When asked why the U.S. has failed to put together a long-term, strategic plan for energy independence, Baker pointed out that “every individual and interest / advocacy group is affected by energy. The Sierra Club has its agenda, as does a congressional representative from Alaska or Texas or Oklahoma, as do so many other groups. You cannot find one person or organization in our society that isn’t directly affected by energy cost or energy availability. All have a voice and all influence in the debate. As a result, it’s been nearly impossible for politicians to reconcile competing interests. But it’s important to try and do so.”
According to Baker, the primary benefits to having a comprehensive energy policy geared toward independence include improved economic growth, economic and physical security, and a cleaner and healthier environment.
Improved economic growth results from being free of world oil markets and their resulting price fluctuations. Improved economic and physical security will result from, among other things, eliminating the need to be entangled in Middle Eastern politics. And a cleaner and healthier environment results from using advancements in technology to reduce emissions and find alternate methods of delivering and consuming energy.

Glenn Lewin, President, Newberry Research
Nationally, Lewin is best known for the 2002 book he authored THE BUSINESS REPORTER’S HANDBOOK, and the 2005 book COVERING BUSINESS he co-authored with Robert Reed. He has also worked on various projects for nationally known businesses such as Illinois based Caterpillar, McGraw-Hill Publishing of New York, and many other leading corporations.

Mr. Lewin holds an MA in Industrial Counseling and Psychology, with honors, from Northeastern Illinois University, with an undergraduate degree from Monmouth College, IL. In addition Mr. Lewin earned a certificate in Applied Statistics and Data Analysis from The Bradford-Gibson Institute of Management. He also completed the Harvard Graduate School of Management’s executive program in Competition and Strategy.

Middleclass Families Deserve Better

2006-08-02T16:35:00.000-05:00

The low cost of energy is fast coming to an end and that means much more than the real possibility of $4.00 a gallon gasoline.

There are many reasons for this, pick one. Political instability in the middle east, global oil production that seems to have peaked while demand continues to rise, no new refineries coming online, hurricanes and more. All of these reasons conspire to drive up not only the price of a gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel, but also the price of natural gas.

As the price of these important energy sources climbs so will virtually the cost of all goods that are dependent on transport, and/or that are made from petroleum, or manufactured in facilities that use natural gas or oil to heat or manufacture products.

If you have concluded that means the price of everything from lettuce to jock straps will be impacted, you are right.

Yet, things seem to roll on as usual on capital hill. This is despite the fact that in the already seriously squeezed American Middle Class, families are going to take some serious hits in their budgets. But why should congress worry about what Middle America thinks when mom and dad are working to hard to have time to express their opinions.

The irony is that during the Arab Oil Embargo we had a taste of how drastically the soaring cost of energy impacted almost everything. Those who are old enough can recall interests rates climbing to 17 percent or greater, high unemployment, no economic growth, and inflation were the consequences. All of these nasty economic jolts were created by a relatively short blip to oil stream.

Now, more than thirty years later, even though we use less imported energy, the price of our oil and natural gas is set at a global price. That means America is at the mercy of all the factors that can and do increase oil and natural gas prices.

There is a ground swell of technological development of alternative energy resources as well as more traditional sources. However, changing from our current energy diet to a diet of alternative energy sources will mean setting priorities, the allocation of resources, and the processing and transportation of energy.

Congress is beginning to slowly awaken to the oncoming problem. As usual our representatives are quick to blame everyone but themselves and are going through their finger pointing exercises. Next will come the patronizing sound bites meant to assure voters that our leaders are concerned. Both parties have already made their inane suggestions about what to do, and cynics believe there will be many more lethargic energy gestures to come.

Soon, hastily conceived bills that are mostly sizzle and of little substance will be debated and voted upon. Lastly, our leaders will assure us all will be good and the nasty energy problem will go away.

Don’t let Congress lead us down the road of flim and flam. Let them know you want and expect a USA Declaration of Energy Independence policy to be forged. A policy that provides both short term and long term solutions to a problem that is as sure as taxes to affect our way of life and disposable income.

