Is the new Energy Bill saving energy or wasting time?
Posted by Sarah on 26 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Green, Current Affairs, Global Warming
Fuel ecomony standards haven’t changed in approximately 30 years, but last Thursday night The Senate Energy legislation approved increases in automobile fuel economy requirements to a fleetwide average of 35 mpg by 2020 from the current requirements of 27. 5 mpg for cars and 22.2 mpg for sport utility vehicles and small trucks. The bill requires that half of the new cars manufactured by 2015 be capable of running on 85 percent ethanol or biodiesel fuels and other proposals outlined here . However, Senate Republicans halted a $32 billion package of tax breaks for renewable energy that would have been financed mostly by new taxes on Big Oil.
The new Energy Bill is challenged for being too little too late. The bill protects corporate interests by rejecting the proposed funding from Big Oil, making the shift to alternative energy seem prohibitively expensive and the extra 10mpg insignificant.
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save energy or waste time? it’s hard to say that the bill is a waste of time, as we need to be addressing the issue, and engaging in this dialogue (regarding fuel efficiency, peak oil, etc.) however setting goals we needed yesterday for next week seems ludicrous to say the least. and why shouldn’t “big oil” pay for the transition? seems they got us here…
It is always important to have active legislation about the issues because it raises awareness and increases media attention. Hopefully we will continue to take steps forward.
The truth of the matter is, by the year 2020, 35 mph will be too little to late. The Senate Energy legislation better step up and do what is right for “the people” and not for the oil companies. I guess that is why we are now known as “corporate america”. All for the corporations and one for the peope…
I think it’s funny how they would put the taxes on “Big Oil,” because all that would do is have them pass the taxes along to the consumer in the form of higher prices. Glad big brother is always watching out for us.