Vote Postponed on Senate Energy Bill With EV Funding Provisions

Vote Postponed on Senate Energy Bill With EV Funding Provisions

The Senate Democrats' energy and oil spill liability bill that also contains $3.9 billion in new federal funding to promote development and use of electric vehicles won't get even a test vote before the summer recess.

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has postponed consideration of the measure and an opposing GOP-based bill until September in the face of bickering over oil spill liability issues.

Reid's mill seeks to abolish the $75 million offshore drilling liability limit on oil companies while the GOP counter-measure would permit the president to establish new, higher liability limits for spills occurring after the bill is passed but appears to keep the $75 million limit in place for BP, whose massive Gulf of Mexico well blowout has caused billions in damages with total still mounting.

Pundits are giving both bills scant chance at passage, but what galls us (yes, we have a limited world-view here) is that one undeserving victim of the fighting over how much BP and other oil companies should be required to pay when their drilling ventures go awry will be the funding for EVs and other alternative fuels that's been stuck into Reid's measure.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.