Tell your congressperson how you feel. Cast your vote and let your voice be heard favoring the development of a USA Energy Declaration of Independence.

Congressman Kirk Does Not Respond

2006-07-30T09:28:00.000-05:00

Wheaton IL , July 29, 2006 For Immediate Release.

Kirk and Some Other Illinois Politicians Lethargic In Responding To Energy
Question!
Keith Sanderson co-founder of USA Energy Independence and a resident of
Deerfield, IL which is in Congressman Mark Kirk’s
10th Congressional District announced today that the Congressman has been
sluggish in responding to the question regarding Energy Independence.
The question, “what are you and your colleagues planning to do to avert a
possible short term energy crisis and a probable long term energy crisis,”. was
posed by voice mail, two e-mails and also by personal conversation with one
of Kirk’s staffers on July 17th and 18th.
Other Illinois politicians, including Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama,
Congresswoman Judy Biggert of the Illinois 13th District, Governor Rod
Blagojevich and Republican candidate for governor, Judy Barr Topinka were asked
the same question.
So far Senator Durbin is the only Illinois politician that was queried who
has responded to the question about energy. The question posed to Durbin and
his response may be seen _www.usaenergyindependence.com_
(http://www.usaenergyindependence.com/) .
” Sanderson said. “Frankly, I am disappointed in Kirk’s apparent apathy
regarding what he plans to do to avert a possible short term energy crisis and a
probable long term energy crisis, Illinois can take a lead in the
production and processing of ethanol and other Bio-fuels. I was sure he would be
eager to respond to a constituent of the 10th Congressional District about a
subject as important as energy dependency on offshore sources..
The nonpartisan website,usaenergyindependence (http://www.usaenergyindependence.com) ,
was launched on the week of July 4, 2006. It is the definitive Internet website source for
information about USA Energy Independence. A unique feature of the web site allows visitors
to cast their votes for USA Energy Independence. Comments and views of elected political representatives and
candidates regarding USA Energy Independence are also posted on the site..
(End).

2006-07-24T21:06:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON - Leading House Democrats will introduce a bill tomorrow to take America in a new direction to achieve energy independence. The Program for Real Energy Security, or "PROGRESS" Act, will initiate a major national effort to make substantial gains in technology, conservation and vehicle efficiency, and the use of alternative fuels to advance America's national, energy and environmental security.

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD), Rep. John Dingell (MI), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Democrat, Rep. Jim Oberstar, Transportation Committee Ranking Democrat, Rep. Mark Udall (CO), co-chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, Rep. Stephanie Herseth (SD), co-chair of the House Democratic Rural Working Group and member of the House Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, member of the House Transportation Committee and Task Force on Livable Communities, will introduce the bill.

The PROGRESS Act complements other House Democratic efforts on energy independence, including the Innovation Agenda and the Energizing America, BIOFUELS Act.

2006-07-17T12:54:00.000-05:00

On June 14 via email I asked Senator Durbin of IL this question:

My question is relative to the dependency the United States has on offshore petroleum and natural gas energy resources and the consequences of this dependency. What do you believe needs to be done to avert a possible short term energy crisis and a probable long term energy crisis?

I would like to post your answer on www.usaenergyindependence.com so our visitors may gain insight to where you and other elected officials of both parties stand on this impending crisis. If you choose not to answer we will place you in the column of political leaders who elected not to respond to our question.

Here is his response on July 17.

July 17, 2006

Thank you for contacting me about gasoline prices. I appreciate hearing
from you.

I am deeply troubled about the effect of high gasoline prices on Illinois
residents. As the price of a barrel of oil has skyrocketed beyond $70,
oil companies have charged consumers far more than the companies' costs
for more expensive crude oil and for exploration and development. As a
result, Americans are subsidizing some of the largest annual profits in
the history of U.S. business. This is depleting the savings of consumers
who in many cases are struggling just to pay for food and other
necessities of life.

