Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Legislation in the 107th Congress

CRS Report for Congress
Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation
th
Legislation in the 107 Congress
September 19, 2001
Fred Sissine
Specialist in Energy Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry


Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Legislation in the
107th Congress
Summary
This report reviews the status of energy efficiency and energy conservation
legislation introduced during the 107th Congress. Most of the focus thus far has
centered on omnibus energy bills introduced in the House (H.R. 4) and in the Senate
(S. 596/S. 597 and S. 388/S. 389).
The omnibus energy bills from both the House and the Senate have several
energy efficiency provisions. H.R. 4, the Securing America’s Energy Future (SAFE)
Act, comprises four major house bills: H.R. 2436, H.R. 2460, H.R. 2511, and H.R.
2587. This bill covers many provisions from the Bush Administration’s National
Energy Policy (NEP) report and legislates on several NEP administrative action
provisions. It passed the House on August 2, 2001, and had a second reading in the
Senate on September 4.
On Sept. 6, 2001, the Senate Energy Committee Chairman issued a “Chairman’s
Mark” for an omnibus Senate energy bill, summarizing “intended sections yet to be
marked up.” The Chairman’s statement says the forthcoming bill would have a major
focus on energy efficiency. Many of the forthcoming bill’s provisions are expected
to be derived from the Democratic energy bills, S. 597 and S. 596, and from the
Republican energy bills, S. 388 and S. 389.
More than 70 energy efficiency bills have been introduced so far. These bills are
listed in the report, with descriptions of their provisions and notations for committee
reports and hearings. Also, a selected list of hearings is added.
(This report supplements the tracking of energy efficiency policy issues that
appears in CRS Issue Brief IB10020.)



Contents
Introduction ................................................... 1
National Energy Policy Legislation...............................1
Appropriations Bills..........................................1
Legislation ..................................................... 4
House Bills (with Senate Companions)............................4
Senate Bills (with House Companions)............................9
Congressional Hearings, Reports, and Documents......................13
List of Tables
Table 1. Energy Efficiency Bills Listed by Topic: 107th Congress...........3



Energy Efficiency and Conservation
th
Legislation in the 107 Congress
Introduction
This report provides a list of more than 70 energy efficiency and energy
conservation bills introduced during the 107th Congress. These bills cover a wide
range of technologies including those for buildings, industry, power production, and
transportation. Also, they include a range of policies that cover tax credits,
regulation, funding, goals, and the environment. So far, tax credits for energy
efficiency, incentives for energy-efficient appliances, and measures to promote
electricity conservation are the policy topics that have generated the greatest number
of bills. The table on page 2 groups the bills by topic.
National Energy Policy Legislation
Energy efficiency provisions appear in omnibus energy bills from both the House
and the Senate. H.R. 4, the Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) Act,
comprises four major house bills: H.R. 2436, H.R. 2460, H.R. 2511, and H.R. 2587.
This bill covers many provisions from the Bush Administration’s National Energy
Policy (NEP) report and legislates on several NEP administrative action provisions.
The bill includes funding authorizations, goals, and incentives for energy efficiency
and conservation. It covers programs for federal conservation, grants, equipment
(consumer products, distributed power, lighting), and buildings. It passed the House
on August 2, 2001, and had a second reading in the Senate on September 4.
On September 6, 2001, the Senate Energy Committee Chairman issued a
“Chairman’s Mark” for an omnibus Senate energy bill, summarizing “intended
sections yet to be marked up.” This statement says the forthcoming bill would have
a major focus on energy efficiency, include grants, loan guarantees, federal agency
goals and purchase requirements, measures to increase appliance efficiency and
labeling, a public benefits fund to support distributed generation of electricity, and a
program to transfer energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to
developing countries. Many of these provisions are expected to be derived from the
Democratic energy bills, S. 597 and S. 596, and some may also be drawn from the
Republican energy bills, S. 388 and S. 389.
Appropriations Bills
The FY2002 Interior appropriations bill (H.R. 2217) funds the Energy Efficiency
Program at the Department of Energy. This bill is described in greater detail in CRS
Issue Brief IB10020. The FY2002 Veterans, Housing and Urban Development



(HUD), and Independent Agencies appropriations bill (H.R. 2620/S. 1216) funds
energy efficiency (climate protection) programs at the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). It is also discussed in more detail in CRS Issue Brief 10020. The
FY2002 Department of Defense (DOD) appropriations bill (S. 1416) includes funding
for energy efficiency programs. The FY2002 Foreign Operations appropriations bill
(H.R. 2506) includes funding for international energy efficiency programs.
For each bill listed in this report, there is a brief description and a summary of
action, including references to committee hearings and reports. Also, a selected list
of hearings on energy efficiency and energy conservation is included.



