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EDITORIAL: Clear Choice Between Two Energy Bills

Posted on: Monday, 11 July 2005, 18:00 CDT

Jul. 11--The energy bill that the Senate approved last week is no great friend to Florida, but if any legislation setting a national energy policy is to be adopted, the Senate's plan is far preferable to the House's gussied-up valentine to industry. The final legislation hammered out in the conference committee should mirror the Senate's plan, which, for the first time, recognizes the scientifically established link between fuel emissions and global warming.

The Senate doesn't do anything about that link, however, since all that it approved was a nonbinding resolution saying mandatory limits on emissions will be needed to reduce the threat. The Senate directs the president to reduce oil consumption by one million barrels a day by 2015. But even this is more feel-good wording than mandatory.

What the Senate should have done is increase the fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks, as they are the biggest emitter of the pollution contributing to global warming. But neither house dared to curb auto emissions. The Senate puts more emphasis on the development and increased use of alternative energy sources. It would require utilities to generate 10 percent of their electricity using renewable sources -- such as wind power -- by 2020, and gives tax breaks and other incentives for energy-efficient products. The House, in contrast, gives incentives and big tax breaks to the oil and gas industries to increase domestic drilling.

The Florida-unfriendly feature is Senate approval of a plan to inventory offshore supplies of oil and gas. Many see this as a prelude to drilling, which means Florida could lose its drilling ban. Sens. Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez couldn't keep this from passing, since several senators from other coastal states supported it. Nor could they get an amendment approved to allow coastal states to opt out of the inventory. But unlike the House's bill, the Senate's didn't include drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which would be a travesty if allowed. Both bills would strengthen the nation's electric grid and provide more resources to prevent power blackouts.

What has been the proverbial poison pill to past energy legislation getting approved is back this year, too. The House's bill again would give producers of the fuel additive MTBE some immunity from lawsuits prompted by underground contamination of water by the substance. The Senate has previously opposed this provision, which should be part of the final bill.

The Senate at least puts forth policies that begin to direct the nation toward increasing use of renewable energy sources to reduce dependency on foreign oil. Despite its threat to Florida, the Senate bill should be adopted. Florida must then look to future legislation and other avenues to protect its coasts from the threats drilling poses.

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Source: The Miami Herald

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