Energy Bill Scorecard

Today, Congress passed the Energy Bill. Let's take a look at the score:

Improving Fuel Economy? Yes. 40 percent increase by 2020, from 25 miles per gallon to 35 miles per gallon.
Investing in Renewable Fuels? Yes. Ambitious goals for transition from corn ethanol to climate-friendly cellulosic ethanol.
Renewable Electricity Standard? No, not yet. The Senate failed to overcome objections lodged by Senators from the southeast who believe -- against all evidence to the contrary -- that the South is not a good region for turning the sun into energy.
Lighting and Appliance Efficiency? Yes.
Creating Green Jobs? Yes.
Building Efficiency? Yes. Although incentives for zero-emissions efficient building were cut back, these provisions are still a robust new initiative.
Nuclear Loan Guarantees? Not in the energy bill, although proponents are busy reinforcing the fact that without endless subsidies, nuclear electricity can't survive in a capitalist economy.
Long-term Production Tax Credit for Wind and Solar? No, not yet.
Ending the special tax deduction for Hummers? No, not now. Ouch. When the Senate dropped most tax provisions, this went with it, but it may soon return.

Overall, by 2030, the Energy Bill will reduce the U.S. global warming emissions by nearly a quarter of what's needed to save the planet and will reduce our consumption of oil by more than 4 million barrels per day, which is more than twice the amount of oil we currently import from the Persian Gulf. The strong energy efficiency provisions for our buildings and appliances will make more than 100 coal-fired power plants unnecessary, avoiding massive amounts of heat-trapping pollution.

In short, we are making serious progress towards breaking down the barriers to more energy efficiency and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

The fuel economy standards alone are historic. It has taken a decade to break down the opposition to a 10 mpg improvement in fuel economy standards. Since 2001, I have forced votes in committee and on the floor of the House year after year. Each time, we made progress. The majorities against our amendments got smaller and smaller. But with Bush opposed, Detroit addicted to SUVs and the Republicans ridiculing efficiency standards, we needed the shift that was delivered by the election of 2006 and Nancy Pelosi's new direction leadership. Even so, this was a struggle and shows how difficult it is to move America's elected representatives from the old carbon-emitting energy agenda to the new, clean technologies of the future.

Many of us cannot help but feel disappointed by the deferral of action on the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and the renewable energy production tax credit, particularly since the House was able secure support for both measures. Deferring the renewable energy revolution is a luxury that this country can ill afford-leading the world in clean technology will save American's money at home, strengthen our position in the global economy and cut the global warming pollution now overheating the planet.

During my time in Congress, I've learned to run marathons, not sprints. While getting 35 mpg over the finish line is a victory to celebrate, we must run renewable initiatives onto a new legislative track immediately.

Comments

[maddogbitesback]

I can't think this is anything other than a limp handshake. Stopping the subsidies on fossil fuels would make a big difference and giving subsidies to solar and wind would be a good start. Subsidizing public transit and making it really efficient would help. But that would mean admitting the whole concept of climate change is just a socialist tree hugger plot. Nothing substantial has occurred. It is a scam - three card Monty run by the government.

[lamarguerite]

Not sure the marathon is a good analogy for the challenge facing us. Sprinting would be more like it, and this bill is not cutting it. Time is running out.

As an intelligent person, I am sure you have read the latest scientific reports, as brought out during the Bali talks, and earlier the IPCC reports.

How about taking that knowledge and working with your colleagues to make sure that our nation takes the appropriate measures. You owe it to your people, to the American people, and to the world, to use your power wisely. I expect no less from you.

http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com
'It's All About Green Psychology'

[bluesnot]

The bill is a joke.

[nastywolf]

Congessman, here's one suggestion to conserving energy and saving the lives of US soldiers in the future. Create a 10 hour-a-day/4 day work week for those commuters who are able to do so and take a substantial number of vehicles off the nation's highways each week. Run the figures on how much oil imports we'd be saving, on how much leisure and spending time we'd be creating, the reductions in pollutants we'd be causing and how much more quality family time we'd be generating. And more importantly, imagine the changes that would come when the USA reduces its need to control the World's energy supplies.

[nastywolf]

Congressman, you just don't get it, do you? This Nation's leadership has had 30 years to address these problems and if you think that 35MPG sometime in the future is a success then you're at least two decades behind the curve and part of the problem America and the World faces in the future.

Please step aside and allow real leaders to get in and fix things.