Table 1. Energy Efficiency Bills Listed by Topic:
107th Congress
Omnibus. H.R. 4, H.R. 2324, H.R. 2478, H.R. 2436, H.R. 2460, H.R. 2511,
H.R. 2587, S. 388/S. 389, S. 596/S. 597,
Appropriations. H.R. 2217, H.R. 2506, H.R. 2620/S. 1216, H.R. 2647/S.
1172, S.Res. 26, S. 1416
R&D/Technology Demonstrations. S. 517, S. 1131
Grants. H.R. 2224, H.R. 2731, S.Res. 26, S.Res. 148, S. 352, S. 420, S. 671,
S. 1213
Loans/Financial Assistance. H.R. 2233, S. 95, S. 196
Tax Credits. H.R. 1045, H.R. 1275/S. 828, H.R. 1316/S. 686, H.R. 1797,
H.R. 1945, H.R. 1967, H.R. 2040, H.R. 2147, H.R. 2179, H.R. 2206, H.R.

2392, H.R. 2393, S. 196, S. 207, S. 293/H.R. 778, S. 465, S. 596, S. 760, S.


1212.


Buildings. H.R. 1129, H.R. 1851, H.R. 2147, H.R. 2384, H.R. 2393,
H.R. 2731, S. 72, S. 95, S. 196, S. 293/H.R. 778, S. 671, S. 968, S. 1358
Housing. H.R. 2224, H..R. 2412
Federal Agencies. H.R. 683/S. 352, H.R. 2263, H.R. 2516, S. 72, S. 95,
S. 420, S. 1358
Defense Dept. H.R. 2141, S. 1416, S. 1418
Equipment/Appliances. H.Res. 43, H.R. 44, H.R. 1316/S. 686, H.R. 1479,
H.R. 2040, H.R. 2206, H.R. 2393, H.R. 2516, S.J.Res. 15, S. 207, S. 293/H.R.
778
Lighting. S. 1166
Electricity/Utilities Regulation. H.R. 381/S. 552, H.R. 416, H.R. 683,
H.R. 704, H.R. 954, H.R. 1256, H.R. 1647, H.R. 1797, H.R. 1945, H.R. 2141,
H.R. 2392, S. 556, S. 1212, S. 1213, S. 1333
Transportation. H.R. 1967, H.R. 2263
Environment - Air Quality. H.R. 1335, S. 556/H.R. 1256, S. 1131
Environment - Climate. H.R. 416, H.R. 1335, S. 556/H.R. 1256, S. 1131,
S. 1294
Goals/Plans. H.R. 1830, H.R. 2324
International. H.R. 2567/S. 1197, S. 1294



Legislation
House Bills (with Senate Companions)
H.R. 4 (Tauzin)
Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001. Incorporates H.R.
2436, Energy Security Act; H.R. 2460, Comprehensive Energy Research and
Technology Act; H. R. 2511, Energy Tax Policy Act; and H.R. 2587, Energy
Advancement and Conservation Act. Introduced July 27, 2001; referred to
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and to the Committees on Science, Ways and
Means, Resources, Education and the Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure,
the Budget, and Financial Services. Passed House, amended, August 2. Read second
time in Senate, September 4.
H.Res. 43 (Knollenberg)
Expressing disapproval of DOE rule on residential central air conditioners and
heat pumps. Introduced April 16, 2001; referred to Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
H.R. 44 (Knollenberg)
Expressing disapproval of DOE rule on clothes washers. Introduced April 16,

2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Commerce.


