Hillary 3, Obama 1

Fact Check: Obama's Strong Record on the Energy Bill

January 08, 2008

RHETORIC: Obama voted for Bush's energy bill, not protecting alternative energy.

REALITY: OBAMA LEAD EFFORTS TO ENSURE INVESTMENTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND HAS SPONSORED LEGISLATION TO STRIP INCENTIVES FROM OIL COMPANIES

Obama "Reluctantly" Voted For The Bill As A "First Step, Not The Last, In Our Journey Towards Energy Independence." Obama said on the floor, "And so America has a choice. We can continue to hang on to oil as our solution. We can keep passing energy bills that nibble around the edges of the problem. We can hope that the Saudis will pump faster and that our drills will find more. And we can just sit on our hands and say that it's too hard to change the way things are and so we might as well not even try. Or we could accept and embrace the challenge of finding a solution to one of the most pressing problems of our time - our dependence on foreign oil. It won't be easy and it won't be without sacrifice. Government can't make it happen on its own, but it does have a role in supporting the initiative that's already out there. So, I vote for this bill reluctantly today, disappointed that we have missed our opportunity to do something bolder that would have put us on the path to energy independence. This bill should be the first step, not the last, in our journey towards energy independence." (Floor Statement, 7/29/05)

Obama Helped Lead Efforts To Pass Amendments That Improved The Bill's Renewable Energy Provisions And Was Singled Out For His Work As A Negotiator On The Energy Bill's Ethanol Provisions. In 2005, Obama passed amendments to the 2005 Energy Policy Act which would double the amount of ethanol used in our gasoline supply by 2012 (from 2 billion to 8 billion gallons); provide a tax credit for the retail purchase of E-85 fuel; and established an applied research program to improve technologies for the commercialization of a combination hybrid/flexible fuel vehicle; or a plug-in hybrid/flexible fuel vehicle. The Chicago Sun-Times reported, "Hastert, meeting with reporters on Friday, praised the "incredible teamwork" of the delegation, singling out freshman Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for his work on the House-Senate committee, which cut the final deals on the transit bill and ethanol tax breaks. The energy bill included an incentive for the use of what is called E-85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gas that can be used in "flexible fueled" cars and is supposed to be cheaper than conventional fuel. The bill calls for gas companies to get a tax credit to cover 30 percent of the cost to install E-85 pumps at service stations, up to $30,000." (Chicago Sun-Times, 7/30/05; AP, 7/27/05; H.R. 6, Became Public Law No: 109-58; S. 918, 109th Congress; SA 670 agreed to, 5/12/05; H.R. 6, Became Public Law No: 109-58; S. 918, Referred to the Committee On Environment and Public Works; SA 851 to HR 6, Passed by Unanimous Consent, 6/23/05; H.R. 6, Became Public Law No: 109-58; S. 650, 109th Congress; HR 6, Vote 139, 6/15/06, Passed 70-26, D:32-12, R:38-14, I:0-0)

2005-2007: Obama Introduced Legislation Repealing Tax Breaks And Other Perks For the Oil Industry, Requiring Yearly Increases In CAFE Standards, And Requiring Significant Increases In Renewable Fuel Mandates And Alternative Energy Incentives. Since 2005, Obama has introduced legislation suspending the 2005 energy bill's tax incentives and other perks for the oil industry in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, requiring significant increases in the renewable fuel mandates over the next few years, requiring yearly increases in CAFÉ standards, and providing incentives for E-85 fuel pump installation, alternative vehicle research and production. (S. 115, 110th Congress; S. 23, 110th Congress; S. 133, Introduced 1/4/07; S. 2202, Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. 10/18/2007 S. 2984, 109th Congress; S. 1324, Introduced 5/7/07; Press Release, 5/7/07)

