The conference committee finally pushed through the energy bill on Friday. Here’s a list of stories addressing the merits, or serious lack thereof, in the legislation.
Overview of the bill from the Washington Post, reflecting the general conclusion that little will be gained from this very expensive bill.
“GOP touts energy bill, but provides few specifics”
House, Senate OK broad energy bill
Republicans agree on a sweeping energy bill
Electricity provisions of the bill:
Bill lets US order power lines built
Enabling FERC to collect wholesale price data from utilities
May not help grid investment and construction
Aims to prevent blackouts
Industry would establish rules for grid use
Increasing the strategic petroleum reserve by 300 million barrels
Ethanol subsidies/MTBE replacement:
Details of ethanol measures in the energy bill
Farmers could make hay with energy bill
Energy bill awash in oil, but still leaves room to double ethanol
Fuel additive hot button in energy bill
Bill makes MTBE waiver retroactive
Bill protects MTBE manufacturers from lawsuits
Subsidies to various industries (except ethanol, so egregiously subsidized that I list it separately):
Industries may cash in on energy bill
Industry tax breaks fill energy bill
Energy bill would benefit companies
Tax breaks for oil
Coal measures of the bill
Drilling in ANWR:
Energy bill does not include ANWR drilling
Arctic left out of energy bill
Republicans say energy bill will boost economy
Looming conflict in Congress over bill:
Congressional conference votes today on energy bill
Showdown looms over energy bill