H.R. 381 (Stearns)
Ratepayer Protection Act. Repeals section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory
Policies Act (PURPA, P.L. 95-620), which set a power purchase requirement and an
avoided (marginal) cost price mechanism for qualifying cogeneration facilities.
Introduced January 31, 2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Commerce.
H.R. 416 (Andrews)
Environmental Priorities Act of 2001. With money from cost savings under
electricity competition, creates a fund at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Money from the fund can be used for “mitigating the deleterious effect of electricity
production on air quality” and other purposes. Introduced February 6, 2001; referred
to Committee on Energy and Commerce.
H.R. 683 (Markey)
Energy Emergency Response Act of 2001. To increase the authorization of
appropriations for low-income energy assistance, weatherization, and state energy
conservation grant programs, to expand the use of energy savings performance
contracts, and for other purposes. Introduced February 14, 2001; referred to House
Committees: House Education and the Workforce; House Energy and Commerce.
H.R. 704 (Sherman)
Energy Time Adjustment Authorization Act. Allows states in the Pacific time
zone to temporarily adjust the standard time on an emergency basis, to conserve
electric energy. Introduced March 14, 2001; referred to Committee on Energy and
Commerce.



H.R. 954 (Inslee)
Home Energy Generation Act. Provides net metering for fuel cells and other
small distributed power systems. Introduced March 8, 2001; referred to Committee
on Energy and Commerce.
H.R. 1045 (Wilson)
Energy Self-Sufficiency Act for the 21st Century. Section 201 provides an
investment tax incentive for distributed renewable energy equipment. Also, authorizes
appropriations for R&D programs from FY2002 through FY2007. Introduced March

15; referred to Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Science.


H.R. 1129 (Udall)
High Performance Schools Act of 2001. Establishes DOE program to provide
grants to states and school districts for the construction and renovation of school
buildings to improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and other features.
Introduced March 20, 2001; referred to Committee on Education and the Workforce.
H.R. 1256 (Waxman)
Clean Smokestacks Act of 2001. Encourages the use of energy efficiency,
renewable energy, emissions trading, and other measures to reduce powerplant
emissions of sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and other gases. Introduced April 16,

2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Commerce.


H.R. 1275 (Johnson)/S. 828 (Lieberman)
Creates an income tax credit for certain stationary fuel cells. House bill
introduced March 28; referred to Committee on Ways and Means. Senate bill
introduced May 3; referred to Committee on Finance.
H.R. 1316 (Nussle)/S. 686 (Lincoln)
Resource Efficient Appliance Incentives Act. Creates a tax credit for energy
efficient refrigerators and clothes washers. House bill introduced March 29, 2001;
referred to Committee on Ways and Means. Senate bill introduced April 4, 2001;
referred to Committee on Finance.
H.R. 1335(Allen)/S. 1131 (Leahy)
Clean Power Plant and Modernization Act of 2001. Encourages the use of fuel
cells, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other measures to reduce powerplant
emissions of sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and other gases. House bill introduced
April 3, 2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Commerce and to Committees
on Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Transportation and
Infrastructure, and Science. Senate bill introduced June 28, 2001; referred to
Committee on Finance.
H.R. 1479 (Knollenberg)
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to eliminate energy efficiency
requirements for certain plumbing equipment. Introduced April 4, 2001; referred to
Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.



H.R. 1647 (Barton)
Electricity Emergency Relief Act. Title I includes an incentive for voluntary
curtailment. In affected states, Title II directs DOE to conduct a public awareness
campaign for conservation during peak demand periods and directs federal agencies
to apply conservation measures to reduce use by 10%. Introduced May 1, 2001;
referred to Committee on Energy and Commerce and to Committee on Resources.
Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality held hearing on May 1 and 3.
H.R. 1797 (Dunn)
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Incentives Act of 2001. Provides a tax
credit for qualified energy management devices, including meters. Introduced May

10, 2001; referred to Committee on Ways and Means.


