A bipartisan, bicameral collection of lawmakers announced Tuesday that they will be pursuing legislation to increase the efficiency standards for outdoor lighting fixtures.

“Outdoor lighting consumes the equivalent of the output of about 50 coal plants,” said Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) during an afternoon press conference. “Preliminary estimates are that this agreement will defer the need to build 6 to 8 new plants.”

Although the specific vehicle for the legislation has not yet been decided, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) expressed confidence that it will ultimately receive bipartisan backing in both chambers.

“Not a lot of folks … think cap-and-trade will get to the President’s desk this year,” said Upton. “One of the reasons is, at least thus far, it has not been bipartisan. It has been partisan. This issue … really is bipartisan.”

“It’s gonna happen,” Upton added.

According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the legislation will save the U.S. $2.8-5.1 billion anually by 2030.

A report released today by The Outdoor Resources Review Group recommended allocating $3.2 billion annually toward the conservation of American land.  The report, entitled “Great Outdoors America”, also includes recommendations for recreational trends, identification of policy failures, and a description of technological changes that have affected the U.S.’ outdoor resources.

Honorary Co-Chairs Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) presented the report to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.  

Patrick Noonan, Chairman Emeritus of The Conservation Fund and Member of the President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors, briefly outlined a number of recommendations from the report including better coordination with the Department of the Interior and new tax incentives for non-profit and private conservation groups.

“We recommend a nationwide system of blueways and water trails to mobilize communities and organizations to improve water quality close to home,” said Noonan.

The report builds on the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Campaign of 1962 and the President’s Commission on American Outdoors of 1987.

“Much has changed since [the previous reports]: demographics are different, there are more of us…larger minority participation, different roles of women, urbanization…cities have grown to 80% of our population,” said Henry Diamond, partner at Beveridge & Diamond and former commissioner of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Diamond added,“Federal government plays a substantial role and spends a lot of money but it is rather disorganized in this field.  There are many agencies…that we think needs changing.  We think the land and water fund has a history of being starved.”  

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar emphasized that action to conserve America’s landscapes is necessary now because of the troubled economy, wars, and health care issues Americans face today.

“It is in the most difficult times of our country that we look to the landscapes to refuel the spirit and the greatness of our country,” Salazar explained.

Salazar provided three reasons why conservations efforts should be a top priority including job creation, health benefits, and response to climate change.

Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News

In what Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus (D-Mont.) called “an historic moment,” the full Committee hearing on Comprehensive Health Care Reform held the first of several planned meetings Tuesday. Their task will be to figure out how to pay for universal access.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) wanted the Employer Exclusion of Contributions for Medical Insurance Premiums and Medical Care from employee income taxes on the table.

James Klein, president of the American Benefits Council, described it the Exclusion as progressive and too complex to tamper with.

Jonathan Gruber, professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass., described the Exclusion as unequivocally regressive, amenable to modification, and a key revenue point.

John Sheils, senior vice president of the The Lewin Group, Falls Church, Va., believes that the Exclusion should be modified, but only after protections are put into place to prevent discrimination against the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.

All of the panelists agreed that there was an enormous amount of potential revenue there. The Urban Institute calls it “the single largest tax expenditure in the federal budget … worth $112 Billion.”
Gerald Shea, assistant to the president for governmental affairs at the AFL-CIO said, “That would be a radical change. If you’re going to go that far, you might as well go to a single payer system. I’m flabbergasted that you would even consider it.”

Baucus was clear that “We’re not going to repeal the Employer Exclusion or go to universal single payer healthcare. We have to work with what we have. We can’t turn on a dime. It’s the devil you know vs the devil you don’t know.”

After Baucus finished speaking, protesters stood up and recited in favor of the single payer system. As each protestor was escorted out by Capitol Police,another stood including at least one physician.
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) was concerned about a proposal to partially fund healthcare reform by raising taxes on alcohol. He said that thousands of jobs had been lost in the hospitality industry already, and that the last such hike had been followed by a drop in revenue. He asked whether lifestyle taxes couldn’t be considered regressive.

