Action completed on FY10 Department of Energy Appropriations and Defense Authorization bills 
 
[HR 3183], the FY10 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, was sent to the President on October 21. The bill includes EDTA-supported increases in electric drive programs, including hybrid systems and energy storage research, and Clean cities deployment funds, as well as restores $174 million to DOE’s hydrogen and fuel cell programs.  The conference report and program breakdown of the FY10 funds are available by clicking [here].

HR 2647, the Defense Authorization bill, has passed the House and Senate, and is awaiting the President’s signature. As we requested in our letter to the conferees, the final bill includes a preference for electric drive vehicle acquisition and includes funding for electric drive research and development. 

Specifically: 

(Sec. 2844) In leasing or procuring motor vehicles for use by a military department or Defense Agency, the Secretary of the military department or the head of the Defense Agency shall provide a  preference for the lease or procurement of motor vehicles using electric or hybrid propulsion systems, including plug-in hybrid systems, if the electric or hybrid vehicles— ‘‘(1) will meet the requirements or needs of the Department of Defense; and ‘‘(2) are commercially available at a cost, including operating cost, reasonably comparable to (conventional) vehicles. 

Also provides $174, 986,000, almost double the requested amount,for Combat Vehicle and Automotive Advanced Technology,  including:  

$2 million for Advanced APU development;
$10 million Advanced battery development program  
$3 million for Advanced lithium ion battery systems                                
$3 million Advanced thermal management systems                                
$4 million Hybrid engine development program
$4 million Hybrid truck development
$4.1 million Smart plug-in hybrid electric vehicle program                                

Our letters to House and Senate conferees are available here:

House conferees

Senate conferees

Heavy Duty Electric Drive Legislation Passes in the House

In September, the House passed [H.R.445] , a Sensenbrenner (R-WI) bill that authorizes a 3 year “competitive research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program to provide grants to applicants to carry out projects to advance research and development and to demonstrate technologies for advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles” The bill authorizes $16 million per year for the program.

HR 445 has been referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where a Collins companion bill, S. 679, was also referred. At this time, no Senate committee action on the bills has been scheduled.

Climate Legislation in the Senate

The Boxer-Kerry bill, S 1733, was introduced earlier this month; a revised version is expected to be released this afternoon. Although they are awaiting an economic impact analysis from EPA Senator Boxer, chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, has scheduled three days of hearings next week (27th, 28th and 29th) and has stated her intention to mark up the bill in the first week of November.

Five committees have jurisdiction over climate change legislation; only the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has acted on a bill, S. 1462. Summaries of the electric drive provisions in the original version of S 1733, S 1462 and HR 2454 are available here:

S 1462

HR 2454

S 1733

Surface Transportation Law Extension

The Senate is expected to try to move a six-month extension of the “Highway Bill” next week. The law has already expired and is operating under an extension that runs out at the end of this month. However, the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee wants a shorter extension, to force action on a multi-year reauthorization of the law.

1. FY10 Energy and Water Appropriations bill

On Friday, the House completed action on its Energy and Water Approps bill, HR 3183. See last week's update for details on electric drive spending. Full Senate action on its  bill, S 1436, is not expected before the August recess. 

2. Climate  Change Action - call for participants

The Senate schedule for action on climate change action includes a planned introduction date for  EPW legislation on September 8 and a deadline for committee action by September 28.  Per our committee meeting last month, I am asking for committee members who would be interested in working on an EDTA position on the relative value  of credit allowances, tax incentives, and programs  in advancing electric drive in climate change legislation.  I am thinking that we will have a series of conference calls to  discuss whether EDTA can establish a consensus position and, if so,  on what elements of a climate change policy . The outcome would then be put to the committee as a whole.  Let me know if you are interested in participating.

3. DOE Industry Survey of Export Promotion Programs - call for interested companies

I recently participated  in the first stage of a  Department of Energy  comparative analysis of U.S.  and foreign countries’ export promotion programs, specifically  programs that are designed to help domestic clean energy companies seeking to invest in or export to emerging economies. 

As part of this analysis, DOE would like to interview companies to identify critical programs and products provided by foreign governments and gather companies’ input on the effectiveness of U.S. programs and options for future actions.   I am attaching the summary of the request for industry participants in a survey. If you are interested, please let me know asap and I will provide additional info and contacts.