H.R. 1830 (Larson)
Energy Independence Act of 2001. Directs Secretary of Energy to prepare a
national plan for energy self-sufficiency and authorizes appropriations for a variety of
accelerated fuel cell demonstration and market transformation programs. Introduced
May 15, 2001; referred to Committees on Energy and Commerce, Science, and
Government Reform.
H.R. 1851 (Tauscher)
State Infrastructure Banks for Schools Act of 2001. Includes energy efficiency
measures as a qualifying project. Introduced May 15, 2001; referred to Committee
on Education and the Workforce.
H.R. 1945 (Quinn)
Combined Heat and Power Advancement Act of 2001. Creates investment tax
credit for combined heat and power systems and sets criteria for their connection to
electricity transmission systems. Introduced May 22, 2001; referred to Committee on
Ways and Means and Committee on Energy and Commerce.
H.R. 1967 (Kucinich)
Gas Price Spike Act of 2001. Allows income tax credit for purchases of
fuel-efficient passenger vehicles and grants for mass transit. Introduced May 24,
2001; referred to Committee on Ways and Means and to the Committees on
Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce.
H.R. 2040 (Thompson)
Energy Efficient Appliances Act of 2001. Provides 50% income tax credit, up
to $1,000, for individuals who purchase energy efficient appliances. Introduced May

24, 2001, referred to Committee on Ways and Means.


H.R. 2141 (Thompson)
Department of Defense Energy Reduction Act of 2001. Requires electric
generation facilities owned and operated by the Department of Defense in the Western
United States to generate electricity and conserve energy (by eliminating non-essential
activities that use significant amounts of energy) in electric emergencies. Introduced
June 12, 2001; referred to Committee on Armed Services and to Committee on
Energy and Commerce.



H.R. 2147 (Weller)
Save America's Valuable Energy Resources Act of 2001. Provides tax credits
for making energy efficiency improvements to existing homes and for constructing
new energy efficient homes. Introduced June 13, 2001; referred to Committee on
Ways and Means.
H.R. 2206 (Terry)
Energy Efficiency Investment Act of 2001. Provides a tax credit for certain
energy efficient property placed in service or installed in an existing principal
residence or property used by businesses. Introduced June 14, 2001; referred to
Committee on Ways and Means.
H.R. 2217 (Skeen)
Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2002.
Makes appropriations for DOE Energy Efficiency Program. Reported (H.Rept. 107-

103) June 19, 2001. Passed House, June 21, 2001.


H.R. 2224 (Ford)
Energy Efficiency and Assistance Act of 2001. Increases LIHEAP funding
authorization, provides residential energy efficiency loans, and creates financing
incentives for energy-efficient mortgages. Introduced June 19, 2001; referred to
Committee on Energy and Commerce and to Committees on Financial Services and
Education and the Workforce.
H.R. 2233 (Nadler)
For municipalities and local communities, creates community-based revolving
loan program that may include support for energy efficiency programs and other local
conservation measures. Introduced June 19, 2001; referred to Committee on Energy
and Commerce and to the Committee on Ways and Means.
H.R. 2263 (Gilman)
Requires that 10% of the vehicles purchased by executive branch agencies be
hybrid electric vehicles or high-efficiency vehicles. Introduced June 21, 2001; referred
to Committee on Government Reform.
H.R. 2324 (Woolsey)
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Act of 2001. Sets energy efficiency
R&D goals for housing, industry, and transportation. Creates commercialization
assistance for energy efficiency projects by private companies. Introduced June 26,

2001; referred to Committee on Science.


H.R. 2392 (Inslee)
Clean Energy Incentives Act. Creates tax credits for energy efficiency and
conservation, demand management, and distributive energy generation. Introduced
June 28, 2001; referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
H.R. 2393 (Israel)
Energy Cost and Tax Relief Act. Creates tax credit for energy conservation
expenditures in residences and for purchases of energy efficient appliances.
Introduced June 28, 2001; referred to Committee on Ways and Means.