The increasing oil demand of a rapidly industrializing China and India and
political instability in numerous oil-producing countries are raising the
price of crude. Last year, I called on the President to begin an
investigation into whether oil companies are taking advantage of these
conditions to raise retail prices disproportionately.

We should begin by scrutinizing the mergers among the large oil companies.
These mergers have weakened competition and the accompanying pressure to
lower prices and profits, allowing five enormous oil companies to enjoy
record profits while deflecting the blame for high prices. I have urged
the President to get tough on price gouging, but he has been unwilling to
do so.

A new direction is needed in energy policy. We must cut our oil
consumption and develop promising alternative energy sources. If we
increase the vehicle fuel economy (CAFE) standards required for our
vehicles, we can save up to 100 billion gallons of gasoline by 2015. And
the reduced fuel expenses would keep billions of dollars in American
consumers' wallets each year.

I have long championed the use of ethanol, a domestically produced,
renewable energy source, and I believe it can be a significant part of our
energy policy. Ethanol reduces air pollution, buttresses our national
security by replacing imported crude oil, strengthens the rural economy,
and creates jobs as ethanol production facilities are built and operated.
In a nearly pure form, ethanol can also be an alternative to gasoline for
use in specially-designed E-85 vehicles. In 1987, I was the first member
of Congress to propose that the United States require that its gasoline
supply include 5 billion gallons of ethanol. Since then, the federal
Reformulated Gasoline Program's requirement that ethanol or other fuel
additives be mixed with gasoline in metropolitan areas has led to dramatic
reductions in ground-level ozone levels in Chicago.

Every year, Illinois produces more ethanol than any other state - about
800 million gallons. This generates nearly $6 billion a year in economic
activity for the United States and plays a vital role in the rural economy
of Illinois.

Long-term energy solutions for our nation's homes, businesses, and
vehicles will come from a variety of alternative energy resources.
Scientists and engineers are confronting the obstacles to the development
and commercialization of many promising sources of energy, such as
hydropower, hydrogen, solar, biomass, and geothermal. Congress has
offered major federal incentives for research and development to assist in
jumping these hurdles.

These steps can help America move forward toward a more stable energy
supply and a more secure energy future.

I will keep your thoughts in mind as I continue to work for a more
sensible energy policy. Again, thank you for your message. Please feel
free to keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

RJD/

P.S. If you are ever visiting Washington, please feel free to join Senator
Obama and me at our weekly constituent coffee. When the Senate is in
session, we provide coffee and donuts every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. as we
hear what is on the minds of Illinoisans and respond to your questions.
We would welcome your participation. Please call my D.C. office for more
details.

Keith

2006-07-13T06:36:00.000-05:00

US Ethanol Fueled Vehicles

2006-07-12T21:48:00.000-05:00

UsaEnergyIndependence.com landing page.

2006-07-12T07:10:00.000-05:00

Promote Energy Independence

America’s current dependence on foreign oil poses great risks for our country, including threats to our national security, economic instability, and significant environmental damage. We need a comprehensive energy program that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil by developing new energy technologies and enhancing fuel efficiency standards.

Both chambers of Congress are currently contemplating legislation directed at the urgent need to curtail the United States’ domestic oil consumption and our dependence on foreign oil (S.2025 in the Senate and H.R.4409 in the House of Representatives). These bills set a national oil savings target which would be met by improving energy efficiency, developing alternative energy technologies, and authorizing the establishment of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for heavy duty motor vehicles. Both pieces of legislation would reduce our domestic oil consumption by at least 2.5 million barrels per day (12.5% of current consumption) in a decade.

To view AJC’s Letter to the Senate supporting the Vehicle and Fuel Choices for American Security Act, click here.

To view a press release on AJC joining the Set America Free Coalition, click here.

Please urge your Senators and Representative to cosponsor S.2025 and H.R.4409 to help reduce substantially our dependence on foreign oil.