4. HR 3246, the Advanced Technology Vehicle Act of 2009

On  Thursday, the House Science Committee will markup HR 3246, the Advanced Technology Vehicle Act of 2009, the authorization for DOE vehicle and related infrastructure and systems research and development. Attached  is a revised version of the bill circulated to the committee last week, which now reflects many of  the comments provided by committee members.

5. Medium and Heavy Duty Electric Drive

EDTA has been working with medium and heavy duty stakeholders on incentives for medium and heavy duty vehicles. As you may be aware, the current credit for hybrids over 8500 lbs expires at the end of this year.  The credit for plug-in electric drive vehicles in this segment is also only available for this year. We have been working on the House and Senate side to craft legislative approaches to the issue that address the duration and the value of a credit, since the incremental costs of electrification are larger in larger vehicles . A working draft of legislation introduced by Rep Levin is attached. It reflects industry needs in the context of political realities (i.e., nobody got everything that they wanted, but everyone got something they needed).  Let me know if you have comments or questions.          

6. Defense Authorization

The House-passed version of the 2010 Defense authorization bill (H.R. 2647) gives preference for the purchase and lease of non-combat military vehicles to hybrids and electric vehicles if those vehicles cost the same as or less than conventional vehicles over their lifetime. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that if one-quarter of non-combat military vehicles purchased each year were hybrids or electric vehicles, the purchase prices of $33 million above the cost of conventional vehicles would be more than offset by a $117-million savings in fuel costs by 2014.

S. 1390, which is under consideration by the full Senate, does not require the purchase of hybrids but does provide $30.6 million for the development of hybrid engines for tactical vehicles. [Federal Times, July 14].

It has been proposed that EDTA send a letter to conferees supporting the House provision regarding acquisition and the Senate position on research and development of electric drive vehicles options. I will be drafting and circulating a conference letter for the Policy committee's review in  the near future.                

Please contact me with any questions about the items discussed above.

Thanks,

Genevieve Cullen
Vice President 
Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA)
1101 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 401
Washington, DC 20005
202-408-0774 x 308 / 202-408-7610 Fax
gcullen@electricdrive.org

Policy Committee Meeting

June 24, from  1 pm-3 pm EST.

Location: Honda's Washington Office located at 1001 G St. NW Suite 950.

Call-in number: 866-939-8416; code: 9433169  

File links are embedded in the text below; roll your mouse over the text to highlight links.

Agenda

I. Feb meeting Minutes; Board Report

II. FY10 Appropriations

-DOE Budget 

-Fuel Cell/Hydrogen effort

-H2 and Fuel Cell Budget

III. Senate Energy legislation

-Bayh-Dorgan amendment

-Conference Report issues 

-Floor Strategy   

IV. House Energy /Climate legislation

-Electric Drive provisions 

-Floor Strategy

V. Tax Issues

-Plug-in Credit Update; IRS guidance

-Med & Heavy Duty vehicles 

VII. Executive Branch meetings – Identify key officials 

VIII. Other items 

-Related Legislation

S. 929, Leahy bill on nonroad equipment tax credit;
TEXT AT: http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.929:

S 1091,  Wyden bill on stationary energy storage   
TEXT AT: http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.1091:

            
IX.   Next meeting/adjourn          

CALL IN NUMBER 866-939-8416
PARTICIPANT CODE: 9433169

Agenda:

 1. FY10 Dept of Energy Appropriations - (budget request summary and Hill letter)

2. Senate Energy legislation - (Bayh-Dorgan- Bingaman Amendment) 

 3. House Climate Change legislation - (summary of electric drive provisions attached).

The full text of the committee report can be accessed at:                                        http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090609/hr2454_committeereport.pdf

4. Tax credits for medium and heavy duty sector

5. Other
         

The meeting will be held form 2- 4 pm EST on Nov 10 at Toyota's Washington office:  601 Thirteenth Street, NW, Suite 910 South

The call in number is 877-358-8255; Conference ID is 7521445

We will be identifying policy priorities from the attached Electric Drive in 2009 document, which has been revised to include proposals suggested in last week's call and subsequently submitted items. We will also review proposed stimulus recommendations.  As the policy committee will be working closely with the communications committee on message and outreach in the coming year, the Communications plan will also be outlined at this meeting.  For a broader view,  the committee's operating plan for 2009 is attached; it outlines last year's accomplishments and highlights key Committee work areas for this year.    

