|
OPEC OIL EMBARGO--30 YEARS LATER On Anniversary of Embargo, Bush Administration and Congress Are Poised to Increase Oil Dependence This Friday, October 17 marks the 30th anniversary of the OPEC oil embargo of 1973. The anniversary comes just as Congress is debating an energy bill that ignores many of the lessons the embargo taught us. At the time, many people thought that the long gas lines and economic slowdown was a wake-up call to cut America's oil dependence. But a look at this year's energy bill reveals that the Bush Administration and its allies in Congress have forgotten these lessons. Instead of moving forward with 21st century solutions, the current energy bill takes America backwards by giving up the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other sensitive lands to oil drilling, opens the door to drilling off America's coasts, threatening our beaches and the wildlife that lives on and around them, and actually increases our dependence on oil by creating new loopholes that allow automakers to undermine existing fuel economy standards. Oil Imports
Fuel Economy
There's a better way. Clearly we need greater energy independence, but we can't drill our way there. Congress should reject this Bush Administration-backed energy bill and instead pass a sound energy policy that will protect our environment and increase our energy security. A responsible energy policy would increase our use of renewable energy like wind and solar, cut our oil dependence by increasing fuel economy of cars, SUV, and other light trucks, protect America's natural heritage, and modernize America's electricity grid. ### |