Take Action

2006-07-11T04:06:00.000-05:00

FOXNews.com - Study: Ethanol Won't Solve Energy Problems - Science News | Current Articles

2006-07-08T05:19:00.000-05:00

Energy Policy Act of 2005 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Provisions

The Act was intended to establish a comprehensive, long-range energy policy. It provides incentives for traditional energy production as well as newer, more efficient energy technologies, and conservation. More than 1,700 pages long, the Act has hundreds of provisions. Major items include:

* Provides an Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005 Commercial Building Deduction for energy efficient building improvements
* Provides a tax credit of up to $3,400 for owners of hybrid vehicles;
* Authorizes loan guarantees for 'innovative technologies' that avoid greenhouse gases, which might include advanced nuclear reactor designs (such as PBMR) as well as clean coal and renewable energy;
* Increases the amount of biofuel (usually ethanol) that must be mixed with gasoline sold in the United States to triple the current requirement (7.5 billion gallons by 2012);
* Seeks to increase coal as an energy source while also reducing air pollution, through authorizing $200 million annually for clean coal initiatives, repealing the current 160-acre cap on coal leases, allowing the advanced payment of royalties from coal mines and requiring an assessment of coal resources on federal lands that are not national parks;
* Authorizes subsidies for wind energy, and other alternative energy producers;
* Adds ocean energy sources including wave power and tidal power for the first time as separately identified renewable technologies;
* Authorizes $50 million annually over the life of the bill for a biomass grant program;
* Contains several provisions aimed at making geothermal energy more competitive with fossil fuels in generating electricity;
* Requires the Department of Energy to study and report on existing natural energy resources including wind, solar, waves and tides;
* Provides tax breaks for those making energy conservation improvements to their homes;
"

2006-07-08T05:16:00.000-05:00

Energy Policy Act of 2005

2006-07-08T05:13:00.000-05:00

KeepMedia | Lexington Herald-Leader: Understanding ethanol

2006-07-08T05:05:00.000-05:00

KeepMedia | BusinessWeek: Not Your Father's Ethanol

2006-07-08T05:01:00.000-05:00

KeepMedia | Bradenton Herald: Ethanol trend may cost you

2006-07-07T14:04:00.000-05:00

JS Online:Doyle plan to call for higher use of renewable energy

2006-07-07T13:28:00.000-05:00

Governor Doyle: Governor Doyle, Industry, Environmental, and Education Leaders Sign Wisconsin's "Declaration of Energy Independence"
7/7/2006

2006-07-01T10:15:00.000-05:00

On the Road to Energy Independence

2006-06-29T13:17:00.000-05:00

NREL: Feature Story - NREL Research Helps Deliver Clean, Solar Electricity to Thousands of Homes in the Southwest

2006-06-29T09:41:00.000-05:00

Shares of Ethanol Producer Aventine Dip in NYSE debut

Aventine Renewable loses steam in open market - MarketWatch

2006-06-27T09:51:00.000-05:00

First images made of hydrogen burning in working internal combustion engine

Argonne engineers are the first to capture hydrogen combustion images inside an engine operating at real-world speeds. The red and yellow images show the more intense temperatures.
Images of hydrogen combustion have been captured for the first time in an internal combustion engine operating at real-world speeds and loads by engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. This window into the inner workings of a hydrogen-powered engine is helping to optimize the engines for street use some day.

2006-06-27T09:31:00.000-05:00

CEI: Resources - Press Releases: "Community Energy, Inc. Announces Launch of CTCleanEnergyOptionsSM
All Connecticut electric customers can now purchase NewWind Energy®
on their utility bill through new voluntary clean energy program

Hartford, CT - The nation's leading wind energy supplier, Community Energy, Inc. (CEI), announced today the availability of NewWind Energy® to Connecticut consumers through the CTCleanEnergyOptionsSM program; a voluntary new program being offered statewide to all electric customers in the Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating service territories.

