Energy Savings Act of 2007 (S. 1321): Summary of Major Provisions
Order Code RL34005
Energy Savings Act of 2007 (S. 1321):
Summary of Major Provisions
Updated June 1, 2007
Fred Sissine, Brent D. Yacobucci, and Peter Folger
Specialists in Energy Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Energy Savings Act of 2007 (S. 1321): Summary of
Major Provisions
Summary
The Energy Savings Act (S. 1321) puts forth a broad range of proposals on
biofuels, energy efficiency, and carbon storage. The Senate Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources approved the bill by a vote of 20 to 3, on May 7, 2007.
On May 17, 2007, the omnibus energy policy bill S. 1419 was introduced. The
three titles of S. 1321 were incorporated into S. 1419 as Title I, Title II, and Title III.
S. 1419 was read twice on the floor, and ordered to be placed on the Senate
legislative calendar under general orders, as item 156.
Title I, the Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act, is taken
primarily from S. 987, with a few other provisions added in markup by the
Committee. That title would increase the renewable fuel standard, set some
standards for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and provide support for fuel
infrastructure, feedstocks, and biorefineries.
Title II, the Energy Efficiency Promotion Act, is drawn primarily from S. 1115.
That title would set some new standards for energy efficient equipment, establish
goals for fuel savings, strengthen federal energy efficiency requirements, and
authorize several new programs for vehicles and grants.
Title III, the Carbon Capture and Storage Research, Development, and
Demonstration Act, is taken primarily from S. 962 and S. 731. That title would call
for large-scale testing of carbon dioxide (CO ) storage in geological formations,
2
establish competitive funding awards, direct that a national storage capacity
assessment be conducted, and require that the Department of Energy (DOE)
demonstrate the use of large-scale capture technologies at industrial facilities.
This report will be updated as legislation develops.
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Title I. Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Title II. Energy Efficiency Promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Title III. Carbon Capture and Storage Research, Development, and
Demonstration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Energy Savings Act of 2007 (S. 1321):
Summary of Major Provisions
Introduction
This report summarizes S. 1321, the Energy Savings Act of 2007. S. 1321 has
three titles: Title I, Biofuels for Energy Security and Transportation Act; Title II,
Energy Efficiency Promotion Act; and Title III, Carbon Capture and Storage
Research, Development, and Demonstration Act. The bill includes language from
four other bills: S. 987 (biofuels), S. 1115 (energy efficiency), S. 962 (carbon
storage), and S. 731 (carbon storage). S. 1321 was introduced May 7, 2007.1 The
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved the bill by a vote of
20 to 3, and reported it on May 7, 2007.2
On May 17, 2007, the omnibus energy policy bill S. 1419 was introduced. The
three titles of S. 1321 were incorporated into S. 1419 as Title I, Title II, and Title III.
S. 1419 was read twice on the floor, and ordered to be placed on the Senate
legislative calendar under general orders, as item 156.
Title I. Biofuels for Energy Security and
Transportation
This title was taken primarily from S. 987, with a few other provisions added
in markup by the Committee.3
Subtitle A would extend and increase the renewable fuel standard (RFS), which
establishes minimum annual levels of renewable fuel in gasoline. The modified
standard would start at 8.5 billion gallons in 2008 and rise to 36 billion gallons in
2022. Starting in 2016, an increasing portion of the requirement would have to be
met with advanced biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol, biobutanol, and other fuels
derived from unconventional biomass feedstocks. Subtitle B would provide grants
for renewable fueling infrastructure (§ 121), increase the Department of Energy
(DOE) bioenergy R&D funding authorization (§ 122), establish 11 bioenergy
research centers (§ 123), provide loan guarantees for renewable fuel facilities (§ 124),
1 The text of the bill is available at [http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/S1321.pdf].
2 The committee report, S.Rept. 110-65, is available at [http://energy.senate.gov/public
/_files/S1321Report.pdf].
3 S. 987 was introduced March 26, 2007. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources held a hearing on April 12, 2007.
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provide research grants for states with low rates of ethanol production (§ 125),
provide grants for infrastructure for transportation of biomass to local refineries (§
126), establish a biorefinery information center (§ 127), create an alternative fuels
database (§ 128), set a labeling requirement for alternative fuels (§ 129), and set a
national biodiesel fuel quality standard (§ 130). Subtitle C would require that several
studies be conducted, covering specialized topics on biofuels, ethanol, electric
vehicles, and biodiesel.