AGENDA

I.   Minutes from October 30 call

II   Legislative Priorities  

III. Proposals for Stimulus

IV. Message Plan (with Communications Committee)   

V. Overview of Committee Operating Plan for 2009

Please plan to join the Policy Committee Call on October 30, at 4 pm EST. The call in number is 877-358-8255; Conference ID is 7521445.

We will be discussing legislative items and policy priorities for the 111th Congress and New Administration and recommendations for a lame-duck stimulus bill. Our goal is to finalize a policy agenda in the following meeting, on November 10, and present it to the Board on November 12.

Agenda

1. Comments on proposed menu of legislative objectives and priorities among them (Electric Drive in 2009 message & menu doc)

2. EDTA overall message for the next Administration and plans for disseminating it

3. Possible Stimulus Recommendations; Update on potential action. (Elec Drive Vehicles and Green Jobs Initiative doc)

4. Next meeting, November 10, 2-4 pm EST in Washington DC. Location to be announced.

Policy Committee Update--October 16, 2008

2009 Priorities

Pursuant to our discussion about 2009 priorities during Tuesday's committee call, I am soliciting your suggestions for our legislative action and priorities list. We will consider them during our next call on October 30 and hopefully finalize a policy agenda in the Nov 10 meeting. As a starting point, I am attaching an outline of some proposed priorities (some carried over from last year and some new ones) for your suggested additions/revisions.

BAH Report

Last spring, the Board of Directors determined there was a need for an EDTA-specific vision for the electric drive industry. They agreed that the first step was to assemble a set of projections of the industry's potential benefits, using existing models, but supplemented by our members' unique input. Booz Allen Hamilton was commissioned to develop a quantitative analysis of key electric drive industry issues, as developed by a Board Working Group.

The scope of work document, detailing the areas and method of their analysis is attached. The focus is establishing the economic benefits, oil savings and greenhouse gas impacts of increasing levels of electrification in transportation and to identify major challenges to achieving those levels.

The plan is to use the report as the rationale underlying our policy objectives. It would also be the basis of a Communications effort, including a press event at EDTA's December conference.

We will be getting a draft report at the end of this month, which will be reviewed by the Board Working Group and finally the Board. The Policy Committee will be able to review the report before it goes final. If all the project deadlines are met, I will circulate it prior to our next call on October 30.

Hill action - Stimulus

In the House and Senate, there is renewed interest in passing a second stimulus bill in the brief period that the Houses plan to be back in session in November. According to the House Speaker, one of the focus areas in such a bill would be "green jobs." This bill may present an opportunity to establish funding for some of our program priorities that were passed over when the Congress chose to maintain FY08 levels for DOE programs into FY09.

I will be pursuing information on the parameters of a stimulus bill (e.g., will it be jobs-focused, will there be tax provisions) and putting together recommendations for the Hill. I will circulate potential EDTA recommendations for a stimulus package within the next week.

1. Interested in Participating in NCEP Advanced Vehicle Workshop. On November 6 in San Francisco, the National Commission on Energy Policy (which is part of the Bipartisan Policy Commission) is organizing a one-day workshop of experts in advanced vehicle technology and policy and is looking for EDTA participants. It's a smallish, invitation-only event, so if you are interested in being invited, let me know and I will forward your information to them.

A more detailed description is attached, but here's an excerpt:

NCEP is convening a small group of experts for a discussion of the barriers facing new vehicle technologies. In order to maintain diversity and balance of perspectives, this session will include representatives from technology companies, automotive companies, finance and venture capital firms, government, academia, and non-governmental organizations with significant experience and interest in the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies. It will be a highly interactive, facilitated discussion with approximately 20 - 30 participants. We are not seeking formal remarks from participants but rather engaged discussion throughout the day.

For more information on the NCEP, go here: http://www.energycommission.org/

2. Reminder to Submit Policy Priorities - Pursuant to our discussion about 2009 priorities during last week's call, I am soliciting your suggestions for our legislative action and priorities list. Please email your suggestions to me by Tuesday October 28 so I can compile and circulate them in advance of next week's call. We will discuss the recommendations in the call with the goal of finalizing a policy agenda in the following meeting, on November 10.

3. Please plan to join the Policy Committee Call - note new time - The next Policy Committee call will be on October 30, at 4 pm EST. The call in number is 877-358-8255; Conference ID is 7521445. We will be discussing policy priorities for the 111th Congress and recommendations for a lame-duck stimulus bill. Please let me know if you plan to participate.

