http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=11374 Planet Ark Bush submits energy plan, pushes conservation
USA: June 29, 2001 WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush focused on conservation yesterday as he sent his energy plan to Congress and named a "vampire slayer" to ensure the government stops using equipment that wastes energy. Bush, whose administration in the past has been accused by critics of not caring enough about energy conservation, toured displays at the Department of Energy of energy-efficient vehicles and devices before promising improved conservation starting with the federal government. He said the government would push for stricter standards for "vampire appliances" such as computers, battery chargers and televisions that consume electricity even when not in use. "Conserve your energy. That's the message I'm sending to Congress today," said Bush, whose energy plan outlines more than a dozen measures to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil by increasing domestic supplies, modernizing the infrastructure and encouraging energy efficiency. Bush, who called Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham the nation's "new Vampire Slayer", said the federal government needed to lead the effort to use energy-conserving technology. Vampire devices, which constantly draw small amounts of electricity while plugged into wall outlets, consume about 52 billion kilowatt hours nationwide each year, roughly the equivalent of the output from 26 average sized power plants. Bush said he will sign an executive order requiring federal agencies to buy appliances that meet a 1-watt standard whenever cost-effective, in place of the current 4-or 5-watt devices. "It is the right step for our federal government to set the example," he said. "It is the right step for our federal government, on the one hand, if we lay out an energy strategy, we must act upon the strategy." Bush also announced $85.7 million in research awards to promote energy-efficient technologies. LIGHTS OUT, MONITORS OFF AT THE WHITE HOUSE Changes will be made immediately at the White House, said spokesman Ari Fleischer. Employees at the White House and its affiliated buildings have been asked to be more energy conscious and take actions like turning off computer monitors and lights, Fleischer said. At the Department of Energy Bush viewed some cutting-edge products which use some of the technologies that caught the president's attention last month during a visit to California, which has been hit with soaring electricity prices and six days of "rolling blackouts" since January. Last month Bush unveiled his energy plan to increase coal, oil and nuclear power production as well as incentives to promote conservation. He said without it the United States faced a "darker future" presaged by California's electricity blackouts and the rising price of gasoline around the nation. The plan will now be considered by the Senate and the House of Representatives, which have been drafting their own bills to boost energy supplies while encouraging conservation. Fleischer said Bush wants quick action. "The president thinks that it's very important for Congress to act this summer and not to be asleep at the switch so that the American people can have reliable, steady supplies of energy," Fleischer said. The plan is expected to be debated in July in the House but there is no date set yet in the Senate. Senate Republicans accused Democrats of stalling debate on the president's energy package and said rapid action - not politics - was needed. Some Democrats and environmentalists criticize Bush's plan as favoring oil companies over the public. They charge that several provisions, including a recommendation that Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) be opened to drilling, threaten the environment. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a New Mexico Democrat and chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, said he did not think there were the votes in the Senate or the House for drilling at ANWR. He and other lawmakers who met Bush said Congress would have comprehensive legislation on energy by the August recess. "I think we should have a balanced piece of legislation that encourages conservation ... but also addresses production," he said as he left the White House. Bush believes the United States has no choice but to boost energy production. His energy plan calls for building new nuclear power plants, opening ANWR to oil and gas drilling, and streamlining rules on power plant and refinery expansions. It encourages conservation by providing $10 billion in tax breaks. Story by Deborah Charles REUTERS NEWS SERVICE http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=11380 Planet Ark Details of Bush energy legislation proposal USA: June 29, 2001 WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush submitted a legislative proposal to Congress yesterday, outlining more than a dozen measures to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil with by boosting domestic supplies, modernizing pipelines and electricity grids, and encouraging energy efficiency. The proposal will be considered by the House and Senate, which have been drafting their own bills to increase energy supplies while encouraging conservation. The following are highlights of the White House proposal: OIL/GAS * Authorize drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge of Alaska, requiring oil companies to use state of the art technology to avoid damaging the environment. * Earmark estimated $1.2 billion collected by federal government for multi-year drilling rights in the refuge to fund research into alternative energy sources. * Modify Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act of 1976 to expedite construction of a pipeline to ship natural gas from Alaska to the lower 48 states. * Extend excise tax exemption for ethanol fuel. * Create Royalties Conservation Fund to earmark royalties from new oil and gas production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to fund land conservation efforts. ELECTRICITY * Change tax law to allow non-utilities to make deductible contributions to a nuclear power plant decommissioning fund. * Reauthorize Price-Anderson Act, which protects utilities from legal liability in a nuclear plant accident. * Give Federal Energy Regulatory Commission eminent domain authority to seize private property to build electricity transmission lines. * Expand tax credits for electricity produced using wind power, biomass and other renewable energy. * Establish mandatory reduction targets for power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury over a "reasonable" period of time, and establish a market-based program to encourage reductions. CONSUMERS * Offer income tax credits for consumers who buy hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. * Offer 15 percent tax credit for consumers who buy photovoltaic equipment or solar water heating equipment for their homes. MISC * Offer tax credit for investments in combined heat and power systems, or shortening the depreciation life for projects. * Offer tax credit for energy produced from landfill gas. * Reform hydropower licensing process to make process faster. REUTERS NEWS SERVICE Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
