Received 2-6-2005
ASES SOLAR ACTION ALERT - Take Action on the 2005 Energy Bill
BACKGROUND
Congress plans to begin deliberations on a 2005 national energy bill beginning
February 9th. It s time to contact your Senators and Representatives.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has accelerated its consideration of
2005 national energy legislation. Once introduced, the new bill is expected to
be a re-hashed version of last year s H.R. 6. Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) will
be working to get a bill to the House floor before Congress adjourns for the
Presidents Day Recess which begins February 21st.
Senate leaders are committed to an expedited legislative process as well. As in
the past, Senator Domenici (R. NM) will spearhead the effort.
The 2005 legislation will understandably reflect the Bush Administration s
continued commitment to fossil fuels, including making it easier for private
petroleum companies to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) and
on other federal lands. The new Energy Secretary, Samuel Bodman, has already
indicated his support for opening ANWR to oil exploration and his intent to
lobby the Congress in support of this provision. During his confirmation
hearings he generally indicated support for a "balanced" approach in opening
more federal lands to drilling, which weighs environmental protection against
the nation's growing need for energy. The legislation may include expanding
opportunities for renewable energy sources, e.g. geothermal and wind, as a way
of making the substantial fossil fuel provisions more palatable.
The Republican-controlled Congress is expected to have enough votes later this
year to overcome objections from moderate Republicans, most Democrats and
environmental groups to give oil companies access to the Alaskan refuge. What
could change this, however, is if enough constituents weigh into the debate with
an endorsement of expanded support for clean domestic energy sources like solar,
wind, biomass and geothermal.
In addition to support for drilling in the Arctic, the Administration and the
new Secretary of Energy are on record as in favor of expanding the use of
nuclear and coal sources. The President has even gone so far as to suggest both
here and abroad that nuclear energy is the ultimate clean energy sources.
What support there will be for renewable resources like solar, biomass,
geothermal and wind is likely to be limited to extension of production tax
credits. Hydrogen, whether produced with clean or dirty energy sources, will
remain a cornerstone of the Administration s proposals and touted as the fuel of
the future. It is unclear at this point how the 2005 legislation will deal with
MTBE liability issues. Protecting companies from liability proved instrumental
in scuttling the 2004 legislation.
ACTION
Contact members of your state s Congressional delegation to:
- Enact an aggressive Renewable Portfolio and Renewable Fuels Standards that
would require a growing percentage of the nation's electricity and
transportation fuels be provided by renewable resources.
- Establish energy savings targets for electric and gas utilities, and for
greatly strengthening fuel efficiency standards for automobiles and trucks, and
appliances. The bill should also stress the need for a mix of tax incentives and
budgetary outlays to sustain the necessary research, development, and deployment
of these technologies as well as measures to increase their market share.
Remind them that:
- Increasing reliance on domestically available clean energy technologies
increases the nation s security by reducing reliance on foreign energy sources
and reducing terrorist opportunities.
- Global climate change has been well documented by the scientific community as
being principally fostered by reliance upon fossil fuels. The failure of the
U.S. to recognize and respond to this problem generally diminishes the nation s
standing in the international community and specifically threatens relations
with such staunch allies as the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Blair, for
example, has been repeatedly quoted as saying the climate change is the biggest
problem facing the world today.
- A transition to a clean sustainable domestic energy economy will produce new
investment opportunities, in the business, industrial and agricultural sectors,
as well as hold the promise of hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
- There is not enough oil in the Arctic Reserve to warrant the environmental
risk.
It is essential that constituents consult with their Congressional delegations
on an on-going basis to convince them of the need and potential of available
clean energy and energy efficiency technologies.
ASES will use the Solar Action Alert System to keep you informed of particularly
opportune moments and to suggest particular points of emphasis.
Thank you for your involvement and advocacy for common sense energy plans.
Bradley D. Collins, CFRE
Executive Director, American Solar Energy Society Publisher, SOLAR TODAY
Magazine 2400 Central Avenue, Suite A Boulder, CO USA 80301
(303) 443-3130 Ext. 102
FAX (303) 443-3212