Also, the Committee markup made four notable additions to Title I that did not
appear in S. 987. First, the definition of renewable biomass fuel that covers biomass
harvested from selected public lands would be modified to exclude certain parts of
old growth trees (§ 102[4][A]). Second, renewable fuels produced from new
biorefineries would be required to achieve at least a 20% reduction in life cycle
greenhouse gas emissions relative to life cycle emissions from gasoline (§
111[a][1][i][II]). Third, a voluntary labeling program would be established for
renewable fuels, based on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (§ 111[i]). Fourth,
fuel produced from biorefineries that displaces more than 90% of the fossil fuels used
in a biofuel production facility would qualify for additional credits under the RFS (§
112).
Title II. Energy Efficiency Promotion
This title was drawn primarily from S. 1115.4
Subtitle A would promote advanced lighting technology by requiring all federal
lighting to be Energy Star rated by 2010 (§ 211), expanding efficiency standards for
incandescent reflector lamps (§ 212), creating the “Bright Tomorrow” lighting prizes
for solid state (LED) lighting developments (§ 213), and establishing a “Sense of the
Senate” to pass mandatory energy efficiency performance targets for lighting
products (§ 214). Also, the Committee markup added a notable provision that did
not appear in S. 1115. That provision would authorize grants to support construction
of solar, wind, geothermal, ocean, biomass, landfill gas, and Alaska small
hydropower projects (§ 215).
Subtitle B would establish, by statute, new energy efficiency standards for
residential boilers (§ 227), electric motors (§ 229), and some home appliances (§
230).5 DOE would be directed to set standards by rulemaking for furnace fans (§
223). Also, DOE would be allowed to set standards for multiple components (§ 221)
and regional standards for heating and cooling equipment (§ 222). Further, this
subtitle would authorize R&D on improved efficiency for appliances and buildings
in cold climates (§ 231) and provide incentives for the manufacture of high-efficiency
consumer products (§ 232). Other provisions would guide expedited rulemakings (§
4 S. 1115 was introduced April 16, 2007. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources held a hearing on April 23, 2007.
5 Identical provisions for boilers, motors, and home appliances appear in S. 1101 and H.R.
2083.
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224), clarify limits to federal preemption of state standards (§ 225), and require
Energy Guide labels for several types of consumer electronic products (§ 226). Also,
the Committee markup added a provision that would direct DOE to establish a
program that supports, develops, and promotes the use of new technologies to
improve energy efficiency in materials manufacturing and energy-intensive industries
(§ 233).
Subtitle C would promote high-efficiency vehicles, advanced batteries, and
energy storage. DOE would be authorized to fund an R&D program on light-weight
materials (§ 241). A loan guarantees program would be created for facilities that
manufacture fuel-efficient vehicles (§ 242). Funding awards for qualified
investments would be authorized to refurbish manufacturing facilities that produce
advanced technology vehicles (§ 243). A 10-year R&D program would be authorized
to support U.S. competitiveness in global energy storage markets, and a five-year
R&D program would be authorized for electric drive technologies (§ 244). Also, the
Committee markup added a provision that would direct DOE to establish a
competitive grant program for state, regional, and local government entities to
demonstrate electric drive vehicles. DOE would also be required to establish a
program to deploy technologies that would achieve near-term oil savings in the
transportation sector (§ 245).
Subtitle D would set several energy efficiency goals that include reducing
gasoline use 45% by 2030 (§ 251) and improving energy productivity by 2.5% in
2012 and each year thereafter through 2030 (§ 252).6 Also, DOE would be
authorized to conduct a four-year national media campaign to educate consumers to
save energy and reduce oil use (§ 253), and federal agencies would be authorized to
carry out programs for demonstration and use of advanced electricity transmission
and distribution technologies (§ 254).
Subtitle E would promote federal leadership in energy efficiency and renewable
energy. Federal and state fleets would be required to reduce petroleum use 30% by
2016 (§ 261). The renewable energy share of federal energy purchases would
increase to 15% by 2015 (§262). The authorization for federal agencies to use
Energy-Saving Performance Contracts (ESPCs) would be extended permanently (§
263). Federal buildings would be required to reduce energy use 30% by 2015 (§
264). DOE would be directed to identify federal sites for installing combined heat
and power (§ 265). Federal buildings would be required to reduce fossil energy use
by 50%, compared with similar buildings from the past that were not subject to the
standard (§ 266). The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
would be required to update efficiency standards for all public and assisted housing
(§ 267). DOE would be authorized to conduct R&D and deployment activities that
help increase the energy-efficiency of commercial buildings (§ 268).