H.R. 2412 (Rahall)
Tribal Energy Self-Sufficiency Act. Promotes tribal energy efficiency, creates
incentives for energy efficiency in federally assistance housing, and provides other
energy measures. Introduced June 28, 2001; referred to Committee on Resources and
to Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Financial Services, and
Agriculture.
H.R. 2436 (Hansen)
Energy Security Act. Section 701 directs the Department of Interior to
implement energy conservation measures at its facilities. Introduced July 10, 2001;
referred to Committee on Resources and to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Committee on Resources reported (H. Rept. 107-160, Part I) July 25, 2001.
Incorporated in H.R. 4.
H.R. 2460 (Boehlert)
Comprehensive Energy Research and Technology Act of 2001. Title I
authorizes appropriations for energy efficiency R&D, energy conservation grants, and
distributed energy resources programs. Introduced July 11, 2001; referred to
Committee on Science. Reported July 18, 2001. Incorporated into H.R. 4.
H.R. 2478 (Woolsey)
Comprehensive Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Act of 2001. Creates
public benefits trust fund to support energy efficiency in electricity industry; creates
energy efficiency measures for schools and federal facilities; and provides tax credits
for energy efficiency in buildings, equipment, appliances, and transportation.
Introduced July 11, 2001; referred to Committee on Ways and Means and to
Committees on Science, and Energy and Commerce.
H.R. 2506 (Kolbe)
FY2002 appropriations bill for foreign operations, export financing, and related
programs. Includes funding for energy efficiency as part of climate change programs
of the Global Environment Facility. Reported (H. Rept. 107-142) July 10, 2001.
Passed House July 24, 2001. Reported in Senate (S. Rept. 107-58) July 26, 2001.
H.R. 2511 (McCrery)
Amends IRS tax code to create tax incentives. Title I creates tax incentives for
fuel cells, home improvements, appliances, and energy-efficient buildings. Introduced
July 17, 2001; referred to Committee on Ways and Means. Reported (H.Rept. 107-

157) July 24, 2001. Incorporated into H.R. 4.


H.R. 2516 (Barrett)
Air Conditioner Energy Efficiency Leadership Act. Requires federal agencies
to acquire central air conditioners and heat pumps that meet or exceed certain
efficiency standards. Introduced July 17, 2001; referred to Committee on
Government Reform and to Committee on Energy and Commerce.
H.R. 2567 (DeLauro)/S. 1197 (Dodd)
CASA Code and Safety for the Americas Act of 2001. Creates assistance
program to improve international building practices in eligible Latin American
countries, including energy conservation codes and standards. House bill introduced



July 19, 2001; referred to Committee on International Relations. Senate bill
introduced July 19, 2001; referred to Committee on Foreign Relations.
H.R. 2587 (Tauzin)
Creates a variety of energy conservation and other energy policy measures. Title
I includes provisions to reauthorize appropriations for energy efficiency and energy
conservation programs for federal facilities and energy conservation grant programs.
It also creates energy efficiency programs for consumer products and vehicles. Title
II increases fuel economy standards for certain highway vehicles. Introduced July 23,

2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Commerce and many other committees.


Reported (H.Rept. 107-162, Part I) July 25. Incorporated into H.R. 4.
H.R. 2620 (Tauzin)/S. 1216 (Mikulski)
Department of Veterans, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and
Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY2002. Makes appropriations for EPA
Energy Efficiency Programs. House bill reported (H.Rept. 107-159) July 17, 2001.
Passed House, July 30, 2001. Senate bill reported (S. Rept. 107-43) July 20, 2001.
Passed Senate, August 2, 2001.
H.R. 2647 (Taylor)/S. 1172 (Durbin)
Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill for FY2002. House bill reported July 26,
2001. Amended, July 31. H. Amdt. 281 (Rothman, H. Rept. 107-171) provides
resources from existing funds to allow House Members to request the installation of
energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs in their offices. Passed House,
amended, July 31, 2001. Senate bill reported (S. Rept. 107-37) July 12, 2001.
Senate passed H.R. 2647 in lieu of S. 1172 on July 31, 2001.
H.R. 2731 (Baird)
School Energy Assistance Act of 2001. Directs the Secretary of Education, in
consultation with the Secretary of Energy, to establish a 2-year grant program to
compensate schools for rising energy costs. Introduced August 2, 2001; referred to
Committee on Education and the Workforce.
H.R. 2834 (Andrews)
FHA Energy Efficiency Act. Provides that any certification of a property for
meeting energy efficiency requirements for mortgage insurance under such Act shall
be conducted by an individual certified by an accredited home energy rating system
provider. Introduced September 5, 2001; referred to Committee on Financial
Services.
Senate Bills (with House Companions)
Forthcoming Omnibus Energy Bill (Energy Committee Chairman’s Mark)
Energy Policy Bill. The Chairman’s Mark says this bill would include $200
million in energy efficiency grants for schools, $10 million in efficiency grants for
community development corporations, and a package of grants and loan guarantees
for Native American tribes. For federal agencies, the bill would include a new baseline
(2000) and energy efficiency goal of 20% improvement by 2010; a requirement to
purchase Energy Star products, and indefinite extension of authority to engage energy



