20070627 Four Bartlett Amendments Strengthen Biofuels and Solar Bills

Four Bartlett Amendments Strengthen Biofuels and Solar Bills

June 27, 2007

Washington, DC – Four amendments by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-6-MD) were among nine offered by Republicans that were approved today as part of legislation by the House Science and Technology Committee. The Committee approved four bills.

Two promoted research and development (R&D) into alternative and renewable energies.

A third bill updated an Administration database for climate change data management.

The fourth bill studies the potential for carbon capture and storage technologies.

The Bartlett amendments made substantive improvements to biofuels and solar energy research and development bills.

Congressman Bartlett said, “The Science and Technology Committee has been extremely active approving energy-related bills. I was very pleased by the cooperation and collaboration by Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), Chairman Nick Lampson (D-TX) and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and their staff who worked with me to make these very good bills better and more comprehensive.”

The following bills were approved by the Committee today by voice vote:

H.R. 2774, the Solar Energy Research and Advancement Act of 2007, introduced by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ);

H.R. 2773, the Biofuels Research and Development Enhancement Act, introduced by Energy and Environment Chairman Nick Lampson (D-TX);

H.R. 1933, the Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Storage Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2007, introduced by Space and Aeronautics Chairman Mark Udall (D-CO); and

H.R. 906, Global Change Research and Data Management Act of 2007, introduced by Chairman Udall and Energy and Environment Ranking Member Bob Inglis (R-SC).

Congressman Bartlett had two amendments approved as part of H.R. 2773, the Biofuels Research and Development Enhancement Act.

One Bartlett amendment changed Section 4, which directs the Secretary of Energy to submit to the Congress within 180 days a report on any research and development challenges inherent in increasing the proportion of diesel sold in the U.S. to 5 percent biodiesel.

The Bartlett amendment cuts that proportion in half to 2.5 percent. “It is important for the biofuels program enacted under this bill to be realistic and to take account of the food vs. fuel trade-off inherent with biodiesel,” said Congressman Bartlett.

A National Academies of Science (NAS) study released on July 25, 2006, “Environmental, economic, and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels,” found that if the entire 2005 soybean crop was used to make biodiesel, it would have provided a net energy gain discounted for the fossil fuel input equivalent to just 2.9% of U.S. diesel consumption.

The NAS study is posted at: http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/0604600103v1

Congressman Bartlett joined his colleague, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), in offering a second amendment considering the environment impact and adding the goal of making biofuels production sustainable. It also added a study on the effects of expanded biodiesel production on the food supply for humans and animals.

“This amendment complements the announcement made yesterday by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman that DOE will invest up to $375 million in three new Bioenergy Research Centers intended to accelerate basic as well as applied research in the development of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels,” said Congressman Bartlett.

“The changes in this amendment clarify the intent of Congress that federal government studies of biofuels address the potential food versus fuel trade-offs. It also explicitly addresses the tendency for stove piping that can isolate expertise by and within Departments. Research under this bill should complement rather than duplicate ongoing federal government efforts at the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency.” A separate amendment added consultation with the Department of Transportation.

Congressman Bartlett also had two amendments approved as part of H.R. 2774, the Solar Energy Research and Advancement Act of 2007.

One amendment added a section to establish a research, development and demonstration program to promote less costly and more reliable decentralized and distributed solar-powered air conditioning for individuals and businesses.

Congressman Bartlett said, “This amendment is designed to produce renewable energy powered decentralized and distributed electricity, reduce peak load electricity demands and contribute to greater resilience of the grid.”

Congressman Bartlett’s solar air conditioning amendment was supported by:

The DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building America Program; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA); Western Renewables Group; Austin Energy; Sacramento Municipal Utility District, and San Diego Gas & Electric.

Congressman Bartlett’s second amendment added a new section on Daylighting Systems and Direct Solar Pipe Technology. “I am grateful to Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI) for alerting me to the opportunity to expand advances in these technologies,” said Congressman Bartlett.

This amendment to help move electricity generation off the grid by establishing a research and demonstration program and commercial application of direct solar renewable energy sources to provide alternatives to traditional power generation for lighting and illumination and to promote greater energy conservation and improved efficiency.

For more information CONTACT: Lisa Wright or Monica DeLong at 202-225-2721

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