Subtitle F would improve energy efficiency assistance to state and local
governments by increasing the authorization for the DOE Weatherization program
6 The description of Section 252 on page 14 of the Committee’s report (S.Rept. 110-65) says
that “national energy productivity” would be measured as “gross domestic product (GDP)
per unit of energy input.”
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(§ 271), reauthorizing the State Energy program (§ 272), requiring state utility
regulatory commissions to consider federal standards to promote energy efficiency
(§ 273), authorizing the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to provide
technical assistance (§ 274), authorizing grants to local governments (§ 275),
authorizing grants to universities for demonstration projects (§ 276), authorizing
workforce training programs (§ 277), and authorizing funds for education programs
to reduce school bus idling (§ 278).
Title III. Carbon Capture and Storage Research,
Development, and Demonstration
This title was taken primarily from S. 9627 and S. 731.8
Section 963 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT, P.L. 109-58) would be
amended to enhance and expand R&D at DOE for carbon capture and sequestration
(§ 302, § 303). EPACT Section 963 established the Carbon Capture Research and
Development Program, which currently authorizes DOE to conduct a 10-year R&D
program that develops carbon dioxide (CO ) capture technologies for combustion-
2
based systems at new and existing coal-based power plant facilities. The four main
objectives of the program are: (1) develop CO capture technologies;9 (2) develop
2
technologies that produce concentrated streams of CO more amenable to
2
sequestration; (3) increase the efficiency of the overall system to reduce the amount
of CO emissions per megawatt-hour (mwh) generated; and (4) promote regional
2
carbon sequestration partnerships that link DOE and the private sector.
A fifth objective would be added “to expedite and carry out large-scale testing
of carbon sequestration systems in a range of geological formations that will provide
information on the cost and feasibility of sequestration technologies” (§ 302). To
implement this objective, a subsection entitled Programmatic Activities would direct
DOE to conduct four key activities: (1) Energy Research and Development
Underlying Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies; (2) Carbon Capture
Demonstration Program; (3) Field Validation Testing Activities; and (4) Large Scale
Testing and Deployment.
The Programmatic Activities subsection would also establish competitive
funding awards. The awards would be subject to EPACT Section 989, which
requires a “Merit Review of Proposals,” and would give preference to proposals from
partnerships among industrial, academic, and government entities. R&D activities
under the subsection would also be subjected to EPACT’s cost-sharing requirements
under Section 988(b). Further, appropriations would be authorized in the amounts
7 S. 962 was introduced March 22, 2007. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources held a hearing on April 16, 2007. H.R. 1933 is the House companion bill.
8 S. 731 was introduced March 1, 2007. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources held a hearing on April 16, 2007. H.R. 1267 is the House companion bill.
9 These include adsorption and absorption techniques and chemical processes to remove
CO from gas streams.
2
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of $150 million for FY2008, $200 million for FY2009, $200 million for FY2010,
$180 million for FY2011, and $165 million for FY2012 (§ 302).
The Director of the U.S. Geological Survey at the Department of the Interior
(DOI) would be tasked to make a national assessment of the capacity for CO2
sequestration in a “storage formation” (§ 303). The prospective storage candidates
include deep saline formations, unmineable coal seams, and oil and gas reservoirs
capable of accommodating a large volume of CO . The Interior Secretary would be
2
directed to develop and publish a methodology for conducting the assessment within
one year of enactment. DOI would be required to complete the assessment within two
years of that publication. After completion of the assessment, the Secretary would
have 180 days to report the findings to Congress. A funding authorization of $30
million per year for FY2008 through FY2012 would be provided to carry out the
assessment.
DOE would be required to demonstrate technologies for the large-scale capture
of CO from “industrial” facilities (§ 304). These facilities may include electric
2
power plants, petroleum refineries, and manufacturing facilities for iron, steel,
cement, cement clinker, commodity chemicals (including those from coal
gasification), or for manufacturing of transportation fuels from coal. A funding
authorization of $100 million per year would be provided from FY2009 through
FY2013.