Robert Greenstein, executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities responded that all industries have lost jobs, losses in the hospitality industry are not attributable to alcohol taxes, and
whether the tax put more money into healthcare, or resulted in diminished alcohol consumption, it would be a win-win strategy.
Other lifestyle taxes discussed included sugary soft drinks, tobacco and trans-fats.

Stuart Altman, professor of national health policy at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass., held that end-of-life care was a significant driver of cost in America vs. peer nations.

Gail Wilensky, Senior Fellow for Project HOPE, Bethesda, said that such costs have held at about 28 percent of lifetime healthcare expenses for 30 years.

Altman said, yes, but that’s 28 percent for a growing demographic, as Americans age, and of a much larger absolute cost, as Healthcare costs have inflated much faster than the general economy.

Baucus concluded by saying, “I have a feeling this is not the last discussion on this we’re all going to have on this.”

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

President Barack Obama’s massive energy overhaul may be cruising towards the edge of a cliff if the U.S. doesn’t start manufacturing more. Such was said today before Congress by Jeff Metts, President of Dowding Machining, a manufacturer of wind turbines.

Obama’s energy policy focuses on having 25 percent of the country’s electricity come from renewable sources of energy by 2025. The Senate has introduced a bill, S.661, which sets a slightly different standard: 20 percent by 2025. Mett doesn’t believe that the U.S. can manufacture enough wind turbines quickly enough to meet either of these goals at its current pace. He said that in 2008 the United States produced approximately 4,000 wind turbines, but that it would have to produce over 10,000 turbines each year until 2025 to meet the energy goal. There are several large logistical concerns to this process, including the cost of transporting these massive components and the time taken to manufacture each one. The transportation costs make it difficult for foreign production of the necessary parts.

Mett presented a solution to the manufacturing problem, which would cut the production time of certain components down to an eighth of what it would otherwise be. His company is seeking investors for new manufacturing plants in the United States to build these turbines quickly and efficiently. Mett said that the improvements manifest in his manufacturing process would be “game changers” in making clean energy, and that they will be the new standard around the world overnight. This would place the U.S. in a competitive advantage in the energy market. David Roders, representative from the Department of Energy, said that tight capital markets have made it difficult for industries to invest in energy efficiency. On that topic, Mett said that the problem with innovations like this is finding the first investor – he is asking the Federal government to be that ice breaker.

This manufacturing investment would be included in the comprehensive energy legislation the Senate is putting together. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) said that the Senate Bill will invest in America’s energy future. It will help industries be more productive while using less energy, create millions of new jobs, and keep America in its position as “a top innovator of clean energy technologies.” The intended byproduct of this would be lowered greenhouse gas emissions, which should slow climate change.

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

The Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources met today to discuss the means by which Americans have access to electricity across the nation through a modernized transmission system, sometimes called the Smart Grid. Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) said that the nation’s transmission system has not kept up technologically with both the energy potentials before us and the sheer volume of electricity flowing through it. Also concerning was the fact that regionally based renewable energies, such as solar power in the Southwest or wind energy in the Midwest, cannot efficiently be transmitted across the nation to areas that might need that energy. Ranking Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said, “We can generate all the electricity from wind and other renewable sources we want, but it doesn’t do us any good if we don’t have the capacity to get it to consumers.” Murkowski said that, “by 2013, the EIA projects a 30% increase in U.S. electricity demand, but the transmission has only grown 6.5% since 1996.” Given this, she said, “It’s understandable that our transmission isn’t adequate to meet our future energy needs.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) testified before the committee, but said that in the past 10 years, the U.S. has developed over 6,000 miles of natural gas pipelines, and less than 600 miles of new electrical lines. “We’ve got a problem” Reid said. He likened the national transmission system to the railroad network across the country or the national highway system, because it would provide a uniform means of connecting the nation.

