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 energy, and changes some of the provisions in the $21 billion tax package.

With these moves, Senate leaders believe they have more than 60 votes, enough to break a filibuster by Senate Republicans. President Bush has promised to veto the Bill, which would have to be passed by the House because of the changes in the tax and utility provisions.

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.

Meanwhile, Senate Agricultural Committee Chairman Tom Harkin plans to attach the 36 billion gallon ethanol mandate to the Farm Bill, which will move to the Senate floor for a vote next week.

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