December 19, 2007

Key provisions

The energy bill, which the president plans to sign today, will make major changes in how the nation consumes fuel. Here's a look at its key elements:

* Vehicle mileage: Requires automakers to boost fleetwide fuel economy for cars and light trucks to 35 mpg by 2020.

* Renewable fuels: Calls for a fivefold increase the amount of biofuels, such as ethanol, added to gasoline, to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

* Light bulbs: Phases out most common types of incandescent light bulbs by 2020, and triples energy efficiency standards.

* Greenhouse gases: Boosts federal research into ways to trap carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and store them in the earth.

* Green federal buildings: Speeds up use of energy efficiency technologies and requires new or renovated buildings to use 55% less fossil fuel by 2010 and 100% less by 2030.

* Geothermal power: Encourages new technologies and creates tax incentives to expand the use of energy drawn from the Earth's heat.



Source: H.R. 6, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007