“A problem such as the current energy crisis that has taken eight-plus years of neglect to create, will take more than eight days or eight months to solve,” Nussle said.  “But we must begin today.”

In his second week in office, President Bush established the National Energy Policy Development (NEPD) Group to develop a national energy policy.  The NEPD Group released its proposals on May 17.  

The comprehensive 170-page plan contains 105 specific recommendations.  Some of those recommendations will help modernize and increase conservation, others will diversify the supply of clean, affordable energy, and still others will help strengthen U.S. global alliances and enhance national energy security.

“Skyrocketing energy prices.  Rolling blackouts.  Two dollars for a gallon of gas – or more.  It didn’t have to happen,” Nussle said.  “We could have planned for the future.  We should have been better prepared.

“But we finally have an Administration that will take on the issue of a long-term national energy policy,” Nussle said.  “The Clinton Administration had 100 months in office and did nothing.  The Bush Administration has been in office only four months, and they are tackling the issue head on.”

Nussle said he is concerned that some in Congress are proposing more political quick fix energy proposals.  Those are the same old ideas that created the energy crisis in the first place.

“Political band-aids and environmental extremism are exactly what has brought our nation to this point in the energy problem,” Nussle said.  “Therefore, a political quick fix cannot be the answer.”

Nussle said the President and Congress need to take a long-term approach that includes conservation, exploration, environmental protection, and a dependence on our own U.S. energy sources.

“Long term energy policy is not new to me or other Iowans,” Nussle said.  “That is why over the last eight years I have been promoting ethanol and biomass and wind energy.  The Clinton Administration chose to never include these items in an energy policy of any kind.”

With respect to those renewable forms of energy, the Administration is proposing to extend the ethanol excise tax exemption, and extend and expand tax credits for electricity produced using wind and biomass.