XXXX Voted to Make it Easier for States to Opt Out of Ethanol Requirements. In 2002, XXXX voted for an amendment that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to approve or disapprove within 30 days of submission a State(s) petition for a waiver of the national renewable fuel use (including ethanol) requirement that would be enacted by the Daschle further modified substitute amendment; failure to act within 30 days would constitute approval. The bill failed, 61-36. [S 517, Vote 67, 4/11/02] RENEWABLE FUEL/ ALTERNATIVE ENERGY XXXX Voted To Reduce Funding For Biofuel Production By $60 Million. In March 2013, XXXX voted in favor of Toomey, R-Pa., amendment no. 115 to Mikulski, D-Md., substitute amendment no. 26. The Toomey amendment would reduce funding for a biofuel production project by $60 million and increase funding to the Defense Department's operation and maintenance account by $25 million. The substitute amendment would provide continuing appropriations through fiscal 2013 for government operations, including $1.043 trillion in discretionary funds before sequestration. It would provide $517.7 billion in base discretionary funding for the Defense Department and $71.9 billion for veterans programs and military construction as well as $20.5 billion for agriculture programs, $39.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, and $50.2 billion for commerce, law enforcement and science programs. It would fund all other departments and agencies at their fiscal 2012 enacted levels, with adjustments for certain programs. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 40-59 (D 1-51; R 39-6; I 0- 2). [Vote 41, 3/20/13] XXXX Voted Not To End Federal Benefits To Entities That Receive Wind Energy Loans. In June 2012, XXXX voted against Alexander, R-Tenn., amendment no. 2191 that would prohibit entities that receive wind energy loans and loan guarantees under the bill from receiving other federal benefits for the same project. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 33-66 (D 0-51; R 33-13; I 0-2). [Vote 132, 6/19/12] XXXX Voted Against Extending Energy Tax Credits Including Production Tax Credit for Wind Energy. In 2012, XXXX voted against an amendment that would extend a number of lapsed and soon-to-expire energy tax benefits, including the production tax credit for wind energy producers and a program from the 2009 economic stimulus law allowing businesses to opt for grants instead of tax credits for renewable-energy projects. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 49-49. [S.1813, Vote #39, 3/13/12; The Hill, 3/9/12] XXXX Voted Not to Eliminate Certain Energy Tax Credits and Reduce Overall Corporate Tax Rate. In 2012, XXXX voted against an amendment that would eliminate certain tax preferences for certain energy producers and repeal tax benefits for several energy-efficient technologies, including electric vehicles. The increased revenue would be applied to a reduction in the corporate income tax rate. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 26-72. [S.1813, Vote #40, 3/13/12; The Hill, 3/9/12] XXXX Voted To Revive Tax Incentives For Producing Biodiesel Fuels. In September 2010, XXXX voted for a Grassley, R-Iowa, motion to suspend Rule 22 to permit the consideration of a Grassley amendment no. 4433 that would revive, for one year, lapsed tax incentives for the production of biodiesel fuels. [CQ; Vote 234, 9/16/10] XXXX Cast Deciding Vote Against Renewable Energy Tax Breaks. In December 2007, CQ reported that the last-minute votes of XXXX blocked the passage of a bill that would have extended renewable energy tax breaks by repealing $13 billion in tax breaks from the oil and gas industry. They wrote, “Even tax credits for wood-burning stoves couldn't make New Hampshire's senators warm up to a $22 billion energy tax package. The last-minute ‘no’ votes of McConnell killed the tax provisions Thursday, as proponents fell one vote short of extending tax breaks for renewable energy sources, offset in part by stripping about $13 billion in tax breaks from the oil and gas industry.” The amendment would have also required utilities nationwide to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable fuel sources. [Vote 425, 12/13/07; CQ Today, 12/13/07] In 2007, XXXX Voted Against Raising Billions From Big Oil Companies to Fund Alternative Energy. XXXX voted against a bill to that collected $29 billion from big oil in order to fund alternative energy sources. 111