CTCleanEnergyOptions enables residents to choose clean, domestic energy for their home or business - produced by resources such as new wind power and landfill gas. CEI's product allows Connecticut residents to make a difference with their purchase. Elizabeth Vitale, of Hartford, CT noted: 'I want to see more focus on developing alternative energy sources, and signing up for it for our home is one way to support those efforts. If everyone did their part, we'd all have a healthier neighborhood - and planet - to live in.'

Commercial and residential customers, such as Vitale, who sign up for CTCleanEnergyOptions will be supporting the development of new clean energy resources in the Northeast region. CEI's New England Director, Jeff Keeler, said: "We are proud to work with the State of Connecticut, Connecticut Light & Power, United Illuminating and the Connecticut environmental community to bring a clean energy option to all Connecticut consumers. The more customers who sign up for Community Energy's CTCleanEnergyOptions offering, the more wind energy will be built in the Northeast."

CEI was chosen through a competitive bid process by the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) to offer a clean energy product through the CTCleanEnergyOptions program that is high in new, emission-free wind energy content and yet still affordable for Connecticut consumers. CEI's offering is composed of 50% NewWind Energy® and 50% Landfill Gas from sources in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region and will cost just 1.1 cent per kilowatt hour more than standard electric service for the 100% of usage offering or 0.55 cents per kilowatt hour extra for the 50% of usage offering. Based on the average Connecticut monthly usage of 600 kilowatt-hours per month, participating in CTCleanEnergyOptions with CEI would cost the average customer as little as $3.30 per month.

Bill inserts providing customers the opportunity to choose CEI's CTCleanEnergyOptions offering are being delivered to every electric customer with their April Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating bill. Customers can also sign up at any time by visiting www.newwindenergy.com, or by calling Community Energy at 1-866-WIND-123.

Community Energy, Inc. (CEI) is a leading national retail marketer/developer of wind-generated power. CEI has partnered with over a dozen utilities, competitive electric suppliers, and municipalities to offer a renewable energy choice directly to retail electric customers. CEI was founded in 1999 with the mission to ignite the market and develop the supply of wind and other fuel-free renewable energy sources. CEI cites its retail customers, which include many of the largest purchasers of wind energy in the country, as the reason for its success in bringing wind energy to market in new regions of the country. CEI has wind projects under development in New England, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and other states east of the Mississippi River.

2006-06-26T14:55:00.000-05:00

BREITBART.COM - Bush: Climate change is 'serious problem': "Bush: Climate change is 'serious problem'
Jun 26 2:50 PM US/Eastern

US President George W. Bush said it was time to move past a debate over whether human activity is a significant factor behind global warming and into a discussion of possible remedies.

'I have said consistently that global warming is a serious problem. There's a debate over whether it's manmade or naturally caused,' Bush told reporters.

'We ought to get beyond that debate and start implementing the technologies necessary to enable us to achieve a couple of big objectives: One, be good stewards of the environment; two, become less dependent on foreign sources of oil, for economic reasons as for national security reasons,' he said.

Bush cited 'clean-coal technology,' efforts to develop automobiles powered by hydrogen or ethanol, and his push for the United States to develop significant new nuclear energy capabilities.

'The truth of the matter is, if this country wants to get rid of its greenhouse gases, we've got to have the nuclear power industry be vibrant and viable,' he said."

2006-06-26T12:08:00.000-05:00

"As much as I love and respect my friend Jim Cramer, I have to disagree with his view that ethanol is a fad. I agree some companies are overvalued, but I don't believe that ethanol itself is a fad."
John Bradshaw Layfield

JBL: Defending Ethanol

2006-06-25T05:24:00.000-05:00

Fact Sheet: Promoting Energy Independence and Security: "Fact Sheet: Promoting Energy Independence and Security, April 27, 2006.

