Wild Blog

Energy Bill
Wednesday, October 17, 2007

In recent years, when Congress brought up "energy legislation," it meant legislation that was designed to relax regulations to ensure that oil and gas development on our public lands does not harm the environment. EPACT, passed in 2005 was a grab bag of goodies for the the fossil fuel industry including, subsidies, tax breaks and streamlining of permits to allow drilling. The result was an explosion of development across the country.
But this isn't your "father's Congress." When the House and Senate passed their versions of comprehnsive energy legislation this summer, the bills addressed big ticket items such as improvements to fuel economy standards (to the tune of 35mpg by 2020) and a nationwide renewable electricity standard of 15% by 2020. And the bills are chock full of other forward-looking energy policies that address efficiency standards, green buldings and an increase to renewable fuel production.
Opponents are crowing, "where's the beef," decrying the lack of additional subsidies to benefit increased domestic oil and gas drilling. But doling out more dough to support Big Oil would take us in the wrong direction. Instead, the House-passed version of the bill (HR3221) actually aims to repeal some of the most egregious giveaways to oil companies and also inserts much needed reforms to protect the environment, landowners and wildlife from harmful drilling activities.
But these reforms are under attack and the oil and gas insustry is lobbying hard to leave them on the cutting room floor. We understand that this week, House and Senate negotiators will discuss the House Oil and Gas Reform provisions, so now is the time to make some noise in support of these public lands protections. The Senate should accept the House Energy provisions.

Labels: energy solutions, wild legacy

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