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or Elliott Negin at 202-289-6868
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Statement by David G. Hawkins,
director of NRDC's Climate Center, Critiquing Bush Energy Plan
and Offering Responsible Alternative
WASHINGTON (May 17, 2001) - The Bush-Cheney energy show had
its Broadway opening last night and the reviews are not good.
The script, approved by producers Bush and Cheney, is a rehash
of a tired tale. Here's the storyline: "America is running out
of energy. Big oil, coal, and electric companies need our help
to save the day. To solve our problems we have to dig, drill,
and burn faster than ever. That means we have to drill in
wildlife refuges, drill off our beaches and breathe more air
pollution."
The producers, stung by criticism of early tryouts, wrote
some new characters into their script -- the popular
efficiency and renewables brothers -- but they are given only
bit parts. The plot is still dominated by the old stock
characters: coal, oil, big power generators and gas-guzzling
vehicles, and their lines still determine the outcome of the
story -- more pollution and destruction of America's remaining
unspoiled places. Big energy industries invested millions to
get this show launched. But it's destined to be a flop because
the producers ignored the oldest rule in theater -- don't let
the investors write the script or star in the show.
Now, back to reality. The administration claims its plan is
balanced; it's not. Look at its features:
- A $2 billion subsidy program for the world's dirtiest
fuel -- coal. Coal producers and coal-burning utilities are
earning record profits. They don't need $2 billion from
taxpayers to run their business. The best way to improve
this industry's environmental performance is to enforce
current pollution laws and enact strong new laws. The Bush
plan interferes with law enforcement and offers only a vague
incomplete promise for a new pollution law.
- Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
This proposal has nothing to do with energy security and
everything to do with keeping the cash flowing for the
owners of the existing pipeline in Alaska. If you have a
hammer everything looks like a nail. The Trans-Alaska
pipeline is the oil companies' hammer and they want to use
it to nail the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.
- Rollback of key clean air rules. The plan pressures the
attorney general to stop enforcing air pollution cleanup
cases and pressures EPA to change the rules to allow more
pollution from refineries and coal-fired power plants. These
proposals would mean more disease and death by air pollution
from these already dirty sources.
- Increased reliance on fossil fuels with no attempt to
limit global warming pollution. Ignoring our commitments to
reduce global warming pollution from today's levels, the
plan would actually increase this pollution by 35 percent
over the next 20 years.
- The efficiency and renewable programs that are in the
plan are so limited and vague that they do not alter the
enormous business-as-usual growth in polluting energy
sources over the next 20 years.
And look at what is not in the plan:
- No support for bipartisan bills that would immediately
help cut electricity and natural gas consumption from the
buildings sector with tax incentives and performance
standards.
- No support for bipartisan bills to create a renewable
portfolio standard and public benefits fund for the
electricity industry.
- No commitment to raise fuel economy standards from
vehicles, even from the most gas-guzzling SUVs on the road.
Acting now to adopt better standards would save more oil
than the Arctic Refuge ever could provide.
- No commitment to undo the disastrous budget cuts in the
Energy Department's successful efficiency and renewable
energy programs.
- No commitment to undo the indefensible weakening of air
conditioner efficiency standards. This single weakening
action will cost consumers $18 billion on their energy bills
over the next 25 years.
Fortunately the American people are not a captive audience
to this show. We can walk out and send the producers back to
work on something that will give us what we need: smarter,
cleaner and faster ways to meet our energy needs.
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a
national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and
environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public
health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more
than 400,000 members nationwide, served from offices in New
York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Related NRDC Pages
Slower,
Costlier and Dirtier: A Critique of the Bush Energy
Plan
NRDC
Offers Responsible Alternative to Bush Energy Plan
A
Responsible Energy Policy for the 21st Century