US Senate Republicans block Energy Bill with filibuster threat

In Washington, passage of the Energy Bill was blocked when the Senate voted 53-42 – 7 short of the 60 required – to overcome a filibuster by Senate Republicans opposed to the bill.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said that the Senate would pass the bill if it did not contain a mandate requiring utilities to use renewable sources for 15 percent of their power generation, and a $21 billion tax package that would provide clean energy incentives.

The White House has threatened a veto of the bill if the two provisions were not taken out.

The bill raises Corporate Averaged Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards 40 percent to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, and a mandate to increase ethanol blending to 36 billion gallons by 2022, and a Renewable Power Standard, a mandate for utilities to derive 15 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020.

The bill also contains $21.5 billion in consumer tax incentives to install solar panels, wind turbines, and buy hybrid gas-electric cars. The tax incentives are offset by the cancellation of $13 billion in oil company tax subsidies, and it is this provision which the White House especially objects to.

“A slimmed-down bill, including the bipartisan RFS increase but excluding the controversial RPS, stands a good chance of enactment sometime in early 2008,” said Pavel Molchanov, analyst for Raymond James, in a note to investors.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

US Senate passes Energy Bill 86-8; oil tax package dropped to overcome Republican filibuster; House likely to approve, President Bush says will sign

In Washington, the United States Senate passed the Energy Bill 86-8 after $13 billion in oil company taxes were dropped from the bill. Voting on an earlier version of the bill with the tax package sti...

US Senate leaders muster 60 votes to overcome Republican filibuster by dropping Renewable Power Standard, altering tax package

In Washington, the US Senate will consider passage tomorrow of a revised Energy Bill which drops the controversial provision requiring utilities to use renewable sources to make 15 percent of their en...

US Congress to take up new renewable energy bill this week; tax credits for ethanol, biodiesel among provisions

In Washington, US lawmakers are expected to take up a new renewable energy bill next week, which will extend renewable energy tax credits through 2011. Tax credits for solar, fuel cells, cellulosic et...

Senate climate bill proceeds with markup despite Republican boycott

In Washington, the Kerry-Boxer climate bill was marked up in committee despite a boycott by Republicans. The bill, which is similar in structure to the House bill, contains  tougher greenhouse gas re...

US Senate to vote on Energy Bill; leadership seeks 60 votes to overcome Republican filibuster in support of oil companies; Renewable Power standard appears dead

In Washington, the US Senate is expected to vote on the Energy Bill today, with last minute negotiations underway to increase support for the bill above the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican fi...

Minnesota to consider new low-carbon fuels bill; Franken to be declared winner in close Senate race

In Minnesota, state legislators will consider a new low-carbon bill next week that would mandate automakers with reducing tailpipe emissions by 10 percent by 2020. Meanwhile, local officials are re...