Policy Update - September 26, 2008

Congress is hurtling toward adjournment with multiple major legislative items being pulled along in its wake. Work will continue this weekend to finish a financial industry bail-out plan, as well as legislation to keep funding government operations, and stimulus bills to provide a "Main Street" component to the Wall Street fix. The fight between the House and Senate on competing version of energy tax extenders is ongoing.

CRThe one must-pass bill is a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government past the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1. The House this week passed a CR that would fund the government at 08 levels into March 2009. The bill also contains $25 billion in funding for advanced technology vehicle manufacturing, as authorized in Section 136 of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. The Senate is expected to take up the CR this weekend.

STIMULUS
The push for a second stimulus has also gained momentum. The House plans to take a bill today; the Senate may take up their version this weekend. Both contain substantial funding for electric drive programs.

The House bill includes: "Advanced Battery Technology Loans: $1 billion to support $3.3 billion in loans to encourage the manufacture of advanced vehicle batteries and battery systems [EISA Section 135]; Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: $500 million to accelerate the development of technologies that will contribute to a reliable, domestic energy supply; and "Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability: $100 million to modernize the electric grid, make energy infrastructure more secure and reliable, and speed recovery from disruptions to the energy supply."

The Senate has a draft stimulus bill that would appropriate $1.1 billion for the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, directing $300 million of that to battery technology research, development, and demonstration. Another $300 million is directed to competitively awarded local government and tribal technology demonstration grants. The remaining $500 million is directed to Weatherization Assistance. $150 million is directed to the Office of Science.

TAX The Senate passed a package of energy tax incentives earlier this week. The House is about to pass its own version of the package, ensuring the anticipated stand-off between the Houses. The Senate urged the House to take up its version; the House has been vocal in its rejection of that approach. It is not clear whether the Houses can, or will, negotiate a compromise before adjourning.

Both bills include a tax credit for plug-in electric drive vehicles. EDTA has been advocating for the Senate version of the credit because it provides a larger benefit and includes vehicles at the small and large end of the scale. A comparison is provided below.

Click "Read more" to see details from the September 18, 2008 Policy Update.

The House Appropriations Committee marked up the FY09 Energy and Water Appropriations bill on Wednesday, June 25. The bill contains important funding increases and restorations for DOE electric drive programs and provides new funding for key electric drive programs authorized in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. The Committee's recommendations track EDTA's priorities very closely.

While the appropriations process may end in a negotiated omnibus spending package rather than a series of individual bills, these funding levels and this level of member support provides a new -- and good -- benchmark for electric drive programs.

The Senate subcommittee is schedule to mark up its Energy and Water bill on July 10.

Below you can download a narrative summary of the House Committee bill and the updated excel files showing funding history for Vehicle and Hydrogen programs.

Contact Genevieve Cullen at 202-408-0774 x308 with questions.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

House Full Committee Action Summary.doc

FY2009 Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Budget Request detail 6.08 - excel.xls

FY2009 Vehicle Budget request 6.08h - excel.xls

20080625houseewbill.pdf

20080625houseewpart2.pdf

FY09reportpart1.pdf

Click "Read more" to see the agenda and download files from the June 17, 2008 Policy Committee meeting.

Click "Read more" to see the agenda and download materials from the January 29, 2008 Policy Committee Meeting.

Click "Read more" to see the agenda and download materials from the October 9, 2007 Policy Committee meeting.

Click "Read more" to see the agenda and download materials from the June 26, 2007 Policy committee meeting.

Congressional Research Service (CRS)

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legislation in the 110th Congress

This report reviews the status of energy efficiency and renewable energy legislation introduced during the 110th Congress. Action has focused on legislation to increase funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Click "Read more" to download the complete CRS Report dated May 1, 2007.

Click "Read more" to download files that the Policy Committee worked on in May 2007.

Click "Read more" to see the agenda and download files from the May 14, 2007 telecon.

Click "Read more" to see agendas and files for the April 12 telecon and April 17 Policy Committee meeting.

Click "Read more" to download files from the March 20, 2007 telecon.

Click "Read more" to see the materials for the January 23, 2007 Policy Committee Meeting.

Click "Read more" to see the agenda and materials from the December 7, 2006 Policy Meeting.