Committee vote, Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Vote: Brownback voted YES on a federal Renewable Energy Standard (RES) of 20% by 2020 in a key committee vote. The measure is still pending, and has not yet made it to the Senate floor.

Notes: The standard is very weak, and will need to be strengthened.

H.R. 1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Vote: Brownback voted NO on the most significant legislation to date in renewable energy and energy efficiency policy. The Senate passed the measure, 61‐37.

Notes: Between energy efficiency and weatherization funds, plus appliance rebates, the state of Kansas will receive more than $100 million over two years. Taxpayers, businesses, and investors can also receive extensive tax credits for energy efficiency and renewables.

Economic Recovery Act of 2008

Vote: Brownback voted NO on to make emergency supplemental appropriations for infrastructure, energy, and economic recovery. The Senate rejected the measure, 52‐42.

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S. 3335, Jobs, Energy, Families, and Disaster Relief Act of 2008

Vote: Brownback voted NO in a cloture vote on this energy efficiency and renewables measure –which included renewal of the Production Tax Credit for wind, solar, and biomass, plus family and business energy efficiency tax credits. The Senate rejected the measure, 51‐43.

Notes: The measure amended the Internal Revenue Code to encourage families and businesses to engage in energy production and conservation, and included a production tax credit for wind, biomass, geothermal, solar, residential energy efficiency, combined heat and power, Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds, advanced coal electricity and coal gasification, depreciation for biofuels, cellulosic, biodiesel, and more.

H.R. 6049, Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008

Vote: After three cloture votes of NO, Brownback voted YES to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, including the production tax credits for wind, refined coal, closed and openloop biomass, geothermal, solar energy, small irrigation power, landfill gas, trash combustion, and hydropower facilities. The measure passed the House and Senate but differences between bills were never resolved.

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