Yesterday the Senate approved the House’s energy bill, after both the oil tax credit repeal and the renewable electricity portfolio requirements were removed. The revised bill is expected to be approved by the House and signed by the president into law. President Bush had previously promised to veto any bill that repealed the tax credits granted to the oil industry in 2005.
 

 With oil prices nearing $100 a barrel and gas prices rising, it’s clear to Congress that something must be done about America’s energy policy. But it’s not so clear what needs to be done. Currently both the House and the Senate have approved energy bills that encourage alternative and renewable fuels. However, the Senate bill also includes an increase in auto fuel efficiency, which the House omits. The House bill includes wind and solar for electricity in the mix.

Last week SAAFER attended an Energy Symposium hosted by the Strategic Energy Institute at Georgia Tech.  Overall, the theme of the symposium was solutions for energy balance at the intersection of of technology, policy, and economics.  The panelists/speakers of the event were industry leaders ranging from Ken Cohen, ExxonMobil's VP of Public Affairs, to Raefella Rossetto, a Researcher Agronomist from Sao Paulo State Department of Agriculture, Brazil.  In total 10 professionals gave presentations throughout the day.