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HCON 153 IH

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. CON. RES. 153

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for a nationwide diversified energy portfolio, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 22, 2007

Mr. GILCHREST (for himself, Mr. CASTLE, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. SHAYS, and Mr. KIRK) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for a nationwide diversified energy portfolio, and for other purposes.

Whereas most studies to date indicate that global oil supplies will peak between now and 2040 and that United States oil production peaked around 1970 at close to 10,000,000 barrels per day and has been generally declining ever since, to about 5,000,000 barrels per day in 2005;

Whereas, according to the Energy Information Administration, the United States uses approximately 20,800,000 barrels of oil per day;

Whereas in 2005 the United States imported 66 percent of its oil and petroleum products, and the United States economy depends heavily on oil for fuel and for a multitude of uses, including road surfacing and the manufacturing of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other consumer products;

Whereas global demand for energy is expected to grow from about 80,000,000 barrels per day to 118,000,000 barrels per day by 2030, and United States demand for energy is projected to grow by more than 20 percent by 2040;

Whereas currently available, key alternative technologies supply the equivalent of only about 1 percent of United States consumption of petroleum products, and the Department of Energy projects that even by 2015, they could displace only the equivalent of 4 percent of projected United States annual petroleum product consumption;

Whereas, according to the Government Accountability Office's report entitled `Crude Oil: Uncertainty about Future Oil Supply Makes It Important to Develop a Strategy for Addressing a Peak and Decline in Oil Production', hitting peak oil production could cause a worldwide recession;

Whereas energy efficiency technologies exist to enable homes and buildings, vehicles, and appliances to more efficiently use energy; a wide range of alternative energy technologies exist, are under development, and may be developed; and these technologies must be rapidly deployed on a commercial and broad scale to reduce the negative impact of an imminent peak and sharp decline in oil production; and

Whereas, absent another market force, the level of effort dedicated to overcoming challenges will depend in part on sustained high oil prices to encourage sufficient investment in and demand for alternatives: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

(1) the Congress and Executive Branch should aggressively pursue the development and rapid, commercial deployment of a diverse portfolio of new and existing energy technologies that are most appropriate for each region and locale in the United States, including--

(A) clean coal;

(B) anaerobic digesters and methane;

(D) wind;

(E) solar;

(F) ocean energy;

(G) hydrogen fuel cells;

(H) natural gas; and

(I) fusion and fission technologies;

(2) the Congress should pursue development of policies to promote major energy efficiency initiatives, including--

(A) increasing vehicle fuel economy standards;

(B) the installation and use of energy efficient light bulbs;

(D) strengthening policy promoting the use energy efficient appliances;

(E) hybrid vehicles;

(F) the use of public transportation; and

(G) the building and purchase of energy efficient homes and buildings;

(3) the Congress should pursue policies that create a sustainable market for the commercial deployment of alternative and energy efficiency technologies that are most appropriate for nationwide or regional and local application; and

(4) the Congress, the Executive Branch, and State and local governments, as well as utilities and other industry leaders should be actively engaged in consumer education initiatives surrounding available approaches to energy diversity and efficiency.

END