Votes on House Energy Bill

On August 1, 2001, the House of Representative voted to pass energy legislation that is dirty, dangerous and doesn't deliver for consumers.

Specifically, the House voted down the Markey (D-MA)-Johnson (R-CT) Amendment, allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The House also voted down the Boehlert (R-NY)-Markey (DMA) amendment that would have required SUVs and other light trucks to meet the same fuel economy standards as automobiles. This will deny consumers savings of $16 billion at the pump by 2015.

Overall, this bill does not require a significant shift to clean, renewable energy production which could make us less reliant on fossil fuels. The bill rewards the polluting oil, coal and nuclear companies who have created energy problems, who are reaping record-setting profits, and who contributed a staggering $18.4 million to House members in the last election cycle. The Dirty Four oil companies who want to drill in the Arctic Refuge (BP Amoco, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Phillips) contributed $752,038 to members of the House of Representatives. By weakening public lands protections, the bill will help to destroy sensitive public lands.

U.S. PIRG and the state PIRGs asked members of the House to vote to increase fuel efficiency standards for light trucks and SUVs, protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas exploration and against final passage of this dirty and dangerous bill. The bill passed the House by a vote of 240 to 189.