Hill Heat

E&E News:

The draft bill would have the Energy Information Administration – DOE’s statistical arm – incorporate activities in the energy commodity futures market under its purview for the first time. Under the bill, if an entity owns energy futures contracts or swaps over a level to be determined by the Energy secretary, EIA would assess the amount of physical product and storage the company owns and the quantity of contracts it is buying and selling.

EIA would also collect company data identifying the ownership of all commercial inventories of oil and natural gas, the volumes of the product, and the storage and transportation capacity.

Witnesses

Panel 1

• Ray LaHood, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation

Panel 2

• Edward G. Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania
• Kathleen M. Novak, President, National League of Cities, Mayor of Northglenn, Colorado

E&E News:

In light of recent revelations by federal investigators that thousands of millionaire landowners have wrongfully collected farm program payments in recent years, committee members want to find out if some of those inappropriate payments are going out in conservation contracts.

The hearing will also unveil a new congressional investigation into contracts for the Wetlands Reserve Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. A committee investigator looked into whether wealthy landowners who exceed the program’s income limits are receiving payments and found that USDA has poor record-keeping and oversight of the payments, according to a committee aide.

Witnesses

• Scott Borgerson, Ph.D., Visiting Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
• Robert Corell, Ph.D., Vice-President of Programs, The Heinz Center
• Mead Treadwell, Senior Fellow, Institute of the North

Join us to learn about the technologies, practices, and processes that will be instrumental to infrastructure and economic renewal.

Featured Keynote: Kathleen Hogan, Director of Climate Protection, Partnerships Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Kathleen Hogan, Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at the U.S. EPA, will discuss the very significant contribution and role of buildings with respect to carbon reduction, and the opportunities for building energy efficiency to be a vital element of a carbon solution. Furthermore, given increasing interest in building performance as part of a new wave of policies and programs, Kathleen will also discuss the EPA’s leading role in building performance initiatives, including programs such as ENERGY STAR and Climate Leaders.

Conference Web Site

The Westin Arlington Gateway
801 North Glebe Road
Arlington, Virginia 22203

Witness

• Thomas L. Strickland, Nominated to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department of the Interior

During the 110th Congress, the Committee on Ways and Means began a series of hearings on climate change. In the first hearing, the Committee heard testimony that human greenhouse gas emissions are having an adverse impact on our planet’s climate. In the second hearing, the Committee heard testimony from numerous witnesses recommending that Congress implement revenue measures (e.g., auction-based cap-and-trade proposals or carbon taxes) that would reduce human greenhouse gas emissions. In connection with the development of these revenue measures, witnesses at this hearing also encouraged the Committee to (1) promote a comprehensive global effort to address climate change and to ensure a level regulatory playing field for U.S. manufacturers, (2) mitigate higher energy costs borne by consumers, (3) maximize the impact that climate change legislation will have on growing the U.S. economy, and (4) maintain the competitiveness of U.S. businesses, farmers and workers.

During the 111th Congress, the Committee continued this series of hearings, by holding a hearing on the scientific objectives of climate change legislation. This hearing provided a scientific discussion of the goals that climate change legislation should seek to achieve over both the short term and the long term. In connection with the goals of climate change legislation, the witnesses suggested different approaches to meeting those goals (e.g., cap-and-trade, cap-and-invest, carbon tax) and discussed the need for international cooperation in order to achieve these goals. In addition, the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support also held a hearing on March 12, 2009, on protecting low- and moderate-income families while curbing global warming.

In announcing this hearing, Chairman Levin said, “Climate change legislation will be a priority for consideration by the Ways and Means Committee during the 111th Congress. As the Committee works on legislation to achieve our environmental goal of reducing carbon emissions, such legislation must contain provisions to ensure that U.S. businesses, farmers, and workers remain competitive until a global climate change agreement comes into effect. Moreover, we need to ensure that any actions undertaken by the United States are consistent with our international obligations.”

FOCUS OF THE HEARING:

The hearing will focus on a discussion of the trade aspects of climate change legislation including how to minimize carbon leakage and maintain U.S. competitiveness.

Witnesses

• Dr. Jon Strauss, Chairman, Task Force on International Science, National Science Board
• Dr. Norman Neureiter, Director, Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Anthony “Bud” Rock, Vice President for Global Engagement, Arizona State University
• Dr. Gerald Hane, Managing Director, Q-Paradigm

Renewable natural gas is an important part of the portfolio of clean energy solutions needed to answer the climate and energy challenges that are before us today.

This congressional briefing will bring together a panel of policy and industry experts, and answer the following questions:

• What is renewable natural gas?
• What are its energy and environmental benefits?
• What are its economic benefits—how does it help communities and create jobs?
• What are the legislative proposals that would support its expansion?

Presented by:

• American Gas Association
• Business Council for Sustainable Energy
• Gas Technology Institute

Opening and Objectives

• Jeff Petrash, Senior Managing Counsel, American Gas Association
• Lisa Jacobson, Executive Director, Business Council for Sustainable Energy

Program

Panel 1: What is Renewable Natural Gas & How Does it Benefit the Environment

• Dan Lefevers, Executive Director, Gas Technology Institute
• Chris Voell, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (invited)

Panel II: Renewable Biogas – Helping Communities and Creating Jobs

• Rich Kessel, President & CEO, Environmental Power Corporation
• Marisa Uchin, Manager, Federal Government Affairs, PG&E Corporation

Question & Answer and Closing Remarks

Please RSVP to Shirleen Timbers at stimbers@aga.org or (202) 824-7209.