Full Title: Energy Policy: 113th Congress Issues
Author(s): Carl E. Behrens
Publisher(s): Congressional Research Service
Publication Date: May 1, 2013
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Description (excerpt):
Energy policy in the United States has focused on three major goals: assuring a secure supply of energy, keeping energy costs low, and protecting the environment. In pursuit of those goals, government programs have been developed to improve the efficiency with which energy is utilized, to promote the domestic production of conventional energy sources, and to develop new energy sources, particularly renewable sources.
The 112th Congress did not take up comprehensive energy legislation, but numerous bills were considered on specific energy issues. Its most significant action was extension of energy tax credits, including the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind energy, to January 1, 2014, as part of P.L. 112-240, The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. In the 113th Congress, a number of issues, some of which drew attention previously, have been taken up in proposed legislation.