Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legislation in the 109th Congress

Publication Date: August 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Energy

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Abstract:

This report reviews the status of energy efficiency and renewable energy legislation introduced during the 109th Congress. Action in the second session has focused on appropriations bills; the first session focused on omnibus energy policy bill H.R. 6 (P.L. 109-58), H.R. 3 (P.L. 109-59), and several appropriations bills.

The enacted version of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58, H.R. 6) authorizes or reauthorizes several energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. It also establishes several new commercial and consumer product efficiency standards, sets new goals for energy efficiency and renewable energy in federal facilities and fleets, broadens the Energy Star products program, expands programs for hydrogen fuel cell buses, extends daylight savings time, and sets a renewable fuels standard for increased use of ethanol and biodiesel. Further, it extends the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) for two years, but it does not include Senate-proposed provisions for oil conservation, a renewable portfolio standard (RPS), or a broader range of legislated equipment efficiency standards.

The enacted version of the Transportation Equity Act (P.L. 109-59, H.R. 3) has provisions for clean (renewable) fuels, energy conservation, and advanced vehicle technologies. Specific sections include 1113, volumetric excise tax credit for alternative fuels; 1121, high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities; 1307, magnetic levitation transportation; 1807, nonmotorized transportation pilot program; 1808, additions to congestion mitigation and air quality (CMAQ); 1952, congestion relief; 1954, bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways; 3005, metropolitan transportation planning; 3010, clean fuels grant program; 3016, national research and technology programs; 3044, clean fuels grants; 3045, national fuel cell bus technology development program; 4149, office of intermodalism; 5301, intelligent transportation systems; 5502, congestion relief research initiative; 6001, transportation planning; 6015, clean school buses; and 9002, study of high-speed rail.

Appropriations bills have also been a focus, including P.L. 109-54 (H.R. 2361, Environmental Protection Agency energy efficiency programs for climate protection); P.L. 109-103 (H.R. 2419, Department of Energy programs for energy efficiency and renewable energy); P.L. 109-97 (H.R. 2744, Department of Agriculture program for renewable energy grants and loans); P.L. 109-108 (H.R. 2862, telecommuting program at several agencies); P.L. 109-102 (H.R. 3057, Department of State funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy in developing nations); and H.R. 2863 (Department of Defense wind energy project for an Air Force base).

More than 290 energy efficiency and renewable energy bills have been introduced thus far, including more than 140 that were introduced after the conference report on H.R. 6 was filed on July 27, 2005. For each bill listed in this report, a brief description and a summary of action are given, including references to committee hearings and reports. Also, a selected list of hearings on renewable energy is included. This report will be updated periodically. It supplements the tracking of issues that appear in CRS Report RL33588 and CRS Report RL33599.