While the Senate originally planned to not take action on the energy bill until the summer months, it appears plans have changed. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee will go to markup in May, and the Finance Committee will have its tax package ready by the time the energy bill gets to the floor. Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) indicated that since the House Ways and Means Committee will be moving faster on the tax portion of the bill than originally thought, the Senate feels comfortable quickening its pace. Ways and Means will be marking up a proposed $7.6 billion package today. This is slightly higher than the White House proposal of $6.7 billion over 10 years which both chambers believe is not high enough.

The markup of the bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee continues today after a seven-hour markup session yesterday when the committee completed work on three titles of the bill -- with 13 titles to go.

The House Resources Committee will also begin marking up energy bill sections under its jurisdiction today, including several energy incentives and other provisions not in last year's comprehensive package. Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-California) will advance several provisions that were not in last session's bill. They include a provision placing new limits on National Environmental Policy Act review of renewable energy projects on federal lands and a "set America free" section that establishes a commission to craft a policy that would seek to ensure North American energy independence by 2025.