[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 8, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2720-S2721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                HOUSING

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, yesterday I made a few remarks about an 
amendment Senator Kyl and I have offered to an Ensign-Cantwell 
amendment, and today I wish to place in the

[[Page S2721]]

Congressional Record a couple of documents.
  In May 2007, I requested that the Energy Information Administration 
conduct a study of Federal subsidies of electricity, including a 
comparison of subsidies for different fuel types. Last week, I received 
a 250-page study in response to my request.
  I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the following: 
a copy of my May 17, 2007, letter to the EIA Administrator, Guy Caruso; 
a copy of the April 2, 2008, cover letter from Mr. Caruso that arrived 
with the EIA's 250-page study; and finally, a table titled ``Federal 
Subsidies of Electric Power'' that is based on information that was 
included in the executive summary of EIA's study.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                     Washington, DC, May 17, 2007.
     Hon. Guy Caruso,
     Administrator, U.S. Energy Information Administration, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Caruso: I am writing to request that the Energy 
     Information Administration (ETA) conduct an analysis of 
     federal subsidies of the electricity industry, including a 
     comparison of subsidies for the different fuel types (e.g., 
     coal, natural gas, petroleum, nuclear, wind, solar, etc.). I 
     am interested in learning--for each fuel type--both (1) the 
     overall annual cost of those subsidies, and (2) the annual 
     cost per unit electricity generated (e.g., cost per kilowatt-
     hour). My staff is familiar with the EIA report Federal 
     Financial Interventions and Subsidies in Energy Markets 1999: 
     Energy Transformation and End Use and understands that this 
     new analysis will serve as an update of significant portions 
     of this prior analysis with a focus on subsidies available to 
     electricity and primary fuels used in electricity generation.
       To expedite its completion, the analysis should be limited 
     to subsidies provided by the federal government, those that 
     are energy-specific, and those that provide a financial 
     benefit with an identifiable federal budget impact. Broad 
     policies or programs that are applicable throughout the 
     economy need not be considered. The analysis should include 
     the following types of subsidies: tax expenditures (such as 
     deductions, credits, and loan guarantees); direct 
     expenditures (such as direct grant programs and the Low 
     Income Home Energy Assistance Program); federal research and 
     development programs targeting electricity and its fuel 
     inputs; and federal electricity programs (such as support for 
     the Bonneville Power Administration).
       The report should include an estimate on the size of each 
     subsidy over a recent, representative year. Where there has 
     been a significant change in the amount or scope of a 
     particular subsidy since the 2000 report, it would be useful 
     for the report to provide an explanation for the change. If a 
     valid methodology can be developed, a forecast of subsidy 
     impacts would be very informative as well. To be most 
     helpful, I would appreciate it if the report could be 
     completed by November 30, 2007.
       Thank you for your assistance with this matter. If you have 
     any questions, please contact Mr. Jack Wells of my staff.
           Sincerely,
     Lamar Alexander.
                                  ____



                                         Department of Energy,

                                    Washington, DC, April 2, 2008.
     Hon. Lamar Alexander,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Alexander: In response to your letter of May 
     17, 2007, I am providing the enclosed analysis of Federal 
     subsidies and support for energy markets, with emphasis on 
     the electricity industry. The analysis includes a comparison 
     of per unit subsidies for the different fuel types used to 
     generate electricity. I hope you will find this analysis to 
     be of assistance.
       Should you have any questions, please contact me, or your 
     staff may contact Scott Sitzer, Director of the Office of 
     Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels.
           Sincerely,

                                                Guy F. Caruso,

                                                    Administrator,
                                Energy Information Administration.

                   FEDERAL SUBSIDIES OF ELECTRIC POWER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           ($/Megawatt-
                                                               Hour)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coal....................................................            0.44
Refined Coal............................................           29.81
Natural Gas & Petroleum Liquids.........................            0.25
Nuclear.................................................            1.59
Biomass (and biofuels)..................................            0.89
Geothermal..............................................            0.92
Hydroelectric...........................................            0.67
Solar...................................................           24.34
Wind....................................................           23.37
Landfill Gas............................................            1.37
Municipal Solid Waste...................................            0.13
                                                         ---------------
    All Renewables (subtotal)...........................            2.80
                                                         ---------------
        All Sources.....................................            1.65
------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask through the Chair whether there 
is more time or whether the Chair would like to reclaim the time.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Montana.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I am not managing this part of the bill. I 
think Senator Dodd is talking to Senators. They are working out some 
provisions, so if he wants to proceed until they work it out.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from California is 
recognized.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, perhaps I will proceed with my 
statement on morning business, and then, when we return to the bill, I 
wish to call up the amendment.
  Is that agreeable to the Senator from Tennessee?
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask how much time the Senator from 
Tennessee would like to speak. If it is a short amount of time----
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, if it is agreeable with the other 
Senators, I ask unanimous consent for 4 minutes, to be followed by the 
Senator from California.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Reserving the right to object.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  Mr. DODD. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Everybody is trying to extend morning business while we 
are waiting.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Tennessee has 
requested unanimous consent to speak for up to 4 minutes as in morning 
business.
  Mr. DODD. I have no objection.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________