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Energy Tax Policy: An Economic Analysis

Description: The report provides background on the theory and application of tax policy as it relates to the energy sector, particularly with respect to the theory of market failure in the energy sector and the suggested policy remedies. This background provides a context for understanding how current or proposed energy tax policy may affect other policy objectives or be affected by such objectives.
Date: January 12, 2000
Creator: Lazzari, Salvatore
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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State-by-State Comparison of Selected Electricity Restructuring Provisions

Description: Since 1996, twenty-one states have restructured their electricity markets. While the extent of this restructuring varies by state, four issues have generally been considered by all state legislatures: stranded costs, aggregation, universal service, and public benefits. This report compares the treatment of these issues in the restructuring legislation of the twenty-one states. Using information collected directly from the relevant state laws and the rules promulgated by state public utility com… more
Date: January 13, 2000
Creator: Abel, Amy & Shimabukuro, Jon O.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Electricity Restructuring and Tax-Exempt Bonds: Economic Analysis of Legislative Proposals

Description: Tax-exempt bonds reduce public power's interest cost on debt and enable it to lower the price of electricity. This subsidy makes taxpayers better off only if the private market fails to provide the correct amount of electricity. In general, the private market can provide the correct amount of electricity; in those cases when it can not, the tax-exempt bond subsidy is unlikely to correct the problem. Tax-exempt bond legislation has been consistent with this perspective that an interest subsidy f… more
Date: January 20, 2000
Creator: Zimmerman, Dennis
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Appropriations for FY2004: Energy and Water Development

Description: This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant.
Date: January 30, 2000
Creator: Behrens, Carl & Humphries, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congress and the Fusion Energy Sciences Program: A Historical Analysis

Description: The U.S. government has been funding research into controlled thermonuclear fusion since 1951. Since 1957, when the program was declassified, a public record is available in the form of appropriations and authorization reports presenting congressional decisions about fusion research. This report analyzes that record in order to assess how the program may fare in the future. The program recently underwent a major restructuring at the direction of Congress, and is currently establishing plans abo… more
Date: January 31, 2000
Creator: Rowberg, Richard E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Global Climate Change: The Role for Energy Efficiency

Description: This report reviews the role of energy efficiency in federal policies to curb CO2 emissions. In particular, it discusses targets for CO2 reductions, projected energy efficiency impacts, strategies for measuring impacts, and legislative proposals that would affect support for energy efficiency programs.
Date: February 3, 2000
Creator: Sissine, Fred
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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OPEC Oil Production - Facts and Figures

Description: In light of 1999's oil production cuts by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and several other non-OPEC members, the characteristics of the world's major oil producers are an important consideration for policymakers. These countries vary in importance as direct suppliers to the U.S. Their ability to add to current world supply varies as well.
Date: March 8, 2000
Creator: Kumins, Lawrence C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Electricity Restructuring and the Constitutionality of Retail Reciprocity Requirements

Description: Retail reciprocity requirements have been included in the electricity restructuring legislation of at least four states. These requirements mandate generally that out-of-state utilities which operate in a state “closed” to retail competition cannot market power to retail consumers in the “open” state. Because state reciprocity requirements enacted without congressional authorization are probably unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Congress would have to include … more
Date: March 9, 2000
Creator: Shimabukuro, Jon O.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Fuel Ethanol: Background and Public Policy Issues

Description: In light of a changing regulatory environment, concern has arisen regarding the future prospects for ethanol as a motor fuel. Ethanol is produced from biomass (mainly corn) and is mixed with gasoline to produce cleaner-burning fuel called "gasohol" or "E10."
Date: March 22, 2000
Creator: Yacobucci, Brent D. & Womach, Jasper
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Advanced Vehicle Technologies: Energy, Environment, and Development Issues

Description: This report provides an introduction to the research, development, and commercialization of alternative vehicle technologies, specifically electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles. It provides a description of the technology, and discusses issues such as cost, maintenance and fueling infrastructure, and performance for each type of vehicle. The report also discusses current congressional action on issues affecting these vehicles, as well as actions by the Administrati… more
Date: March 27, 2000
Creator: Yacobucci, Brent D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Transportation Fuel Taxes: Impacts of a Repeal or Moratorium

Description: Steep increases in the prices of gasoline, diesel, and other transportation fuels have prompted some Members of Congress to seek to ease the effects on households and businesses. Interest has focused on possible repeal or suspension of the levying of all or part of the federal excise taxes on those fuels. Current market conditions and the small amount of tax relief incorporated in most proposals, however, raise uncertainty as to whether prices to individuals and businesses would fall and whethe… more
Date: March 28, 2000
Creator: Fischer, John W. & Gelb, Bernard A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Federal Excise Tax on Gasoline and the Highway Trust Fund: A Short History

