House, Senate staff optimistic energy bill will pass this summer

Washington (Platts)--5May2005

With an attempt for solid bipartisan support for an energy bill at the Senate
committee level, congressional staff from both parties said Thursday they are
optimistic about moving comprehensive legislation in summer 2005. While the
House passed its energy bill, HR 6, in April, Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee members are still negotiating key areas--including how to
assign costs of transmission upgrades--of their own bill, staff said. 

But committee aides said they believe that working in a bipartisan fashion
would produce a consensus bill that would attract at least 60 votes on the
floor to avoid a filibuster. To that end, a staffer said the Senate bill would
not include a limited liability waiver for makers of the fuel additive MTBE.
In 2004, opponents to that provision sidelined the bill in the Senate. Staff
said they are also trying to squeeze the bill into the White House's budget
limit of $6-bil. The 2004 bill carried a $30-bil price tag.

This story was originally published in Platts Electricity Alert
http://www.electricityalert.platts.com

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