GOP and White House Threaten to Block Energy Bill
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A bill that would provide significant movement to deal with making America more energy independent passed the House. The Senate Republicans threatened a Filibuster and the White House threatened a VETO of this bill. Below is a summary of the provisions of this important legislation:
Highlights of energy legislation in the House.
_ Car Mileage: Requires automakers to increase the fuel economy of cars and small trucks, including SUVs, by 40 percent to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.
_ Renewable motor fuels: Requires a sevenfold increase in the use of ethanol as a motor fuel to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022, with two-thirds to be cellulose ethanol from such feedstock as prairie grass and wood chips. Has tax incentives for renewable fuels plants.
_ Taxes: Includes a $21 billion tax package, including a rollback of $13.5 billion in tax breaks for the five largest oil companies. The revenue is to be used for tax incentives to promote renewable fuels and energy efficiency.
_ Electricity: Requires electric utilities to produce 15 percent of their power from renewable energy such as wind, solar or biomass. Some of the mandate could be satisfied by utilities promoting efficiency or buying renewable energy credits.
_ Energy efficiency: Requires increased energy efficient appliances and improvements in energy efficiency of federal and commercial buildings. Also requires faster approval of federal energy efficiency standards.
_ Hybrid cars: Creates tax incentives to develop plug-in hybrid electric cars and establishes tax credits for buying the vehicles.
WHY is Congress not getting anything done? The GOP and President Bush! No matter what the majority in Congress attempt is either blocked by the GOP Senators or the White House. Time to get ride of the GOP in November 2008!
