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media type="file" key="LanierBroughtonHR2950.mp3"

=     = =        = =  Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007     =   Bill # H.R.2950       Civics 8 home

June 27, 2008
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(200, 30, 210); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Purpose:
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The purpose of this bill is to reduce the nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable, and alternative energy resources. This bill will help reduce our need for foreign oil. Oil is a nonrenewable energy source and it is killing the environment. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(89, 238, 23); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why is it important? Who does it affect?
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This bill is important because it will make our country become more independent in oil needs and help environmentally. We rely too heavily on politically-unstable countries for 70% of our oil. It affects all americans through gas prices, our economy, and national energy security. Our need for foreign oil will increase as we use up domestic resources. We need to drastically cut back on the amount of imported oil and how much we use in all. This issue is extremely important in these difficult economic times.

<span style="color: rgb(211, 78, 18);">Alternative Energies: How?
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(12, 212, 130);"> **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(12, 212, 130);">America is addicted to oil  **  <span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 250, 254); text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">media type="youtube" key="cgLcHErgfOc" height="344" width="425"    <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
 * Provide a credit to facilities that uses renewable energy
 * Establish at least 11 bio-research centers to learn more about this topic
 * Give grants for renewable fuel production research and development in certain states
 * Loan guarantees for advanced bio-fuel projects
 * Directs the president to establish a grant program for research and development of low-carbon fuels

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">* **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Solar power:  ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> > <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">* <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Methanol ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">: **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> An alcohol used as a fuel- it can power fuel cells  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">    <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wind power: **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Power derived from wind; used to generate electricity or mechanical power.  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ethanol **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">:  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An alcohol made from plant materials such as corn sugar cane that can be used as fuel.   <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reduces air pollution
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Made from organic material
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reduces carbon emmisons by 80%
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Creates less emissions
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Less green house gases

**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*Hybrid cars: **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> An automobile with more than one power source, such as an electric motor and internal combustion engine or an electric motor with battery and fuel cells for energy storage. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil was a major aspect of President Bush's State of the Union address. Car manufacturers are on their way to making that goal a reality by creating vehicles that can run on a variety of energy sources. General Motors plans to produce 400,000 flexible fuel engine vehicles this year. The vehicles are able to run on gasoline that is made of 85 percent ethanol, normal gasoline or any combination thereof. Ethanol is a renewable resource that can be made from crops like sugar cane, corn or potatoes. Bio-fuels like ethanol are also good for the environment - reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants. There are currently about 600 service stations in the U.S. that offer 85 percent ethanol fuel - nearly twice as many as two years ago. Many states and the federal government are rolling out incentives for more service stations to make the fuel available. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="display: block; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hybrids run off a rechargable battery and gasoline rather than just gasoline
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hybrid batteries help to reduce fuel emissions because the hybrid engine draws on the battery and not gasoline when accelerating
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hybrid gasoline motors can shut off when the car is stopped and run off their electricity

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(98, 28, 166); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A video on Ethanol
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">media type="youtube" key="kvRpGezVNEU" height="344" width="425"

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(138, 243, 32);">Statistics:
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*America uses 25% of the Earth's oil.
 * America has 3% of the world's oil reserves.
 * 92% of our oil is from un-stable nations.
 * America spends $700 billion on foreign oil every year.
 * Overall, the US is 70% dependent on energy resources from other countries.
 * Over half the oil we use is imported, and our dependance will increase as we use up domestic resources.

<span style="color: rgb(158, 64, 221);">Status: November 2008
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Introduced bills and resolutions first go to committees that deliberate, investigate, and revise them before they go to general debate. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="color: rgb(241, 34, 144); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Solution:
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By starting to use alternative energies and passing bills like this one, our country will really realize how much foreign oil we use and how much we need to cut back. The solution to this problem lies in technological progress. Our country needs to invest more in new and innovative renewable energies such as ethanol, solar power, and wind power. Using these energies not only save us money if we put them into use but are good for the environment. Once we learn even more about how to use these alternative energies and how they work, we will be on are way to an energy efficient country. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="color: rgb(243, 135, 22);">Citations:
__**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Websites **__ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Congress Link." __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Capwiz.Com __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. 2008. The Dirksen Congressional Center. 1 Dec. 2008 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><http://capwiz.com/cl/issues/bills/ <span style="font-family: Lucida Grande; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">?billtype=H.R.&billnumb=2950&congress=110>. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Prices and Trends." __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">U.S. Department of Energy __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. 10 Nov. 2008. Federal Energy <span style="font-family: Lucida Grande; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Regulatory Commission. 2 Dec. 2008 <http://www.energy.gov/>. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pearson, Chris. "My Observations." __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My Observations __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. 24 Sept. 2007. 2 Dec. 2008 <span style="font-family: Lucida Grande; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><[|http://rcrawford79.files.wordpress.com]>. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tristam, Pierre. "U.S. Dependance on Foreign Oil." __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">About __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. 6 Sept. 2007. 2 Dec. <span style="font-family: Lucida Grande; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2008 <[|http://middleeast.about.com]>. __**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Books **__ __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Current Issues __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. Alexandria, VA: Close-up, 2008. __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Worldbook N-0-14 __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. Chicago: Scott fetzer, 2007. __**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Database **__ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cooper, M. H. "Oil Production in the 21st Century." 2008. 2 Dec. 2008 <span style="font-family: Lucida Grande; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/ <span style="font-family: Lucida Grande; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">document.php?id=cqresrre1998080700&type=hitlist&num=1>. ==<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse;">     == <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*click on a picture to see where it came from.