Posted on 08/03/2007 12:27:22 PM PDT by InvisibleChurch
WASHINGTON (AP) - House of Representatives' leaders pressed Democrats from oil states Friday to support $16 billion (¤11.6 billion) in oil industry taxes and sought a compromise over use of renewable fuels by electric utilities, hoping to clear the way for approval of U.S. energy legislation.
But a vote, planned for Friday, was postponed after the House became bogged down over problems with a computerized voting system, compounded by Republican anger over a disputed vote Thursday night on an agriculture bill.
The leader of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has vowed to get energy legislation through before lawmakers leave for their summer recess, said it would be taken up on Saturday.
The White House, meanwhile, expressed broad opposition to the two Democratic energy bills, saying they make «no serious attempts to increase our energy security or address high energy costs» and would harm domestic oil and gas production.
The administration's statement said senior advisers would recommend the president veto the bills, should they reach his desk. House Republican leaders on Thursday sent President George W. Bush a letter also urging a veto.
The legislation would roll back nearly $16 billion (¤11.6 billion) in tax breaks for oil companies and provide a broad array of tax incentives and other measures to spur development of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency programs. It would establish new efficiency standards for appliances and other equipment and government support for research into alternative energy such as batteries for plug-in hybrid-electric cars.
Republicans complained the bill does nothing to increase domestic oil and gas production and rolls back some of the measures passed by Congress two years ago that made it easier to gain access to natural gas on federal land.
The oil industry taxes and a requirement for electric utilities nationwide to produce at least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources has attracted the most intense lobbying in recent days. Hoping to sway some reluctant Democrats, Reps. Tom Udall, a Democrat, and Todd Platts, a Republican, softened their renewable fuels proposal so that 4 percent of the requirement could be met through energy efficiency and conservation incentives.
But that has not mollified the electric utility industry and business groups who contend the federal mandate would lead to higher electricity costs in areas where renewable energy sources such as wind power are unavailable. They argue that 24 states already have requirements to use renewable fuels, many of them more stringent what is being proposed in the amendment Udall and Platts want to get into the bill.
«We have been down in the trenches fighting (this) proposal tooth and nail,» said Tom Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute, the trade association for the investor-owned utility companies. Lobbying powerhouses such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufactures also have fought the proposal.
Environmentalists have been equally aggressive in pushing for the renewable fuels requirement, viewing it as a global warming issue. By getting utilities to use less coal, a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, and spurring development of wind, solar and biomass technologies, fewer greenhouse gases will reach the atmosphere, they argue.
And where do these morons think the tax money is going to come from? Oh, right, the oil companies are going to, out of the graciousness of their hearts, pay for it with an IOU?
The last “energy bill” was such a money wasting fiasco. I know of one company that raked in $30 million in tax credits for spraying residual oil on coal and calling it a “new fuel.”
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Oh yeah, just try putting any of these technologies within view of bloat-boy Ted Kennedy.
I’m having trouble deciding just when I should change my investments into low risk funds as I foresee the economy taking a huge nosedive if/when the Dems start getting their way.
Put them in small cap overseas energy funds because that is were US companies and startups are going to be. No new domestic drilling and higher taxes on oil companies will scare everyone off to oversea pastures.
Hey, dumocrats. Go back to school and learn Economics 101.
oulyfulkyfg
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