Today's Presidential Action
April 27, 2006

Today, President Bush Delivered Remarks On Energy Policy At The Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week Conference In Washington, D.C. The President stressed the need to promote greater energy independence by harnessing the power of technology to create new sources of energy and make more efficient use of existing resources. The President outlined his broad vision for moving America toward greater energy independence and announced five new energy policy initiatives:

# The Department of Energy (DOE) will work to reduce uncertainty in the licensing process for new nuclear power plants and to provide Federal risk insurance to mitigate the additional cost of unforeseen delays.

# The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will simplify regulations to encourage the expansion of refining capacity, and Federal agencies will work with States and local communities to encourage the construction of new refineries on closed military sites.

# The President will call on Congress to make clear federal authority over siting of new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals to increase supply and reduce prices.

# The President will support the extension of his proposed tax credits for energy-efficient hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles to include clean-diesel vehicles.

# The President will encourage the deployment of new and clean energy technologies in the developing world at the G-8 Summit in July.

Background: Our Growing Economy Requires Affordable, Reliable, And Secure Supplies Of Energy

Use Technology To Boost Domestic Energy Production. Over the past decade, America's energy consumption has increased by more than 12 percent, yet domestic production has increased by less than 0.5 percent.

# Nuclear Power Can Provide For Tomorrow's Needs. Technology has made nuclear power safer, cleaner, and ..."

2006-06-25T04:49:00.000-05:00

Bloomberg.com: Energy Prices: "
Energy Prices

PETROLEUM ($/bbl)
PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME
Nymex Crude Future 70.84 -.03 -.04 17:12
Dated Brent Spot 69.46 .41 .59 06/23
WTI Cushing Spot 70.69 .20 .28 06/23

PETROLEUM (¢/gal)
PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME
Nymex Heating Oil Future 196.50 .24 .12 16:57
Nymex Gasoline Future 212.85 .09 .04 17:01

NATURAL GAS ($/MMBtu)
PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME
Nymex Henry Hub Future 6.21 -.02 -.26 16:17
Henry Hub Spot 6.14 -.37 -5.68 06/23
New York City Gate Spot 6.49 -.71 -9.86 06/23

ELECTRICITY ($/megawatt hour)
PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME
Mid-Columbia, firm on-peak, spot 61.69 5.03 8.88 06/23
Palo Verde, firm on-peak, spot 74.77 .39 .52 06/23
Bloomberg, firm on-peak, day ahead spot/West Coast 70.55 .10 .14 06/23

*Commodity futures and energy prices are in U.S. dollars."

2006-06-25T04:48:00.000-05:00

Friday, June 23, 2006 · Last updated 2:31 p.m. PT

Oil prices hover around $71 a barrel

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- U.S. oil futures were steady on Friday with little fresh news to drive trading, following gains in the two prior sessions. Prices remained above $70 a barrel, buoyed by strong global demand, a Gulf Coast shipping snag and concerns about the unresolved tension between the West and Iran.

Light sweet crude for August delivery rose 3 cents to settle at $70.87 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, where gasoline futures were up by less than a penny to close at $2.1276 per gallon.

Brent crude for August fell $1.87 to $68.08 a barrel on London's ICE Futures exchange...

Oil prices hover around $71 a barrel

2006-06-25T04:41:00.000-05:00

The rise in oil prices....

2006-06-23T07:48:00.000-05:00

It is perhaps too early to talk of an energy "crisis".

Fossil fuels have been the cheapest and most convenient so far

But take your pick from terms like "serious concern" and "major issue" and you will not be far from the positions which analysts are increasingly adopting.

The reason for their concern can be found in a set of factors which are pulling in glaringly different directions:

Demand for energy, in all its forms, is rising

Supplies of key fuels - notably oil and gas - show signs of decline

Mainstream climate science suggests that reducing greenhouse gas emissions within two decades would be a prudent thing to do

Meanwhile the Earth's population continues to rise, with the majority of its six billion people hankering after a richer lifestyle - ...
Source (BBC NEWS)

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Energy gap: Crisis for humanity?

