Slimmed-Down U.S. Energy Bills Raise Major Questions

[jpak]

http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=49216

High expectations and disappointments have characterized early action on energy legislation. Last month, the U.S. Senate produced an energy bill that includes no tax title -- and, therefore, no production tax credit extension -- and that has no renewable portfolio standard (RPS). In fact, Senate advocates of renewable energy found themselves in a procedural morass that did not even allow for a vote on the RPS issue.

Meanwhile, action in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce resulted in minimal legislation focusing largely on appliance efficiency standards and provisions to promote ethanol use. Proposals for an RPS were considered beyond the scope of the legislation and were therefore not offered at Committee.

It is, however, expected that a major floor vote will occur this month on the RPS issue. As explained below, significant action on both issues is imminent.

"We are still very much in the game on both the PTC extension and enactment of a renewable portfolio standard, but we have to win some crucially important votes in the coming weeks," said AWEA Senior Director of Government and Public Affairs Greg Wetstone.

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[YankeyMCC]

1. kick for attention nt