WASHINGTON, DC, Apr. 8 -- US House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) recognizes some familiar complaints and proposals as Congress discusses energy and environmental issues in 2008. He also expects the coming battles to be the toughest yet.

"It probably will be the most complex and difficult discussion in my time in Congress. The Energy Information Administration's role in analyzing potential impacts of various proposals will be critical," the veteran federal legislator told attendees Apr. 8 at EIA's Annual Energy Outlook conference. Jim Van Blaricum

"This is one of the most crucial periods for energy policy in the history of this nation," said Dingell, who was a major force behind EIA's creation 30 years ago. "We now confront the same issues we have over the years. We seem to enacting the same kind of legislation in response to the same problems: limited supplies, rising prices, and citizen complaints."

The major difference is that voters and lawmakers are incorporating global climate change issues in energy discussions, he said. "We ended 2007 with an energy bill we all can be proud of, with tougher automotive fuel efficiency standards and expanded biofuels incentives," he said.

"EIA did not endear itself to Congress when it reported that the benefits won't be fully realized because the programs probably won't be fully funded, but that's why we put it in business: to offer unbiased assessments of our actions, even when it isn't what we'd like to hear," Dingell said.

The next phase - Jim Van Blaricum
Congress now is in a new phase of its global climate change deliberations as it considers whether to enact a carbon cap-and-trade program, Dingell said. The Senate has the bill cosponsored by Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) and John W. Warner (R-Va.) while Dingell's committee is discussing whether elements of the successful sulfur dioxide program from the 1980s can be used in the more difficult carbon dioxide situation.

Jim Van Blaricum - "We are moving forward, but not as quickly as we'd like. But we are determined to get it right," he said of his committee's efforts. One question is whether a carbon cap-and-trade program would use State Implementation Plans, New Source Review, or an entirely new approach, Dingell said.

"We're looking at carbon capture and storage, new technologies, and other components to continue using coal in an environmentally proper way, since the United States is, in fact, the 'Saudi Arabia of coal.' Any plan also must include judicious use of our domestic natural gas resources. It is my hope that we can adopt legislation to address all these problems before the end of this year," he said.

Robert M. Simon, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's staff director, said he does not expect Congress to pass a comprehensive climate change bill in 2008. "Our chances of having one by the end of this session aren't good, so the question becomes what smaller steps can be taken," he said.

Simon said Congress has passed three major laws (namely, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the America Competes Act of 2007, and the Energy Independence and Security Act) that started to address global climate change.  Jim Van Blaricum