Democratic

The House Democratic leadership says it will introduce Friday its much-touted energy bill that is expected to focus on renewable and alternative energy, rather than traditional oil and natural gas.

The Democratic-controlled House, when it convenes Thursday, is expected to hit the ground running with several measures that have oil and natural gas producers, particularly independents, worried.

Three Democratic governors, appearing at a news conference Friday at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, for the Apollo Alliance, called for an ambitious state-directed jobs and energy plan including development of more renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) said he may challenge current House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) for the position of Republican leader in the wake of the Democratic sweep in the mid-term elections.

BHP Billiton challenged Phil Angelides, California State Treasurer and Democratic Party candidate for governor, on his opposition to Billiton’s plans for an LNG receiving terminal 12 miles off the Pacific Coast from Oxnard, CA. Angelides is proposing a tough, detailed state review of all LNG projects.

BHP Billiton is challenged Phil Angelides, California State Treasurer and Democratic Party candidate for governor, on his opposition to Billiton’s plans for an LNG receiving terminal 12 miles off the Pacific Coast from Oxnard, CA. Angelides is proposing a tough, detailed state review of all LNG projects.

Two Democratic energy lawmakers have called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review why so many federal onshore and offshore oil and natural gas leases are going undeveloped, as well as determine if the federal government is receiving a “fair price” for its energy resources.

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, took to the Senate floor Wednesday to offer a compromise between competing Democratic and Republican energy proposals. He said he would support the Democrats’ proposal for a gasoline tax holiday if they would back Republicans’ efforts to spur more energy production.

Making their offering to the annual Earth Day celebration scheduled for Saturday in the state capital, California Democratic state senators Thursday dedicated six legislative proposals dealing with clean energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. All of the measures were previously introduced earlier in the session, but Senate Majority Leader Don Perata used his prerogative to tie the measures to the nation’s annual environmental milestone, noting that California is attempting to create a “new energy economy.”