While testifying, Senator Reid said that he is introducing a bill, S. 539, which would have the president designate national areas of renewable energy and establish a structure for linking that with the nation. The proposed legislation would create a federal back-stop transmission citing authority, which would give the federal government the power to place power lines where necessary. It would also give the FERC the ability to move along siting projects which have stalled in one way or another. Reid said the bill gives states authority to move forward on their own in developing the infrastructure, but gives the federal government the power to step in if progress is not made. This bill is similar to the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which gave the Department of Energy the power to designate National Transmission Corridors across the nation in especially congested areas of electricity flow. Senator Murkowski’s office said that to date, not one transmission line has been sited pursuant to the 2005 Act, prompting the additional legislation.

The renewable electricity standard requirements have undergone some major changes and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) says he thinks that it is finally time to send them to the President Obama “The requirement has been changed from 15% by 2020 to 20% by 2021. Second, the resources that can be used have been expanded. Up to one quarter of the requirement can come from energy efficiency. We have also included new hydropower at existing dams that currently do not have generation.”

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) says that states are in a far better position than Congress to determine what works best for them. “A one-size-fits-all national standard raises serious concerns about regional disparities. She continued to say that while some parts of our nation are blessed with abundant renewable resources others, particularly the Southeast, lack them in order to reach a 20% requirement.

One of the witnesses, South Carolina Public Service Commissioner David Wright, voiced concern that South Carolina has one of the lowest income levels in the U.S. and therefore many people are unable to participate in energy efficiency efforts. Wright said that his state can’t afford to choose between putting food on the table today or thinking about conserving energy for tomorrow.

More hearings are scheduled to discuss this issue to iron out the crinkles in this plan.

by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Topic: Democratic senators lay out plan for America

On Wednesday, January 21, 2009, the first full day of the new administration, Democratic senate leaders laid out their overarching agenda for at least the next two years.
Priorities were:
1. Economic recovery, which, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid means “jobs, jobs, jobs.” Senator Debbie Stabenow, who led the entire presentation, emphasized that each of the proposed programs should produce more recovery in jobs and return on investment than they cost.
Sens. Charles Schumer and Byron Dorgan discussed the economy. Schumer described sewage treatment and fresh water reclamation as examples of neglected infrastructure projects, which could create jobs and sustainability. He stated that Social Security is not in jeopardy, but that Medicare will require adjustments.
Both Senators said that energy programs will be major areas of investment, and Dorgan specifically said that expansion of the power grid was a priority. This would provide for the decentralization of power production and make distribution more robust.
Dorgan also specifically addressed the need to regulate practices, like derivatives, which encourage risk taking by lenders, as well as mortgages with “teaser” rates leading to balloon payments later.
While there was some inevitable finger pointing, the emphasis was on the need for bipartisan commitment.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar said that Obama has promised to personally review and approve proposed economic policies, and to improve transparency by posting financial data, such as expenditures, interest rates and returns on the web
2. Energy: Sen. Harry Reid stressed the need for oil independence, first from the need to import oil, which is a major cause of the imbalance of trade, but ultimately from domestic oil as well. He said this was a security issue as much as an environmental and economic one.
Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Jeff Bingaman answered question on energy policy. Bingaman supports a cap and trade policy for carbon units, with a need to simplify the details, and to cap the level to which fees for allowances can rise as oil prices fluctuate. He noted that even oil produced by American companies is generally imported. He declined to give a timetable for addressing climate change, reminding the press that it is not possible to address every important issue simultaneously. Bingaman did say that Sen. Henry Waxman plans to submit an energy bill by Memorial Day.
Klobuchar said, with confirmation of Ray LaHood as Secretary of Transportation and Commerce, the United States would be in a position to be leaders again at the Copenhagen conference on climate change, the successor to the Kyoto conferences. Referring to cap and trade policy, she said it is important not to ratify historic carbon emissions, but also not to punish companies that have alreadybeen working to bring emissions down.
3. Healthcare: Sens. Ron Wyman and Debbie Stabenow presented. Stabenow said that Obama will immediately lift bans on stem cell research, and that expanded SCHIP coverage, including mental health and dental care, will pass within the next two weeks. She noted that “community mental health” had become, for some, code for reduced federal funding on mental health programs. She confirmed that universal coverage includes mental as well as physical illness. As a strategy to address the critical shortage of nurses, she proposed forgiving student loans upon completion of training.
Stabenow also said that medical information technology is an important investment for better and more efficient health care.
Regarding the economic impact of expanding health coverage, she said Canada remains competitive partly because its businesses do not have to bear the costs of employee health insurance. The big question, Stabenow said, is maintaining choice for patients.
Wyman said that for progressives “the story of universal health care is one of unrequited love.” There have been several occasions in the past when comprehensive reform appeared likely, but powerful interest groups or intervening crises prevented its passage. This time, things look better in that former foes have become allies as industry tries to divest itself of the cost and responsibility of health care. Sen. Tom Daschle, who has devoted much of his career to this issue, will become Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sens. Kennedy, Daschle, Stabenow, and Wyman have worked to make the legislation more transparent and streamlined than last time, Wyman said,and the public is likely to choose the health plan that congress uses.
Sen. Harry Reid told the press this is an aggressive congress with the political tools and capital to get much of the desired legislation passed, noting that they just passed 164 environmental bills, which would have been impossible, just a short time ago.