[jdm58]

Regarding your statement:
"Many of us cannot help but feel disappointed by the deferral of action on the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and the renewable energy production tax credit, particularly since the House was able secure support for both measures."
This is extremely disheatening. Why did Congress cave, if the support is there?
Here in Texas, the big news is that FutureGen, a federally supported corporation that proposes building a "cleancoal" plant (pumping CO2 back into the ground instead of releasing it to the air, into oil fields to use it as a boost to force oil to the surface) has decided to build its facility in Mattoon Ill. instead of Jewitt or Odessa TX.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/121907dnbusfuturegendecision.2a190754.html
Why is the focus is on coal, instead of renewables? Because that is where the federal, AKA american tax payer, dollars are. Even though Texas is currently the largest windprovider in the country, with the potential to go even bigger, and has the potential of being one of the largest Solar producers as well, many corporations are waiting for the tax breaks and incentives that keep getting delayed. In the meantime, Coal and Oil producers like Exxon/Mobile continue to recieve tax breaks. They are preparing, not to expand wind or solar, but to start drilling for oil and natural gas in the outer continental shelf and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, with the help of Congressional Bills S.3711, S.2253, and H.R.6111.
So it seems, while Congress offers smoke and mirrors to its constituents by raising CAFE standards to 35MPG by 2020, which, according to recent scientific reports will probably be too late, and which has ALREADY BEEN DONE in the rest of the free world (including Dubai!), they are continuing to make deals to destroy the delicate habitat of polar bears in the north, marine life in the gulf, the air we breath and the water we drink. When will Congress act?

[lucnyc]

It's about time congress started paying more attention to this. But, really who do you guys think you are fooling. We already have the technolgy to be energy independent. Actually we have had the technology for a long time now. Why can't John Newman get a patent on his invention? You guys know damn well that the oil companies and their lobbyists are going to milk fossil fuels until the last drop. There is just too much money to be made.They could care less about the average Joe or the environment. The only thing is, that there comes a point and time when, due to high energy costs our enconomy starts to suffer (like now). The democrats need to get a spine and start introducing legislation with some teeth. Why is GWB still president. IMPEACH, IMPEACH, IMPEACH.

[wsblake]

Give me a break. This energy bill is an insult. Better if Cngress did their usual nothing. 35mpg by 2020- that's cause for celebration! What an outrage. Far more was done in the 1970s. The speed limit decrease to 55 alone saved millions of barrels of oil a year- not to mention thousands of lives on the slaughterhouses we refer to as our highways.

[VeggieCar]

Come on congress! Jimmy Carter had better proposals than this back in 1977! They were to have been implemented by 1985, which of course, Ray-Gun put the kabosh on. 30 years later and this is all you can come up with?

It's now clear that the changes in our energy use are only going to come from the grass roots efforts going on to improve efficiency, and investigate alternative energy sources. Too bad, because congress could have been a big help in these efforts, but clearly bowed to the special interests.

[HeevenSteven]

No help for wind and solar but plenty of pork for corn farmers; oh, yeah, just what we need.

The 2009 European Honda accord diesel get's close to 43 mpg (combined driving). Why do we need 13 years to get to 35????

Ethanol is a farce; and this bill is a Joke.

I I'd like to get rid of all the lawyers in congress and replace them with Engineers and Philosophers. You'd at least think Lawyers would protect the constitution. If they can't do that, why do we need them?

[MAX1]

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Congressional Scorecard:

Rep. Ed Markey refuses to co sponsor H. Res. 333

Congressman,
Just how are you supporting and defending the Constitution of the U.S.A. when you TOLERATE the usurpation of the Congress by the Administration? Forget that question, you deserve what you tolerate.

Just how are you supporting and defending the Constitution of the U.S.A. when you ALLOW it's willful and wanton violation of it's Laws and principles? Just how are you supporting and defending it when you EXCUSE that violation, either vocally or being tacitly complicit?

Since when has WARRANTLESS ever been Legal?
Since when has torture ever been Legal since 1955?
Since when is lying to a joint session of Congress, Legal?
And when that lie causes the deaths of over 1.2 MILLION people, is it legal then?

Support and defend the Constitution of the U.S.A., It's Laws and principles. Your Oath compels this from you. Otherwise, we need to review what mental reservations and purposes of evasion are... NO?

The 2008 elections ARE a Congressional Job Performance Review.

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[ijustcamehere2work]

The "energy" bill is just another JOKE congress is playing on the American people. It signifies nothing but the special interests winning AGAIN!!!!

[radmul]

once again we get an energy bill crafted by the special interests that does zip to control pollution and wastes billions on ethenol which is a disaster from an energy standpoint. Its food or fuel under this plan and we all loose.

[AMolinaro]

The energy issue needs to be dumbed-down for public consumption, which is pretty easy because it's not very complicated. I am not a scientist or activist, but I installed solar panels on my roof. Except for the hottest summer months, I generally sell electricity back to the grid. And my clean-diesel car gets between 39-42mpg, so I've beaten the auto industry by 14 years (I've had the car for a year).

Present the issue in terms like that, and even conservative voters are bound to get it.

[fedupnburnin]

Congress needs to look into the technologies that have been suppressed. Till then everything they do will be done for the appeasement of the usual interests. Who would ever guess this is the 21st Century?