Dingell drops energy bill elements

Unable to resolve a disagreement with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and other Democrats, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) yesterday said he would introduce a revised energy bill that left out the more controversial elements of an earlier proposal.

In a memo sent yesterday at press time to committee members, Dingell said he planned to circulate an energy bill that addressed energy efficiency standards, a “smart” electricity grid, loan guarantees for “innovative” energy technologies and incentives for renewable fuels infrastructure.

{mosads}Gone from the new draft, however, would be new fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks and language preventing California and other states from requiring greenhouse gas emissions reductions from tailpipes.

A dozen Democrats on the committee wrote Dingell to express “serious concerns” about the legislation. Pelosi said she in particular opposed the language to preempt California’s greenhouse gas efforts.

But Dingell said Democrats, in essence, were agreeing to disagree on those hot-button issues for now as they move forward on items that have broader support.

“This procedure for considering energy legislation at this time was discussed with the Speaker, and she understands the rationale for proceeding this way so that we can rapidly complete work on a bipartisan bill,” Dingell wrote.

Still, the chairman said the initial bill would include meaningful steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the new energy efficiency requirements would “remove from the atmosphere carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to those emitted from all cars currently on the road,” the letter stated, quoting estimates from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy and the Alliance to Save Energy.