Comparison of Democratic vs. Republican Energy Bill
January 2002
A Senate vote on the Democratic energy bill is not expected until mid-February, The following table summarizes key points in the new bill offered by Senate Dems vs the GOP-backed legislation approved by the U.S. House.
ALASKA OIL DRILLING:
Dems ban drilling on ANWR's entire 19 million
acres.
GOP House bill opens 1.5 million acres of ANWR to drilling
OIL/GAS DRILLING:
Dems pay for more Interior Department staff to
reduce backlog of requests to drill on public lands already available.
GOP House bill provides royalty relief to oil companies for drilling
in deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico; offers $3/barrel tax credit
for low-volume wells when energy prices are below $15/barrel.
TAX BREAKS:
Dems give $10 billion to $15 billion in tax breaks
and incentives to encourage energy production and energy efficiency.
Senate Finance Committee is to develop the tax breaks.
GOP House bill package of energy tax breaks total $33 billion over
10 years.
VEHICLE MILEAGE STANDARDS:
Dems significantly tighten fuel mileage standards; specific targets
to be decided by Senate Commerce committee,
GOP House bill reduces fuel use by 5 billion gallons from 2004
to 2010, an amount equal to a two-week supply of U.S. motor fuel.
ELECTRICITY DEREGULATION:
Dems endorse Federal Energy Regulatory Commission move to form
regional
transmission organizations to manage electricity grids and promote
competition; requires FERC to create electronic system to monitor
wholesale prices.
GOPHouse bill did not address electricity issues.
HEATING AID FOR POOR FAMILIES:
Dems Boost annual Low Income Assistance and State Energy Program
grants to $3.4 billion; raise weatherization program to $500 million
in 2005.
GOP House bill boosts annual low Income assistance and State Energy
Program grants to $3 billion; expands funding for weatherization
program
ALTERNATIVE FUELS:
Dems require larger amounts of ethanol and biodiesel be blended
into gasoline, increasing to 5 billion gallons/year in 2012; triple
the amount of electricity generated from renewables such as solar
and wind by 2020.
GOP House bill offers tax credit equal to 50 percent of the incremental
cost of an alternative fuel vehicle; provides business tax credit
of 25 cents/gallon for alternative fuel sold at retail.
HOME APPLIANCES:
Dems set new efficiency standards to save 13 quadrillion BTUs of
energy by 2020, air conditioners to use 30 percent less energy.
GOP House bill provides tax credits to consumers who buy solar
water heaters, fuel cell vehicles and energy efficiency improvements
for homes.
COAL:
Dems Offer $200 million/year for new tech to reduce pollution from
coal-fired power plants.
GOP House bill launches $2 billion, 10-year
program to encourage cleaner coal technology.
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE