House Passes Energy Bill that Protects Georges Bank

Press Release

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt voted in favor of a comprehensive energy bill passed by the House of Representatives that boosts production of energy while protecting Georges Bank from oil and gas exploration.

"This bill not only gives a significant boost to renewable energy, it fully protects the entire area of Georges Bank from oil and gas drilling," said Delahunt. "This bill also provides incentives for renewable energy sources like wind and solar and establishes a steady source of revenue to fully fund fuel assistance programs such as LIHEAP."

The House passed H.R. 6899, the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act by a vote of 236 to 189. The bill includes increased investments in wind, solar, and natural gas, a significant roll back of tax breaks to oil companies, extends the moratorium on offshore oil and gas development in sensitive coastal areas, while allowing exploration in areas with promising reserves.

The current moratorium on oil and gas development on the outer continental shelf, including George's Bank, expires on September 30th. This legislation continues the ban by making development within 50 miles of the coast off limits, but allows leasing in areas between 50 and 100 miles offshore if a coastal state approves the measure or "opts-in". In addition, marine monuments and national marine sanctuaries - such as the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary -- are still protected from any offshore development. The remaining Outer Continental Shelf from 100 to 200 miles, where international waters begin, would be open to oil and gas leasing, except in the case of George's Bank.

Delahunt expressed concern during the initial deliberations over the bill that provisions must be added to fully protect George's Bank. Georges Bank starts roughly 70 miles off of Cape Cod and stretches toward Nova Scotia.
Most of the key fishing grounds are beyond the 100 mile limit.

"For twenty five years, there has been a strong bipartisan consensus to protect the rich and fragile fishing grounds of George's Bank," Delahunt said. "With the Canadians now openly discussing the prospects of developing oil and gas on their side of Georges Bank, it is important that we send a strong and clear message that these protections are important and must continue for future generations."

The text of the George's Bank provision is as follows:

SEC. 106. PROHIBITION ON LEASING IN CERTAIN FEDERAL PROTECTED AREAS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other Federal law, no lease or other authorization may be issued by the Federal Government that authorizes exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in—(1) any marine national monument or national marine sanctuary; or (2) the fishing grounds known as Georges Bank in the waters of the United States, which is one of the largest and historically important fishing grounds of the United States.

Specifically, the legislation would also:

* Ensure that oil companies pay their fair share of royalties on flawed leases granted in 1998 and 1999.
* Release Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Temporarily releases nearly 10 percent of the oil from the government's stockpile (known as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)), and replaces it later with heavier, cheaper crude oil.
* Extend and expand tax incentives for renewable energy, including incentives for plug-in vehicles, and retains and creates hundreds of thousands of American jobs. It expands and extends tax incentives for renewable electricity, energy (such solar and wind) and fuel from America's heartland, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy efficient homes, buildings, and appliances. Investments in renewable energy create three to five times as many jobs as investments in fossil-fuel energy.
* Authorizes more funding for Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Home Heating Assistance (LIHEAP) by creating a Renewable Energy Reserve to invest in clean, renewable energy resources and alternative fuels, promote new energy technologies, develop greater efficiency and improve conservation. It will also fund home heating assistance (LIHEAP), weatherization, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and carbon capture and sequestration. (H.R.6) Revenues from new areas opened offshore will also be deposited in this fund.
* Require utility companies to generate 15 percent of electricity from renewable sources -- such as wind power, biomass, wave, tidal, geothermal and solar -- by 2020. A 15 percent Renewable Electricity Standard will reduce global warming emissions and lower energy prices, saving consumers $13-18 billion cumulatively by 2020. It permits utilities to meet up to 4 percent of their target through energy efficiency. (H.R. 3221)
* Expresses the sense of Congress that the Renewable Fuel Standard should ensure that every region of the country can be a potential producer by calling for cellulosic biofuels to be produced from a highly diverse array of feedstock's.
* Promote Natural Gas and E-85 Infrastructure by including incentives and financing mechanisms for installing natural gas pumps in service stations and homes and requires service stations owned by Big Oil to install at least one "alternative fuel pump"—such as natural gas or E-85.
* Mandate annual lease sales in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, which has more oil than the Arctic Wildlife Refuge; also the oil can be brought to market sooner.
* Provide incentives to lenders and financial institutions, including the Federal Housing Administration, to provide lower interest loans to consumers who build, buy or remodel their homes to improve their energy efficiency.
Reduce transit fares for commuter rail and buses and expands service.

Source