Description: Excise taxes have long been a part of our country's revenue history. In the field of gasoline taxation, the states led the way with Oregon enacting the first tax on motor fuels in 1919. By 1932, all states and the District of Columbia had followed suit with tax rates that ranged between two and seven cents per gallon. The federal government first imposed its excise tax on gasoline at a one cent per gallon rate in 1932. The gas tax was enacted to correct a federal budgetary imbalance.
Date: March 29, 2000
Creator: Talley, Louis Alan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Coping with High Oil Prices: A Summary of Options

Description: A near tripling in the price of crude oil from March 1999 to the first months of 2000, coupled with other developments, initially brought about sharp increases in the price of home heating oil and diesel fuel, which are essentially the same product. Gasoline prices then increased. These developments brought about discussion of what might be done to mitigate price increases and possible spot shortages, and what might be done to prevent a similar situation in the future.
Date: April 19, 2000
Creator: Bamberger, Robert L.; Kumins, Lawrence C. & Lazzari, Salvatore
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Outer Continental Shelf: Oil and Gas Leasing and Revenue

Description: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) was the source of $18 billion of oil and natural gas during 1998. This amounted to 25% of the nation's natural gas production and nearly 20% of the nation's crude oil. Nearly all of this output comes from the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico, where supporting infrastructure is already in place and there is little environmental opposition. Except for one sale in Alaska, no leases have been auctioned since 1991 in any other OCS region. The deep waters off Alaba… more
Date: May 3, 2000
Creator: Kumins, Lawrence C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Restructuring DOE and Its Laboratories: Issues in the 106th Congress

Description: A number of legislative proposals to restructure or eliminate the Department of Energy (DOE) and the DOE laboratories have been introduced since the end of the Cold War, especially since the beginning of the 104th Congress. This legislation has been introduced because of perceived major problems with DOE, including its overall mission. Sponsors state, for example, that about 85% of DOE's budget is for non-energy programs, even though the nation's dependency on foreign energy sources has increas… more
Date: May 17, 2000
Creator: Boesman, William C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Midwest Gasoline Prices: A Review of Recent Market Developments

Description: This report provides background information regarding the especially high gasoline prices in the upper Midwest during the late spring and early summer of 2000. While the Federal Trade Commission is investigating the possibility of collusion, several identifiable factors have contributed to this localized situation. Contributors to the higher prices appear to be problems at two pipelines supplying the area with gasoline, the use of ethanol-only reformulated gasoline in Chicago and Milwaukee, and… more
Date: June 28, 2000
Creator: Kumins, Lawrence C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Electricity Restructuring: Comparison of Comprehensive Bills

Description: Once considered the nation's most regulated industry, the electric utility industry is evolving into a more competitive environment. Currently, the focus of this development is the generating sector, where the advent of new generating technologies has lowered both entry barriers to competitors of traditional utilities and the marginal costs of those competitors below those of some traditional utilities. This technological advance has combined with legislative initiatives, such as the Energy Pol… more
Date: July 24, 2000
Creator: Parker, Larry & Abel, Amy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Daylight Saving Time

Description: This report provides a brief history of the issues surrounding DST, an outline of the legislation that created and modified it, and a list of references to more discussions.
Date: August 1, 2000
Creator: Yacker, Heidi G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Appropriations for FY2001: Energy and Water Development

Description: Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development Appropriations.
Date: September 19, 2000
Creator: Humphries, Marc & Behrens, Carl E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Renewable Energy: Tax Credit, Budget, and Electricity Restructuring Issues

Description: Renewable energy is derived from resources that are generally not depleted by human use, such as the sun, wind, and water movement. This report discusses various aspects of policy regarding renewable energy including tax credits and budget legislation.
Date: September 25, 2000
Creator: Sissine, Fred
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Restructuring DOE and Its Laboratories: Issues in the 106th Congress

Description: A number of legislative proposals to restructure or eliminate the Department of Energy (DOE) and the DOE laboratories have been introduced since the end of the Cold War, especially since the beginning of the 104th Congress. This legislation has been introduced because of perceived major problems with DOE, including its overall mission. Sponsors state, for example, that about 85% of DOE's budget is for non-energy programs, even though the nation's dependency on foreign energy sources has increas… more
Date: October 6, 2000
Creator: Boesman, William C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Appropriations for FY2001: Energy and Water Development

Description: Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development Appropriations.
Date: October 13, 2000
Creator: Humphries, Marc & Behrens, Carl E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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