Ahead of the Bell: Energy Hearings
Monday April 23, 7:09 am ET
Senate Energy Committee Begins Hearings on Energy Efficiency Promotion Act
NEW YORK (AP) -- Members of the Senate Energy Committee will meet Monday to begin hearings on the Energy Efficiency Promotion Act.
Topics on the agenda include promoting efficient use of oil, natural gas and electricity; reducing oil consumption and heightening energy efficiency standards for consumer products and industrial equipment.
According to the bill, gasoline use in the U.S. should be reduced 20 percent by 2017; 35 percent by 2025; and 45 percent by 2030.
In addition, a strategic plan will be developed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy that will "establish future regulatory, funding and policy priorities to ensure compliance with national goals; include energy savings estimates for each sector; and include data collection methodologies and compliations used to establish baseline and energy savings data."
Monday's meeting comes as scientists and environmentalists continue raising awareness of global warming.
Under consideration by Congress are a number of proposed bills aimed at curtailing the release of so-called "greenhouse" gases into the atmosphere. Scientists say that unless those emissions are rolled back, the planet will become warmer, causing severe climate consequences later this century.