LCV President Gene Karpinski: "With The Obama Plan In Place, America Would Boldly Regain Its Footing As A World Leader In Environmental Protection And Clean, Renewable Energy Production." "Senator Barack Obama has put forward an aggressive plan that would point America in the right direction toward a clean, renewable energy future, reduce greenhouse gas pollution and reverse the disastrous policies of the current Administration. By embracing a mandatory cap-and-trade program, the Obama energy plan would provide incentives to cut production of carbon dioxide and other pollutants that cause global warming. In addition, because this program is a 100% auction, this system will generate significant revenues for reinvestment in job-creating, clean energy industries. And by aggressively pushing efficiency measures, this comprehensive plan targets the fastest and cheapest ways to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Senator Obama's goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by the year 2050 is in line with where science tells us we need to be to avoid the worst effects of global warming. With the Obama plan in place, America would boldly regain its footing as a world leader in environmental protection and clean, renewable energy production." (LCV News Release, 10/8/07)

OBAMA SUCCESSFULLY INTRODUCED MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE ENERGY BILL'S RENEWABLE FUELS AND HYBRID CAR PROVISIONS

E-85 Tax Credit Was Introduced By Obama And Then Included In The Energy Bill. "After years of delay, Congress gave final approval Friday to a massive energy bill that would dramatically increase the use of ethanol, ensuring a growing future market for Illinois corn growers and ethanol producers...The House-Senate compromise bill would require refiners to almost double their use of ethanol and other renewable fuels to 7.5 billion gallons a year by 2012...In addition to the ethanol mandate, the bill also would provide tax credits to encourage more gas stations around the country to provide motorists with E-85, an ethanol-based fuel alternative that supporters say is 50 cents cheaper than unleaded gasoline. Gas stations would get a tax credit to install equipment accommodating E-85, a fuel that contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The subsidy would provide 30 percent of the installation costs up to $30,000. Of 180,000 gas stations across the country, only 400 provide E-85 fuel, including 20 in Illinois...The measure was introduced by Obama and included in the Senate bill. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Plano, ensured it stayed in the conference agreement." (Copley News Service, 7/29/05)

Obama Passed An Amendment That Will Double The Amount Of Ethanol In The National Gasoline Supply By 2012. In 2005, Obama was an original cosponsor of an amendment to the Energy Policy Act that would establish a Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), which would double the amount of ethanol used in our gasoline supply by 2012. The amendment was based on legislation of which Obama was an original cosponsor, along with the same group of Senators that introduced the amendment. The amendment passed and was signed into law. Energy Washington Week wrote, "The only member of the Senate environment committee to pipe up on the issue at the markup was freshman Illinois Democrat, Sen. Barrack Obama, who told the committee he thought eight billion would be a fair number, and that he would be pushing for the ramp-up on the floor." (S. Amdt. 779, HR 6, Vote 139, 6/15/06, Passed 70-26, D: 32-12, R: 38-14, I:0-0; S. 650, 109th Congress; Energy Washington Week, 3/23/05)

Obama Passed An Amendment Into The Energy Bill To Fund Research For Hybrid/Flex Fuel Vehicles. In 2005, Obama sponsored an amendment, which was signed into law, to the Energy Policy Act that established an applied research program to improve technologies for the commercialization of a combination hybrid/flexible fuel vehicle; or a plug-in hybrid/flexible fuel vehicle. The program would provide grants with preference to proposals that achieve the greatest reduction in miles per gallon of petroleum fuel consumption, achieve not less than 250 miles per gallon of petroleum fuel consumption and have the greatest potential of commercialization to the general public within 5 years. (SA 851 to HR 6, Passed by Unanimous Consent, 6/23/05; H.R. 6, Became Public Law No: 109-58)

Obama Passed An Amendment To Increase Support For Bio-Based Fuels. Obama co-sponsored an amendment that passed by unanimous consent to enhance the national security of the United States by providing for the research, development, demonstration, administrative support, and market mechanisms for widespread deployment and commercialization of biobased fuels and biobased products. The objectives of the Initiative are to develop technologies and processes necessary for abundant commercial production of biobased fuels at prices competitive with fossil fuels, high-value biobased products to enhance the economic viability of biobased fuels and power and as substitutes for petroleum-based feedstocks and products, and a diversity of sustainable domestic sources of biomass for conversion to biobased fuels and biobased products. (109th, SA 919 to HR 6, Passed by Unanimous Consent, 6/23/05)

CLINTON: Sure I do, but it never became law, as you know. It got tied up. It was a bill that had some things I agreed with and other things I didn’t agree with, and I was happy that it never became law. I opposed the 2005 bill as well.

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