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), the Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (whose name has recently been floated as the Obama administration’s possible Secretary of Energy), discussed the challenges facing Congress over U.S. climate policy and the role the next administration will need to play.

Speaking at a Point Carbon and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change discussion on the future of climate policy, Bingman said that Congress does not need more subcommittees to improve energy and climate policy, but that those already in existence should should find a way to collaborate more efficiently.

Bingaman also discussed the steps the administration will need to take, explaining that there will be a need to balance the direction that Congress decides upon with international policy goals.

The senator touched upon the problem posed to cap-and-trade policies by carbon offsets, namely that it is hard to determine whether the offsets bought are actually effective.

“I’m not sure how we legislate a solution to that. I’m just citing that as a factor we need to keep in mind,” said Bingaman.

As legislation extending tax credits for renewable and alternative energy sources nears the floor Democratic members of the U.S. Senate made clear Barack Obama’s support for these credits. Senate energy chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) explained that the considerable tax credits given for installation of solar panels and fuel cells, created in the sweeping 2005 Energy Act are about to expire. “This includes a 30 percent tax credit to put solar panels on your home…There has been no more important provision that has helped the development of solar energy,” he said. Bingaman said that Obama has indicated his support for the bill and will return to Washington if his vote is needed to decide it’s passage. Binagamen said that Senate Democratic think they can pass without Obama’s vote.

The Senate has been trying to pass the extensions for close to a year. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said that Republican nominee John McCain has voted against tax credits 23 times. Stabenow emphasized the jobs that would be created in Michigan, where the automobile industry is struggling, if the tax extensions were to pass. She said that McCain opposes a strategy that would create more jobs, primarily because these credits would be paid for by reducing subsidies for oil industries.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said that in not supporting this legislation McCain is “bunting instead of swinging for the stands.” She said that there have been downward trends when these credits expire. She said that small businesses are building wind towers and solar panel. “They have the courage to leave their jobs and enter the new energy economy,” she said. “And we need energy in Washington.”

White House Correspondent Lovisa Frost will cover the press gaggle this morning.

The Washington Bureau will cover remarks from political analyst Cokie Roberts on how healthy America’s health care debate is on the campaign trail and in the halls of Congress. The Bureau will also be covering a discussion on the role of state and local governments in combatting poverty, as well as a briefing on Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown, Botswana’s ascent and what it means for the rest of Africa. As new worries regarding America’s aging infrastructure emerge, the Bureau will attend a forum on our nation’s water system and ways it can be improved.

Later in the day, TRNS will cover an event discussing the congressional energy outlook with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), as well as a discussion with the Israel Project on challenges facing Israel today.