The House’s Democratic leaders are planning an end of summer energy onslaught — a broad legislative push designed to make the nation less dependent on foreign oil.
The developing plan would extend existing tax credits for the production of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydro power, and create new incentives for the use and production of renewable energy.
It would offer a $4,000 tax credit for Americans who buy a plug-in hybrid vehicle, provide grants and tax incentives to boost the number of E-85 ethanol fuel pumps, and assist farmers in purchasing renewable energy systems.
To help fund it, Democrats propose to repeal $16 billion in tax subsidies for oil companies.
“With confidence in American ingenuity and high faith in our future, we Democrats declare America’s independence from foreign oil,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said yesterday.
“When it comes to energy, we must think big and lead the future.”
The initiative includes hundreds of provisions to be included in several bills that are being drafted in 11 House committees. Mrs. Pelosi said she hopes the bills will be ready later this summer.
Republicans called the Democrats’ plan “unacceptable” because it would create roadblocks to energy exploration and production in the United States.
“This is not a new direction,” said House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican; Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri; and Republican Conference Chairman Adam H. Putnam of Florida in a joint statement.
“It’s the wrong direction, and it will send good jobs, competitive advantages and huge capital investments in affordable energy production where they are wanted — overseas.”
Republican leaders added that the Democrats’ plan focuses too much on unproven energy technologies and will result in higher energy costs, an increase in the importation of foreign fuel and reductions in the amount of American-produced energy available to Americans.
“There is no energy in the Democrats’ energy plan,” Mr. Blunt said.
But Democrats said that the Republicans’ lack of a comprehensive energy policy in recent years has undercut national security and U.S. foreign policy.
“Specifically, we will reduce our dependence on foreign oil — and thereby strengthen our national security — by making the largest investment in homegrown biofuels in history,” said Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat.
“Too often our nation has failed to make the hard decisions needed to move toward energy independence — which makes it even more essential that we do so now.”
The plan would remove more than 8.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through 2030, which is equal to the annual emissions of all cars on U.S. roads today, Democrats said.
It also calls for the United States to enter into binding global warming agreements from other countries with large emissions of carbon dioxide, including China, India and Brazil.
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