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July 23, 2010

Hopes fade for Senate energy bill as ‘limited’ version is drafted

Senator John Kerry said he was hopeful the summer break might give his colleagues opportunity to consider the need for comprehensive energy reforms

Hopes for comprehensive energy and climate reforms being passed by the Senate before the August recess are fading fast.

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid is now understood to be bringing forward a bill that will include little by way of climate or clean energy measures.

Reports suggest a national renewable energy standard will not be included, and neither will any caps on carbon emissions.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, who has led efforts to produce a comprehensive bill, the American Power Act, said last night he believed there was still some chance of getting the 60 votes needed to pass the legislation.

But, he said priority was now on Senator Reid’s “admittedly narrow, limited bill”, which would seek better safeguards against oil spills in the light of the Gulf of Mexico disaster, rather than the kind of changes needed to combat climate change.

Senator Kerry gave a clear nod towards the Republicans for the failure to get more comprehensive energy and climate legislation through this summer.

He said: “We’ve always known from day one, that in order to pass comprehensive energy/climate legislation, you’ve got to reach 60 votes, and to reach those 60 votes, you’ve got have some Republicans. And as we stand here today, we do not have one Republican.”

“Confident”

While the Obama Administration continues to work on getting 60 votes before Congress breaks for the summer, Senator Kerry revealed his belief that it would take at least until the fall to secure enough support.

He said: “I am absolutely confident that as the American people make their voices heard and as our colleagues go home and listen to them we’re going to grow in our ability to pass this.”

Workers, families, and our country demand a new energy future.” - Denise Bode, AWEA

With concerns about the economy prominent in Republican minds, hopes for Senator Reid’s bill now rest on its inclusion of measures that may boost US energy independence, possibly including tax credits or other funding measures to support alternatives to the oil that has caused so much damage in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Beyond comprehension”

The renewable energy industry said it was “beyond comprehension” that a Senate energy bill will not contain a Renewable Electricity Standard, to require utilities in every state to source some of their power from renewable energy projects.

Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, said: “A bipartisan bill with a national renewable electricity standard (RES) passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee over a year ago. It is beyond comprehension that we are now hearing that the bill may never be brought to the Senate floor. ”

Ms Bode said wind farm installations had dropped by 69% this year already, and that failing to pass a national standard would threaten “at least 360,000 jobs”.

“Workers, families, and our country demand a new energy future. That future must emphasize new strategies that embrace clean, renewable sources of energy that reduce costs, create jobs, and enhance our national security,” she said.