Fuel Economy Bill Has Bipartisan Support
The House debates an energy bill Thursday that would raise fuel mileage standards for the first time in more than 30 years. That measure has bipartisan support, as does a provision to increase the amount of biofuels that refineries must use to make gasoline.
But Republicans oppose a plan to force utilities to generate a portion of their electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar power.
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Today, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would increase fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks for the first time in 30 years. The increase is tied to several other initiatives aimed at reducing the nation's dependence on oil and gas. Democrats hailed the bill's passage as significant progress on their agenda, but it faces a tough time in the Senate.
NPR's Debbie Elliott reports.
DEBBIE ELLIOTT: During today's debate, Democrat after Democrat took to the podium to declare that history was being made. Here's House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Representative NANCY PELOSI (Democrat, California; Speaker of the House): This vote on this legislation will be a shot heard around the world for energy independence for America.
(Soundbite of applause)
ELLIOTT: The broad energy package does a number of things. The centerpiece would require automakers to average 35 miles per gallon over their fleets by 2020 - a 40 percent increase over today's standard. The bill also ramps up production of alternative fuels by requiring oil refineries to use more ethanol and other biofuels to make gasoline, and it would force utilities to generate 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar power.
Representative EDWARD MARKEY (Democrat, Massachusetts): What a moment for this Congress.
ELLIOTT: Massachusetts Democrat Edward Markey is chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
Rep. MARKEY: This bill today is really a signal to OPEC that we now mean business. And it is a signal to the rest of the world that we are serious about global warming.
ELLIOTT: Today's vote is the result of negotiations between Speaker Pelosi and Michigan Democrat John Dingell, the powerful chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and staunch protector of the auto industry.
Representative JOHN DINGELL (Democrat, Michigan): It is not unknown that I've had some reservations about the bill and about the procedure that has brought us to the floor. I note that this is, however, a good bill and one which I support.
ELLIOTT: Dingell won some concessions for automakers, including a credit against the federal mileage targets for producing cars that can run on ethanol.
Racing fuel economy means the federal government's gas tax revenues will go down. To offset that, Democrats included a $21 billion tax package in the energy bill. Most of the money would be generated by ending tax credits that oil companies get for domestic operations. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
Representative STENY HOYER (Democrat, Maryland: House Majority Leader): The oil companies, of course, are making extraordinary profits to give them incentive to continue to provide us with the energy with the need. But they do not need additional subsidies from this Congress.
ELLIOTT: Republicans, like Pennsylvania Congressman John Peterson, were critical that the bill did not expand domestic oil, gas and coal production.
Congressman JOHN PETERSON (Republican, Pennsylvania): HR6 is not an energy bill. Efficiency standards, conservation of renewables are vital to our future. But they're four and five years down the road before they provide energy. Americans need energy now.
ELLIOTT: The energy bill is expected to hit a wall in the Senate, where Republicans have enough votes to block it. Earlier this week, Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the mandate to electric companies to use renewable power was particularly troublesome.
Senator MITCH McCONNELL (Republican, Kentucky): For all of us in the southeast, that's a mandatory rate increase, and would produce a lot of difficulty.
ELLIOTT: McConnell said an energy bill could pass the Senate, but without what he called the twin millstones of tax hikes and utility bill increases around its neck. The White House said the bill puts U.S. oil companies at a global disadvantage and promised to veto.
Debbie Elliott, NPR News, the capitol. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.
