Next bailout a "green" bailout?

At a hearing to discuss possible energy measures to stimulate the economy, Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) said that a "number of important energy measures" must be "a central part of any stimulus package." Bingaman felt that this upcoming Congress has a real opportunity to create a "comprehensive and forward-looking energy policy."

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) said that Congress has done more to address the energy crisis in the last six years than has been accomplished in the previous 30 years. Domenici still suggested "an expedited process" in addressing energy initiatives because of the long delays that can occur due to current regulations.

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) advocated for coal-to-liquid fuel technology. According to Bunning, this type of fuel would create significant jobs, substantially reduce emissions, and reduce our dependence on Middle East oil. He is also concerned with investing in other types of energy programs considering they are unproven and inefficient.

Bracken Hendricks, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP), stated that CAP advocates for a $350 billion one-year stimulus and recovery package, part of which he called a "green stimulus." Hendricks said that one third of that package should go directly to clean energy investments.

Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration, made specific proposals for any stimulus package in the upcoming year. Woolf wanted as much as $10 billion provided for an energy efficient buildings retrofit program, $6 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, $1 billion for the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program, and $2.5 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. He also argued for an 8 year extension on energy efficiency and renewable tax provisions that would allow for long-term job creation.

Blunt (R-Mo.) returns to Washington to join GOP protest

The protesting House Republicans held another press conference calling for an immediate vote on their American Energy Act, despite Congress being out for a five-week vacation. House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) returned from Missouri to participate in the protest. Blunt said it takes only five minutes for a representative in their home state to realize that the most important and urgent issue is the economy.

The Congressmen at the news conference posed with tire pressure gauges to mock Senator Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) new push for Americans to properly inflate their tires for better gas mileage. In contrast to that plan, Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) said the Republicans' American Energy Act is a comprehensive bill that would not just drill for oil, but also reward people for conservation, fund renewable energy, and maintain traditional energy.

Congressman Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) said his office created a new e-mail address to handle the massive influx of complaints from citizens all around the country, PainAtthePump@mail.house.gov. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said that Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) attempt to "shut us up" the House Republicans has only energized them to continue their protest. Blunt said that although he is not sure there will be a vote soon, there will be one in November. He anticipates the gas crisis turning into a complete energy crisis in the next 90 days once the winter heating bills arrive at American houses. Garrett said that since Pelosi is unwilling to step up and lead on the energy issue, the Republicans are.

Blunt (R-Mo.) outraged at M.I.A. Pelosi (D-Calif.)

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) returned from Missouri to participate in the House Republicans' energy protest. He says the Republicans became increasingly frustrated over the past few months that the most important issue in American was not dealt with in Congress. He goes on to say that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has time for an online chat on her book, but no time to deal with the urgent problem of energy.(0:49)

Breezing ahead to 2030: A wind energy plan that could save billions

Wind energy could increase to 20 percent of the total electricity supply by 2030, according to a report conducted by the Department of Energy (DOE), which would create 500,000 jobs. A panel of energy experts in conjunction with the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus held a briefing on the finds of the report.

The plan, "20% Wind Energy by 2030," has a variety of possible outcomes: by 2030, $98 billion would be spared in carbon dioxide regulation, water consumption for hydroelectric energy would drop 17 percent, and $1.5 billion in revenue would be gained for communities across the country.

Jim Walker, Vice Chairman of the Board at enXco, referred to the United States as the "Saudi Arabia of wind" because the United States has one of the most abundant supplies of wind available for energy conversion. Walker said areas such as Oklahoma and the Dakotas are ideal for wind energy. Other states, such as a California, have specialized areas of ideal wind capacity, so certain regions do not have strong enough wind for conversion.

Construction of new transmission infrastructure could fix this problem. A network of new power lines from coast to coast could transfer energy from places of high wind capacity to those of low capacity.

Greg Wetstone, Senior Director of Governmental and Public Affairs for the American Wind Energy Association, said solving the energy problem is a bipartisan agenda. From Green Peace and the Sierra Club on the left to the Edison Electrical Institute and National Association of Rural Electric on the right, there are allies on both sides, Wetstone said.

Food vs. Fuel: Battle of the corn

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on renewable fuels and their effect on food prices. The chairman of the Committee, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), said that the U.S. must be mindful of any impacts of biofuel production. He said that between four and five percent of the 45 percent global increase in food prices in the last year was because of U.S. biofuels policy alone. Bingaman added that it is essential to ensure that U.S. biofuels policy does not harm the world’s poor.

Jack Huttner, Vice President of Biorefinery Business Development at Genencor, said that the biggest concern with the higher prices of fuel is how to meet energy needs and also produce enough food. Huttner said that a second generation of biofuels uses non-edible parts of corn, such as cobs and stalks, to make ethanol, which increases the amount of output per acre.

Jason Pyle, CEO of Sapphire Energy, presented a sample of a renewable gasoline made of algae. Pyle said that its production does not release carbon and does not involve agricultural lands or products. Pyle added that repealing the renewable fuel standards would inhibit innovations, such as the algae fuel, from helping to solve the energy crisis.