saving performance contracts (ESPCs); and a requirement for federal fleets to
increase the percentage use of alternative fuels. For appliance efficiency, the bill
would include a higher efficiency standard for central air conditioners; a statutory
basis for the Energy Star program; a requirement for the Federal Trade Commission
to update energy use labels; and a public education program. For electricity, the bill
would include an interconnection requirement for distributed generation, including
wind and solar energy equipment; a federal public benefits fund that would be
distributed as a block grant to states and Native American tribes to fund demand-side
management and renewable energy; a requirement that renewable energy power
purchases by federal agencies increase to 7.5% by 2010; and a net metering provision
for combined heat and power and renewable energy equipment. For climate change,
the bill would create a program to transfer energy efficiency and renewable energy
technologies to developing countries.
S. Res. 26 (Kerry)
States Senate support for a supplemental appropriation bill to increase funding
for Weatherization, State Energy Conservation, and Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Program. Introduced February 5, 2001; referred to Committee on
Appropriations.
S. Res. 148 (Biden)
Designates October 30, 2001, as "National Weatherization Day." Introduced
August 2, 2001; referred to Committee on the Judiciary.
S. J. Res. 15 (Boxer)
Expresses disapproval of the DOE rule that postpones the effective date of
energy conservation standards for central air conditioners. Introduced May 22, 2001;
referred to Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearing held July 13.
S. 72 (Bingaman)
Energy Efficient Cost Savings Improvement Act of 2001. Amends the National
Energy Conservation Policy Act to enhance and extend agencies’ authority to use
energy savings performance contracts in federal facilities. Introduced January 22,

2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


S. 95 (Kohl)
Federal Energy Bank Act. Creates a trust fund in the Department of the
Treasury to promote energy conservation in federal facilities. Introduced January 22,

2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


S. 196 (Boxer)
Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a refundable tax credit
worth up to $2,000 for expenditures on a variety of residential equipment, including
insulation, storm windows, and thermal storage. Also, authorizes $20 million per year
over five years in financial assistance for insulation and certain energy-saving
equipment used to retrofit elementary and secondary schools. Introduced January

29, 2001; referred to Committee on Finance.



S. 207 (Smith)
Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create a refundable tax credit for
up to 50% of increased residential energy costs, applicable to a variety of residential
equipment, including electric and natural gas heat pumps, central air conditioners, and
natural gas water heaters. For commercial buildings, a credit applies to equipment
used for lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water supply that cuts energy
and power costs by 50% relative to an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating,
and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) reference building. Introduced February

8, 2001; referred to Committee on Finance.


S. 293 (Harkin)/H.R. 778 (Cunningham)
Home Energy Assistance Tax Act. Similar to S. 207. Creates a refundable tax
credit for up to 50% of increased residential energy costs, applicable to a variety of
residential equipment, including including electric and natural gas heat pumps, central
air conditioners, and natural gas water heaters. For commercial buildings, a credit
applies to equipment used for lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water
supply that cuts energy and power costs by 50% relative to an ASHRAE reference
building. Senate bill introduced February 8, 2001; referred to Committee on Finance.
House bill introduced February 28, 2001; referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
S. 352 (Bingaman)
Energy Emergency Response Act of 2001. Increases the authorization of
appropriations for low-income energy assistance, weatherization, and state energy
conservation grant programs, to expand the use of energy savings performance
contracts, and for other purposes. Introduced January 22, 2001; referred to
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S. 388/S. 389 (Murkowski)
National Energy Security Act of 2001. Title VI provides grants for energy
efficiency in school buildings; authorizes funding for weatherization grants and state
energy grants; authorizes federal agencies to engage energy saving performance
contracts; and sets 50% energy efficiency improvement goals for federal agencies in
2020 relative to 1990. Also, section 704 requires federal agency fleets to increase
average fuel economy by 3 mpg by 2005, relative to 2000. Introduced February 26,
2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held May

24 through July 26, 2001.


