Although this Congress, and this Administration, will almost certainly not come to an agreement on comprehensive global climate change legislation, Congress continues to create the intellectual foundation for moving forward quickly once a new Administration is inaugurated next year. Two hearings this week should give some insight into how Congress intends to navigate some difficult issues.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee begins by holding a hearing on Tuesday on two clean energy financing bills. S. 3233 and S. 2750 encourage the government and the private sector to work together to develop and finance clean energy technologies. Witnesses for the hearing are Andy Karsner, the Assistant Secretary of Energy for efficiency and renewables; Dan Reicher, the director of climate change initiatives at Google; and John Denniston, a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee takes up the issue of energy efficiency in buildings on Thursday. By some estimates, buildings contribute to about 40 percent of the total greenhouse gases emitted by the United States. Greater awareness of the energy efficiency gains that could be made through various construction techniques and materials has led to some agreement between business and environmental advocates, though contentious issues, such as a national building code, will likely be the focus of much of the hearing. The witnesses represent a broad cross section of academia, business, government, and non-governmental organizations. Scheduled to testify are David Rodgers, deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency, Energy Department; Robert Myers, principal deputy assistant administrator, office of air and radiation, U.S. EPA; Marshall Purnell, president, American Institute of Architects; Matt Belcher, president and founder, Belcher Homes LLC; Thomas Gentry, assistant professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte School of Architecture; Richard Weiland, chief executive, International Code Council; William Fay, director, Energy Efficient Codes Coalition; and Brad Heavner, state director, Environment Maryland.

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