2006-06-23T07:47:00.000-05:00

BBC NEWS | Business | Bush plans to tackle petrol price

2006-06-23T07:45:00.000-05:00

If there ever was a time for energy independence, it's about time now! Let's not waste another minute. Threats from the outside never seem to subside.

BBC NEWS | Business | Iran war 'could triple oil price'

2006-06-21T10:21:00.000-05:00

Is Butanaol A Better Fuel Alternative than Ethanol?

Butanol is a four carbon alcohol. Alcohols are a family of chemical compounds that also include methanol (1-carbon), ethanol (2-carbon) and propanol (3-carbon). Some of the more common uses for alcohol are alcoholic beverages (ethanol), propanol is commonly used for rubbing alcohol, chemical solvents - paint thinner and fuels. Initially, EEI will produce and market butanol as a solvent, with the future intent of selling butanol as a fuel."

How does butanol compare with ethanol as an alternative fuel?

Butanol has many superior properties as an alternative fuel when compared to ethanol. These include:

Higher energy content (110,000 Btu’s per gallon for butanol vs. 84,000 Btu per gallon for ethanol). Gasoline contains about 115,000 Btu’s per gallon.
Butanol is six times less “evaporative” than ethanol and 13.5 times less evaporative than gasoline, making it safer to use as an oxygenate in Arizona, California and other states, thereby eliminating the need for very special blends during the summer and winter months.
Butanol can be shipped through existing fuel pipelines where ethanol must be transported via rail, barge or truck
Butanol can be used as a replacement for gasoline gallon for gallon e.g. 100%, or any other percentage. Ethanol can only be used as an additive to gasoline up to about 85% and then only after significant modifications to the engine. Worldwide 10% ethanol blends predominate.

2006-06-16T09:41:00.000-05:00

Make your own biodiesel: Journey to Forever

Anybody can make biodiesel. It's easy, you can make it in your kitchen -- and it's BETTER than the petro-diesel fuel the big oil companies sell you. Your diesel motor will run better and last longer on your home-made fuel, and it's much cleaner -- better for the environment and better for health. If you make it from used cooking oil it's not only cheap but you'll be recycling a troublesome waste product. Best of all is the GREAT feeling of freedom, independence and empowerment it will give you. Here's how to do it -- everything you need to know.

Source: JourneytoForever .org

2006-06-15T10:35:00.000-05:00

It’s about time our leaders listened to us, the people!

It’s about members of Congress and other elected officials acted to assure the ongoing strength and prosperity of the United States.

It’s about time our elected legislators, governors and president exhibit leadership so that this generation and future generations of Americans are not the pawns of those who control offshore energy resources.

It’s about time state and federal legislators, state governors, local mayors and the President of the United States understand that we view any dependence on offshore energy as a threat to our inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness that were guaranteed to the citizens of this country by the signers of The Declaration of Independence.

Starting on this Fourth of July 2006 join your fellow citizens and sign the Declaration of Energy Independence.

This petition will be forwarded to the House and Senate Leaders of both parties, as well as to the President of the United States and other elected state legislators and governors and mayors.

Your signature will help focus attention to the need of the leadership and action by this country to formulate both short-term and long-term plans that will assure the realistic reduction of dependence on offshore energy, for us, our children and future generations of Americans.

To join, visit our website usaenergyindependence.com

2006-06-14T11:29:00.000-05:00

Ford exec urges feds to help boost number of flex-fuel pumps - MarketWatch

2006-06-14T11:11:00.000-05:00

Morningstar - PR Newswire: ADM and Millennium Ethanol Announce Marketing Agreement

2006-06-14T09:53:00.000-05:00

BUTTON IT, BEN By PAUL THARP - New York Post Online Edition: Business

2006-06-10T09:52:00.000-05:00

How to escape the Oil Trap
Fareed Zakaria
Source: Newsweek

By Fareed Zakaria

Newsweek

Aug. 29 - Sept. 5, 2005 issue - If I could change one thing about American foreign policy, what would it be? The answer is easy, but it's not something most of us think of as foreign policy. I would adopt a serious national program geared toward energy efficiency and independence. Reducing our dependence on oil would be the single greatest multiplier of
Zakaria: Oil Prices Cripple U.S. Foreign Policy - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com

