The week ahead: Keystone pipeline, EPA rules in focus

GOP leaders, as they seek to corral conservative votes, could also add language targeting Environmental Protection Agency air pollution rules for industrial boilers that many Republicans say will harm the economy.

At the White House, the pipeline could come up when President Obama meets Wednesday with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Canadian officials backing the project are disappointed with the Obama administration for punting a final decision on the proposed Alberta-to-Texas pipeline until after the 2012 elections.
 
On other matters, the House will also vote on separate legislation that would block EPA from regulating “farm dust” — something EPA says it has no intention of doing anyway. The House Rules Committee is slated to meet Tuesday on the measure.
 
Meanwhile, appropriators will be busy hammering out agreement on a spending omnibus that they are trying to pass before lawmakers leave for the holiday. The plan is to release a package on Dec. 12 for a Dec. 15 vote.
 
There are deep rifts over environmental and abortion riders that led White House Budget Director Jack Lew to warn of a looming shutdown crisis.
 
Some upcoming action at the committee level …

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a Wednesday hearing on legislation to steer 80 percent of the Clean Water Act penalties from the BP oil spill to Gulf States, which would use what’s expected to be billions of dollars for environmental and economic restoration efforts.
 
The Senate version of the bill has cleared the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) is hoping for a floor vote this year.

A House Science, Space and Technology Committee panel will meet Wednesday for a hearing titled “Energy Critical Elements: Identifying Research Needs and Strategic Priorities.”  Witnesses will include David Sandalow, the assistant secretary for policy and international affairs at the Department of Energy.
 
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources will meet Thursday to consider the nomination of Arun Majumdar to be under secretary of Energy.
 
A few events to watch off Capitol Hill …
 
On Monday, Massachusetts Institute of Technology experts will unveil a major study at the National Press Club on the future of the electric grid.
 
On Tuesday the Interior Department will hold a public hearing on its proposed 2012-2017 offshore oil-and-gas leasing program.
 
Also Tuesday, NDN and the New Policy Institute will hold a forum titled “Electric Vehicles: The Integration of Electric Transportation.” Speakers include a top lobbyist for General Motors.
 
Wednesday brings the American Council on Renewable Energy’s Phase II National Policy Forum. Speakers will include several lawmakers. (On Monday night the group holds a 10th anniversary dinner, and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will deliver the keynote address.)
 
On Thursday the Center for Strategic and International Studies will host the public rollout of ExxonMobil’s 2012 energy outlook.
 
Also Thursday, Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies will hold a forum titled “Transatlantic Energy Futures: Strategic Perspectives on Energy Security, Climate Change and New Technologies in Europe and the United States.” Speakers include Jonathan Elkind, U.S. Department of Energy principal deputy assistant secretary for policy and international affairs.