Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for a nationwide diversified energy portfolio, and for other purposes.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) Congress and the Executive Branch should aggressively pursue development and rapid, commercial deployment of a diverse portfolio of new and existing energy technologies; (2) Congress should pursue development of policies to promote specified efficiency initiatives; (3) Congress should pursue policies that create a sustainable market for the commercial deployment of alternative and energy efficiency technologies; and (4) Congress, the Executive Branch, and state and local governments, as well as utilities and industry leaders, should be actively engaged in consumer education initiatives surrounding available approaches to energy diversity and efficiency.

[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 153 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 153

     Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for a 
    nationwide diversified energy portfolio, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2007

 Mr. Gilchrest (for himself, Mr. Castle, Mr. Gillmor, Mr. McHugh, Mr. 
 Moran of Virginia, Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, Mr. Shays, and Mr. Kirk) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for a 
    nationwide diversified energy portfolio, and for other purposes.

Whereas most studies to date indicate that global oil supplies will peak between 
        now and 2040 and that United States oil production peaked around 1970 at 
        close to 10,000,000 barrels per day and has been generally declining 
        ever since, to about 5,000,000 barrels per day in 2005;
Whereas, according to the Energy Information Administration, the United States 
        uses approximately 20,800,000 barrels of oil per day;
Whereas in 2005 the United States imported 66 percent of its oil and petroleum 
        products, and the United States economy depends heavily on oil for fuel 
        and for a multitude of uses, including road surfacing and the 
        manufacturing of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other consumer 
        products;
Whereas global demand for energy is expected to grow from about 80,000,000 
        barrels per day to 118,000,000 barrels per day by 2030, and United 
        States demand for energy is projected to grow by more than 20 percent by 
        2040;
Whereas currently available, key alternative technologies supply the equivalent 
        of only about 1 percent of United States consumption of petroleum 
        products, and the Department of Energy projects that even by 2015, they 
        could displace only the equivalent of 4 percent of projected United 
        States annual petroleum product consumption;
Whereas, according to the Government Accountability Office's report entitled 
        ``Crude Oil: Uncertainty about Future Oil Supply Makes It Important to 
        Develop a Strategy for Addressing a Peak and Decline in Oil 
        Production'', hitting peak oil production could cause a worldwide 
        recession;
Whereas energy efficiency technologies exist to enable homes and buildings, 
        vehicles, and appliances to more efficiently use energy; a wide range of 
        alternative energy technologies exist, are under development, and may be 
        developed; and these technologies must be rapidly deployed on a 
        commercial and broad scale to reduce the negative impact of an imminent 
        peak and sharp decline in oil production; and
Whereas, absent another market force, the level of effort dedicated to 
        overcoming challenges will depend in part on sustained high oil prices 
        to encourage sufficient investment in and demand for alternatives: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That--
            (1) the Congress and Executive Branch should aggressively 
        pursue the development and rapid, commercial deployment of a 
        diverse portfolio of new and existing energy technologies that 
        are most appropriate for each region and locale in the United 
        States, including--
                    (A) clean coal;
                    (B) anaerobic digesters and methane;
                    (C) biofuels, including biodiesel, ethanol, woody 
                biomass, and municipal waste;
                    (D) wind;
                    (E) solar;
                    (F) ocean energy;
                    (G) hydrogen fuel cells;
                    (H) natural gas; and
                    (I) fusion and fission technologies;
            (2) the Congress should pursue development of policies to 
        promote major energy efficiency initiatives, including--
                    (A) increasing vehicle fuel economy standards;
                    (B) the installation and use of energy efficient 
                light bulbs;
                    (C) the installation of solar panels;
                    (D) strengthening policy promoting the use energy 
                efficient appliances;
                    (E) hybrid vehicles;
                    (F) the use of public transportation; and
                    (G) the building and purchase of energy efficient 
                homes and buildings;
            (3) the Congress should pursue policies that create a 
        sustainable market for the commercial deployment of alternative 
        and energy efficiency technologies that are most appropriate 
        for nationwide or regional and local application; and
            (4) the Congress, the Executive Branch, and State and local 
        governments, as well as utilities and other industry leaders 
        should be actively engaged in consumer education initiatives 
        surrounding available approaches to energy diversity and 
        efficiency.
                                 <all>