Omnibus Energy Legislation (H.R. 6): Side-by-Side Comparison of Non-tax Provisions

Publication Date: August 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Energy

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Abstract:

Continuing a legislative effort that began in the 107th Congress, the House and Senate in the first session of the 108th passed two distinct versions of an omnibus energy bill (H.R. 6), which would be the first comprehensive energy legislation in more than 10 years.

Although Republicans are in the majority in both chambers, the conference on H.R. 6 will be complicated by deep divisions within the Senate on energy policy. Facing numerous amendments and limited floor time, the Senate set aside the energy bill it had been considering in the 108th Congress (S. 14) and passed the text of last year's Senate energy bill (H.R. 4). Because last year's bill was passed when the Senate was under a Democratic majority, some Republican leaders have pledged to re-insert provisions from this year's S. 14 in conference.

The House version of H.R. 6, which passed April 11, 2003, includes a key component of the Bush Administration's energy strategy: opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas exploration and development -- with a 2,000-acre limitation on production and support facilities. The Senate version, approved July 31, 2003, leaves ANWR off-limits to drilling.

The electricity provisions of H.R. 6 would continue to change the regulatory requirements for the wholesale electric market. In general, with some differences, both the House and Senate versions would repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA) and give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and state utility commissions access to utility books and records. Both would also repeal the mandatory purchase requirement of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) when a competitive electric market exists.

Automobile and light truck fuel efficiency was the subject of considerable debate in both houses. The Senate version would require development of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, but it also would freeze "pickup trucks" at the current light truck standard of 20.7 mpg. The House version would authorize appropriations to NHTSA to conduct further rulemakings and would require a study of the feasibility and effects of reducing automobile fuel use.

The House version of H.R. 6 includes a renewable fuel standard (RFS) that would require the blending of 2.7 billion gallons of renewable fuel with gasoline in 2005. The required volume would rise to 5 billion gallons annually by 2015, while the Senate version would require that target to be met by 2012. Several other controversial environmental provisions are contained only in the Senate-passed bill, particularly programs to address global climate change and renewable energy requirements for electricity providers.

Tax provisions in the House and Senate bills are not included in this report.

No update of this report is planned.