EDITORIAL: Pedal to the metal
Dec 11, 2007
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Dec. 11, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --

America's energy policy is stuck in neutral. It's time to shift gears and start moving forward again.

Energy legislation pending in Congress would do just that -- if feuding Washington politicians will resolve their differences over a House-passed bill and if President Bush has the foresight to sign it.

The House bill would jack up vehicle fuel economy standards by 40 percent by 2020 and encourage further development of alternative energy technologies ranging from wind power to hybrid plug-in vehicles. Such legislation would be an inspiring, badly needed step forward in propelling U.S. energy policy into the 21st century.

With the world's population steadily growing, energy consumption skyrocketing in developing countries and fossil fuels gradually being depleted, "sitting still" should no longer be the overarching theme of U.S. energy policy in Washington.

Some states -- most notably California -- have given up on the feds and moved ahead with their own measures that put a greater focus on energy conservation, swifter development of alternative technologies, and reduction of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that scientists believe contribute to global warming.

Last week, the Senate blocked the bill passed by the House. Senate Republicans opposed the legislation on the grounds that it would rescind some tax breaks conferred on the oil industry in 2004 and 2005 and require electric utilities to get 15 percent of their power from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Meanwhile, Bush threatened a potential veto if the bill makes it through Congress intact.

Rescinding the oil industry tax breaks would help pay for extending tax credits for providers of renewable wind, solar and biomass energy, as well as credits for fuel-efficient hybrid cars. For the oil industry, highly profitable in recent years, losing $13.5 billion in tax breaks over 10 years hardly would be catastrophic. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) alone rakes in several hundred billion dollars a year in revenues.

If it's a choice between providing tax breaks for well-entrenched Big Oil or encouraging development of less-established alternative energy technologies, we would side with the latter.
However, the Star-Telegram Editorial Board also supported measures that could help increase U.S. production of fossil fuels.

For example, we support drilling for oil in a small portion of the huge Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, provided that higher fuel economy standards are adopted as an energy conservation measure. We also support expanding drilling in some offshore areas, including portions of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. But drilling should be kept well away from beaches, such as Florida's, that are prized for their natural beauty and the tourist dollars they attract.

In regard to the proposed 15 percent renewable energy standard for electric utilities in the House-passed bill, utilities in the Southeast have expressed concern that the region has limited potential for wind power. Perhaps there is room for compromise on that issue.
It would be lamentable if disagreement over some elements of the House bill resulted in no legislation at all. Bringing the two chambers into agreement could take a variety of paths, but it is crucial.

The House bill would increase overall fuel economy to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. That compares to current levels of 27.5 mpg for cars and 22.2 mpg for light trucks (sport utility vehicles, pickups and minivans) -- an overall average of about 25 mpg.

The higher mileage standard is long overdue and could be accomplished merely with existing technology. But we expect that technology will advance considerably during the next 13 years with cars such as plug-in hybrids, which can be recharged from a regular home electric socket.
It's also vital that any legislation passed by Congress include strong incentives to encourage continued development of alternative technologies such as wind power, which is dropping in cost and looks increasingly promising for the long term. Texas leads the nation in wind-generation capacity.

The House bill would encourage further development of biofuels, potentially including more energy-efficient production of ethanol from plant material such as switchgrass. Production of ethanol from corn uses large amounts of energy and raises the cost of food products made from corn, critics say.

Congress passed an energy bill in 2005 that included some beneficial and forward-looking provisions. But it wasn't the trailblazing new policy needed for the 21st century. It was unforgivably shortsighted in failing to mandate higher fuel economy standards.
Congress now has a chance to make amends for its past myopia and timidity.
Newstex ID: KRTB-0070-21585216