Late last night, the U.S. Senate passed what the Washington Post calls "a sweeping energy legislation package...that would mandate the first substantial change in the nation's vehicle fuel-efficiency law since 1975 despite opposition from auto companies and their Senate supporters." The final vote was 65-27, with 43 Democrats and 20 Republicans (including Virginia's senior Senator, John Warner) voting "aye." Just 4 Democrats, including two from Michigan, voted no. Senator Webb voted yes, which is great news for those of us who are huge "Webb-heads." :)The importance of this bill is that it marks the first major increase in fuel economy standards for U.S. motor vehicles since 1975. Over the years, the U.S. auto industry has successfully argued that if the government forced them to build more fuel efficient vehicles, it would hurt their bottom line (just as they argued for years against seat belts, air bags, and just about every other improvement under the sun). Well, tens of billions of dollars in red ink later, the U.S. car companies are now experiencing the worst of all worlds - crushing losses on the balance sheet, thriving competitors in Europe and elsewhere, and a slate of vehicles ill-suited to dealing with high gasoline prices, global warming, OR energy security. Nice.
By the way, reaching 35 miles per gallon by 2020 shouldn't exactly be a strain on American ingenuity. As the Washington Post points out, the rest of the world is already WAY ahead of us:
In the European Union, automakers have agreed to voluntary increases in fuel-economy standards that next year will lift the average to 44.2 miles per gallon, according to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. In Japan, average vehicle fuel economy tops 45 miles per gallon. China's level is in the mid-30s and projected to rise, propelled by government policy.
That's right, this new legislation - IF it makes it through the House and is signed by President Bush - will require the United States to catch up with China's current fuel economy in 13 years! Seriously, if our car companies can't manage to do that, they deserve to go out of business. And if our nation can't compete with China, well...what can I say?
Aside from fuel economy standards, the energy bill passed by the U.S. Senate last night has the usual mix of political pandering (penalties and increased powers against "price gouging," which people talk about but nobody ever proves has taken place) and unfortunate compromises ("lawmakers dropped a provision that would have mandated additional 4 percent annual increases in fuel efficiency between 2021 and 2030"). And everyone who reads Raising Kaine already knows my feelings about corn-based ethanol (as opposed to cellulosic and other new technologies for producing biofuels).
Still, despite problems with the bill, this is significant energy legislation, perhaps the most significant in decades. I congratulate Senator Webb and others who voted for it. I hope that in coming years, we will go a lot further in cranking up U.S. fuel economy standards to European levels and beyond.
I agree with Lowell, not the best possible bill, you can read more of what I think on this over at The Green Miles, but it's a good first step towards both reducing our dependence on foreign oil and slowing our greenhouse gas emissions. Big congrats to Sens. Warner & Webb for voting for this bill!
Now, the bad (from cnn)...
Republicans blocked Democratic efforts to pass a $32 billion package of tax incentives for renewable energy and clean fuels, objecting to increasing taxes on oil companies by $29 billion over 10 years to pay for it.
Republicans (R - Big Oil) are more than a little unclear on the concept. Greed today is much more important than a sustainable, safer, and greener future.
The fuel efficiency standards are great, much needed, but they'll take over a decade to implement, if they survive the house or the veto.
If there are any individuals in the country more bought and paid for by the Oil Industry than Senate Republicans, it's House Republicans and, of course, the Bush/Cheney cabal.
By the time this thing gets through the sausage factory, won't be a damned thing left but the ethanol subsidies.
We won't get real energy reform until there's a Democrat in the White House.
What I can't believe is that Democrats AND Republicans are not moving rapidly to get our country off its "oil addiction." This is a national security issue, an environmental issue, a consumer issue, even a moral issue. There's no time to waste.
Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Thad Cochran, Bob Corker, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Jim DeMint, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Lindsey Graham, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl, Trent Lott, Mel Martinez, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Richard Shelby, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, David Vitter, George Voinovich, John Warner
Several of these people, such as John Sununu and hopefully 2 or 3 others, are vulnerable in 2008. It's time for them to go.
This idea took root when the United States was formed - immigrants came from an over-crowded Europe and found plenty of land with fertile soil. We found timber, water, minerals and later oil and coal.
In a sense, WWII helped to compound this - amazing things were accomplished in a short period of time. Later on the Space Program helped to cement this notion into our collective consciousness.
But at the same time this was happening, we were reaching the end of the Age of Exuberance. We had to restrict immigration, and various resources started to run short.
Given where we are today however, the thinking of the Age of Exuberance still persists, especially but not limited to the Republicans in Congress. Democrats are trying to tell people that we have to use less, but none are willing to admit (perhaps they haven't even admitted to themselves yet) the depths of sacrifice and change that will be required. Most Democrats insist that the Age of Exuberance can be continued - just with renewable fuels of some sort or another. The Republicans on the other hand are unwilling to admit that even this change is required.
Catton speaks of a couple of different kinds of denial. On the one hand you have Cosmeticism - essentially the belief that with a few cosmetic changes (such as CFL bulbs and hybrid cars), that we can solve the problem, and continue on with Exuberance.
Another form of denial is Cargoism (named for the Cargo Cults in the South Pacific). Essentially an almost religious belief that somehow technology will come up with new miracles that will again restore the Age of Exuberance.
A final form of denial is Ostrichism - essentially the Republican denial that there is even a problem, or that the solution is simply to work to increase production.
To me, the energy bill that they just passed was limited by the Ostrichism of the Republicans and the Cosmeticism of the Democrats.
So there will be one more chance for Senator Webb to be heard on this issue.