2006-06-10T09:45:00.000-05:00

Proposed Hydrogen Highways in California

Source: EnergyIndependencenow.org

Energy Independence Now - California Map

2006-06-09T08:13:00.000-05:00

Iowa Governor signs bill supporting e85

2006-06-05T10:40:00.000-05:00

Our future and the future of coming generations will be increasingly affected by our dependence on foreign sources of oil. If you think $3.00 a gallon gasoline is costly, think about the continuing economic and geopolitical consequences of being dependent on areas of the Mideast and what that means for the future. Let's do something about it. Subscribe to the next issue of It's About Time at
usaenergyindependence.com

BREITBART.COM - Stocks Slide on Iran Supply Threats

2006-06-05T10:26:00.000-05:00

Map to E85 Fueling locations

2006-06-02T07:30:00.000-05:00

High fuel prices lift wind energy

2006-05-31T17:11:00.000-05:00

FAA takes the wind out of wind farms | Chicago Tribune

2006-05-17T10:39:00.001-05:00

Government-Industry cooperative to build zero-emissions power plant.
FutureGen, a power plant of the future that promises to bring power to 250,000 residents with near zero emissions is part of a Government and Industry initiated cooperative well on its way to becoming a reality.
Part of the Bush administration's effort through the Department of Energy and the FutureGen Industrial Alliance (FGIA), composed of several energy companies (American Electric Power, BHP Billiton, CONSOL, Foundation Coal, China Huaneng Group, Kennecott Energy, Peabody Energy and Southern Energy), the mission of the cooperative is to develop a generating station using upcoming technologies to sequester carbon monoxide deep in underground geological formations with near zero emissions to the atmosphere.
Conceived in 2002, the $1-billion project has been moving forward with a site selection process. There are at this point 12 contenders, based near coal fields in the Midwest and West (see separate inset story)....

Register with usaenergyindependence.com to view the entire article.

2006-05-17T10:12:00.000-05:00

DOE - Fossil Energy: DOE's FutureGen Initiative

2006-05-13T06:11:00.000-05:00

All Headline News - British Inventor Unveils 8000 MPG Car - May 13, 2006

2006-05-12T20:36:00.000-05:00

USA Energy Independence

2006-05-11T10:23:00.000-05:00

Pork Power. My alma mater knows how to turn a state resource into fuel.

AP Wire | 04/28/2006 | ILLINOIS STYLE: UI researcher makes crude oil from pig manure

2006-05-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

GM - only GM

2006-05-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

LearnAboutCoal.org Blog

2006-05-07T09:34:00.000-05:00

CURC -- Coal Utilization Research Council: "

2006-05-05T14:04:00.000-05:00

2006-05-04T06:27:00.000-05:00

I am more concerned about the long term consequences of being dependent on offshore oil and natural gas. Over the short term the current high prices may stabilize or go down. Over the long term their will be a increasing global competition for diminishing reserves. We need to have our leaders focus on more than short term patch work fixes. Concerned citizens need to sign a Declaration of USA Energy Independence and let our leaders know we are fed-up with their partisian finger pointing and patronizing solutions.

2006-05-03T15:09:00.000-05:00

2006-05-03T14:42:00.000-05:00

It's about time, isn't it?
I don't know about you, but we're sick and tired of hearing about gas prices threatening to hit $5.00 a gallon by this summer, how Iran's threat of oil interruption is an excuse for the speculators to drive a barrel of oil to $75 and higher, how the switch to summer blends is driving spot shortages of gasoline in some areas. It goes on and on. So what are we going to do about it? First thing is to let your local congressman know that you're not going to take it any more.
We'll be putting up a few links of our own until some real initiatives are taken. For now, join in. We're waiting to hear from you. Keep it short and sweet.