S. 420 (Grassley)
Energy Emergency Response Act of 2001. Appears as Title XIV of the
Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2001. Provides increased funding through FY2005 for
low-income energy assistance, weatherization, and state energy conservation grant
programs. Reported from Committee on Judiciary, without a written report, March

1, 2001. Passed Senate, amended, March 15, 2001.


S. 556 (Jeffords)
Clean Power Act of 2001. Amends the Clean Air Act to require EPA
regulations that reduce air pollution emissions from powerplants. Section 132 directs
that the regulations shall include appropriate incentives to increase energy efficiency,
and to use renewable energy, to achieve the emission reduction objectives.



Introduced March 15, 2001; referred to Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
S. 596 (Bingaman)/H.R. 2108 (Matsui)
Energy Security and Tax Incentive Policy Act of 2001. Amends the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to create and revise tax incentives to encourage the efficient
production and use of energy. Includes incentives for equipment, appliances, and
building design in the commercial and residential sectors. Senate bill introduced
March 22, 2001; referred to Committee on Finance. House bill introduced June 7,

2001; referred to Committee on Ways and Means.


S. 597 (Bingaman)
Comprehensive and Balanced Energy Policy Act of 2001. Creates a variety of
support for energy efficiency in buildings, industry, and transportation. Includes net
metering and a public benefits charge that supports a fund for energy efficiency.
Introduced March 22, 2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Hearings held May 24 through August 1, 2001.
S. 671 (Schumer)
Amends the Library Services and Technology Act to provide grants to states for
library construction and technology enhancement, including measures designed to
conserve energy. Introduced April 2, 2001; referred to Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
S. 968 (Clinton)
Healthy and High Performance Schools Act. Establishes program at the
Department of Education to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy in
schools. Similar to H.R. 1129. Introduced May 25, 2001; referred to Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
S. 1166 (Bingaman)
Next Generation Lighting Initiative Act. Creates lighting initiative at DOE to
research, develop, and conduct demonstration activities on white light emitting
diodes. Introduced July 11, 2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources. Hearings held. July 18, 2001.
S. 1212 (Cantwell)
Smart Metering Promotion Act of 2001. Related to H.R. 1797. Provides tax
credit for qualified energy management devices. Introduced July 20, 2001; referred
to Committee on Finance.
S. 1213 (Cantwell)
Savings Through Energy Productivity (STEP) Act. Authorizes a short-term
program of grants to certain electric utilities to be passed through, in the form of
credits toward electric bills, to consumers that reduce electric energy use and to
establish an Electric Energy Conservation Fund to provide loans to utilities and
nonprofit organizations to fund energy productivity projects. Introduced July 20,

2001; referred to Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.



S. 1294 (Murkowski)
Climate Change Risk Management Act of 2001. Creates a National Climate
Change Strategy with goals and targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Authorizes funding for R,D&D and international deployment of energy-efficient
technologies and other measures. Introduced August 1, 2001; referred to Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources.
S. 1333 (Jeffords)
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Investment Act of 2001. Enhances the
benefits of the national electric system by encouraging and supporting state programs
for renewable energy sources, universal electric service, affordable electric service,
and energy conservation and efficiency. Introduced August 2, 2001; referred to
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
S. 1358 (Bayh)
Federal Facility Energy Management Act of 2001. Revises federal building
energy efficiency performance standards, to establish the Office of Federal Energy
Productivity within the Department of Energy, to amend Federal Energy Management
Program requirements under the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, to enact
into law certain requirements of Executive Order No. 13123, and for
other purposes. Introduced August 3, 2001; referred to Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources.
S. 1416 (Levin)
Department of Defense (DOD) Appropriations Bill for FY2002. Section 313
sets energy efficiency goals and strategies and creates a program to improve the
energy efficiency of DOD facilities through 2010. Reported (S. Rept. 107-62) from
Committee on Armed Services on September 12, 2001.
S. 1418 (Levin)
Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002. Authorizes $35.6
million for energy conservation projects at DOD. Original measure reported, without
written report, from Committee on Armed Services on September 12, 2001.
Congressional Hearings, Reports, and Documents
U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on
Energy and Air Quality. National Energy Policy: Conservation and Energy
Efficiency. Hearing held June 22, 2001.
U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Science. The Nation’s Energy Future: Role
of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. Hearing held February 28, 2001.