Energy Bill passes House 6

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1. 

   earking199722 Posted 11:04 am
   21 Apr 2005

   Energy Bill passes HouseThe worst administration since Nixon.
   
   Next, gas price controls, because it's all about foreign oil...We'd have all the oil we needed if we'd just try harder domestically, right?

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2. 

   Ana Unruh Cohen Posted 11:08 am
   21 Apr 2005

   money mattersMTBE is sure to be a sticking point, but the cost of the bill might be the (grist)millstone around its proverbial neck. The house bill is already a billion plus more than the white house wanted, and Chairman Thomas (of the House Ways and Means - ie tax - Committee) tends to view energy conferences as a time to add up all the tax incentives together, rather than find a compromise. That's the recipe for a bloated bill that can't pass, especially if the economy isn't improving. Hopefully Thomas (and DeLay on MTBE) will stay true to his stubborn self, and this monstrosity of bill will never become law. Hopefully....
   
   beltway bandit

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3. 

   Environmentman Posted 11:17 pm
   21 Apr 2005

   Read The BillI wonder how many people actually read the energy bill.  This includes Grist readers too.  The energy sector and our energy needs are so vast and important, an energy bill makes sense.  You let us have blackouts or gas lines and watch how quickly Americans will demand a bill that provides what we demand.
   The conservation, efficiency and renewables items in the bill are very important.  It appears that because there are items that semi-deep ecologists disagree with, they believe the whole package should die.
   If you have not read the bill, please refrain from making definitive statements about its merits.
   
    
   
   Environment Man

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4. 

   Ann Burruss Posted 1:28 am
   22 Apr 2005

   About 4 to 6% of 8.1 billionMy understanding is that about 4 to 6% of the 8.1 billion dollars in tax breaks goes to renewable energy sources or conservation.  Granted, I haven't read the bill, which I will do.  Since you have read the bill, perhaps you could give me a head start by listing the conservation and renewable energy initiatives in it, and contrasting them to the oil/gas/coal initiatives?
   I don't think 'semi-deep ecologists' want no energy bill. I think environmentalists, ecologists and just about any informed citizen would choose an energy bill that promotes conservation and renewable sources and does not subsidize oil/gas/coal.

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5. 

   Ana Unruh Cohen Posted 2:02 am
   22 Apr 2005

   high standardRead the whole bill? That's a tough standard, Environment Man. I live this stuff and can't say I've read all 1018 pages... but I've come close. (For those of you with better things to do on Earth Day than reading the energy bill, the analysis at this website might be helpful: http://newenergyfuture.com/newenergy.asp?id2=16790&id3=energy&)
   True there are some good things for efficiency and renewables (some I even helped write and/or defend in a former job), but I don't think the good in this bill is enough to justify the bad. The Republican leadership is holding the good things hostage to pass the language that helps their corporate cronies and undermines consumers, states' rights and environmental protections.
   People are demanding lower gas prices and affordable, reliable electricity. But this bill won't do it.
   There are better ways. Look at any of the recent recommendations of a number of bipartisan groups. Or look at the innovation in the states. There are plenty of ideas out there that Congress could use. We shouldn't left them pass an energy bill which, more often than not, reinforces the status quo. Once Congress passes an energy bill, they'll check that task off their list, whether it is helpful or not. It's best to keep the pressure on until we can get legislation that will help.
   Now I might sound like I'm letting the perfect be the enemy of the good here. But I'm not. This bill is bad (even with the few good spots). I say keep rallying, yelling, writing, and agitating for the perfect until we get to the good.
   
   beltway bandit

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6. 

   praktike Posted 4:07 am
   22 Apr 2005

   Read the bill?Nobody reads those bills. Summaries were invented for a reason. BTW, even President Bush opposes the House version--it's too much even for him to stomach.

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