Western Hemisphere Energy Compact

Bill: 110-s-1007
Sponsor: Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN]
Introduced: 2007-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Agricultural extension work
Agriculture and Food
Alcohol as fuel
Alternative energy sources
Biomass energy
Brazil
Canada
Carbon cycle
Caribbean area
China
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coal
Commerce
Commercialization
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Developing countries
Development credit institutions
Diplomacy
East Asia
Economic assistance
Economic development
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electric power production
Emissions trading
Energy
Energy consumption
Energy crops
Energy demand
Energy development
Energy policy
Energy research
Energy security
Energy supplies
Environmental Protection
Europe
European Union
Exchange of persons programs
Federal aid to education
Food supply
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign loans
Forest conservation
Free trade
Governmental investigations
Grants-in-aid
Haiti
Heating
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Hydrocarbons
Import restrictions
Imports
Income tax
India
International cooperation
Investments
Japan
Job creation
Labor and Employment
Latin America
Liquefied natural gas
Mexico
Natural gas
Nongovernmental organizations
Normal trade relations
Petroleum industry
Petroleum reserves
Pipelines
Poverty
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Public-private partnerships
Rural economic development
Science, Technology, Communications
South Africa
South Asia
Sustainable development
Tariff
Tax credits
Tax treaties
Taxation
Technological innovations
Trade negotiations
Transportation and Public Works
Tropical forests
Venezuela
Western Hemisphere

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-28
text: 
United States-Brazil Energy Cooperation Pact of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of State to establish the Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum which should seek to: (1) strengthen relationships between the United States and other countries of the Western Hemisphere through cooperation on energy issues; and (2) enhance cooperation between major energy producers and major energy consumers in the Western Hemisphere, particularly among the governments of Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela.
 
Directs the U.S. government to seek to implement: (1) an energy crisis initiative that will promote national and regional measures to respond to temporary energy supply disruptions; (2) an energy sustainability initiative to facilitate long-term supply security by fostering reliable supply sources of fuels, including energy from biomass; and (3) an energy for development initiative to promote energy access for underdeveloped areas through energy policy and infrastructure development. 
 
Directs the Secretary of State to seek Western Hemisphere governments' cooperation in establishing a Western Hemisphere Energy Industry Group, which shall increase public-private partnerships and foster private investment. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Energy to facilitate the establishment of the Oil and Gas Working Group, which should strengthen oil- and natural gas-related dialogue among international oil companies, national oil companies, and civil society groups. 
 
Directs the Secretary of State to work with Brazil to coordinate efforts to promote the production and use of biofuels among all interested countries, giving preference to the countries in the Western Hemisphere that are among the poorest and most dependent on foreign sources of fuel (particularly oil).
 
Directs: (1) the Secretary of Agriculture to work with Brazil in joint agricultural biofuel extension activities; and (2) the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to finance advanced biofuels research and collaboration between academic and research institutions in the United States and Brazil.
 
Requires each partner country (as defined by this Act) to participate in a study to determine the feasibility of increasing biofuel production and use.
 
Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) renew tax treaty negotiations with Brazil; (2) work with Western Hemisphere governments and other countries to organize regional and hemispheric carbon trading mechanisms; and (3) seek to establish a Western Hemisphere energy crisis response mechanism.
 
Directs the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to seek to increase U.S. foreign assistance programming in renewable energy, including activities to reduce energy import dependence through biofuel use. Authorizes the Administrator to award grants to nongovernmental organizations for sustainable energy and job creation projects in at-risk nations, such as Haiti. 
 
Directs: (1) the Secretary of Commerce to conduct ethanol and natural gas studies; and (2) the Secretary of Energy to seek to work with Mexico to conduct a technical analysis of the status of Mexican oil and gas production, future technological and investment needs, and recommendations for maintaining and increasing hydrocarbon production.

action_date: 2008-09-23
text: 
Western Hemisphere Energy Compact - (Sec. 3) Defines specified terms.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of State (Secretary) to establish the Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum which should seek to: (1) strengthen relationships between the United States and other countries of the Western Hemisphere through cooperation on energy issues; (2) enhance cooperation between major energy producers and major energy consumers in the Western Hemisphere, particularly among the governments of Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela; and (3) promote renewable energy production and lessen oil import dependency.
 
Directs the U.S. government to seek to implement: (1) an energy crisis initiative that will promote national and regional measures to respond to temporary energy supply disruptions; (2) an energy sustainability initiative to facilitate long-term supply security by fostering reliable supply sources of fuels, including energy from biomass; and (3) an energy for development initiative to promote energy access for underdeveloped areas through energy policy and infrastructure development. 
 
Directs the Secretary to seek Western Hemisphere governments' cooperation in establishing a Western Hemisphere Energy Industry Group, which shall increase public-private partnerships and foster private investment. 
 
Directs the U.S. government to explore the establishment of the Oil and Gas Working Group, which should strengthen oil- and natural gas-related dialogue among international oil companies, national oil companies, and civil society groups. 
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to work with Brazil to: (1) coordinate efforts to promote the production and use of biofuels among all interested countries, giving preference to the countries in the Western Hemisphere that are among the poorest and most dependent on petroleum imports; (2) invite the European Union (EU), China, India, South Africa, Japan, and other interested countries to expand upon existing international efforts to create global biofuels markets and promote biofuels production and use in developing countries; (3) assess the feasibility of working with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and relevant regional development banks regarding biofuels; and (4) develop a coordinated strategy regarding the construction and retrofitting of pipelines and terminals near major fuel distribution centers, coastal harbors, and railroads. 
 
Authorizes FY2009 appropriations.
 
Directs: (1) the Secretary of Agriculture to work with Brazil in joint agricultural biofuel extension activities; and (2) the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to finance advanced biofuels research and collaboration between academic and research institutions in the United States and Brazil. 
 
Authorizes FY2009 appropriations.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to work with each partner country (as defined by this Act) to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of increasing biofuel production and use. Provides that such study shall: (1) analyze energy policy; (2) assess demand and resources; (3) analyze technologies and resources; (4) assess food stock and environmental impacts; and (5) develop policy options.
 
Authorizes FY2009 appropriations.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to inform the managements of the international financial institutions and the public that it is U.S. policy that such institutions should encourage development of renewable and biomass energy sources. 
 
(Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to work with Western Hemisphere governments and other countries to organize regional and hemispheric carbon trading mechanisms. 
 
Authorizes FY2009 appropriations.
 
(Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to seek to establish a Western Hemisphere energy crisis response mechanism.
 
Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study of natural gas supply vulnerabilities in the Western Hemisphere.
 
Authorizes FY2009 appropriations.
 
(Sec. 10) Directs the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to seek to increase U.S. foreign assistance programming in renewable energy, including activities to reduce energy import dependence through biofuel use. 
 
Authorizes the Administrator to award grants to nongovernmental organizations for sustainable energy and job creation projects in at-risk nations, such as Haiti. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations to the Department of State for renewable energy-related diplomatic activities in the Western Hemisphere.
 
(Sec. 12) Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on activities under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1044.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Dodd with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Dodd with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2007-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2007-03-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4054)
action_date: 2007-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate