In Business, Creating Sustainable Enterprises & Communities

MOVING THE STATE OF THE UNION TO ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

In Business, January-February, 2006, Vol. 28, No. 1, p. 27

Senators speak for reenergizing America by offering a comprehensive bill to bring new fuels and technologies to market.

ACHIEVING energy independence will impact everything from national security to our economy,” says U.S. Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana. “Our bipartisan approach would achieve greater oil savings than the President called for in half the time. We can't afford to rely on countries like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela for our energy needs any longer.”
Continues Sam Brownback of Kansas: “With the emerging ethanol and biodiesel markets here, we can rely on the Midwest not the Middle East. This is a crucial economic and national security issue for our nation.” And, from Joe Lieberman of Connecticut come these observations: “Last fall, a large bipartisan - and bicameral - coalition of Senators and Representatives came together to offer a comprehensive bill that would turn the rhetoric of energy security into reality by saving millions of barrels of oil in just a few years and bringing new fuels and technologies to market within five years. The best way to reach the goals is for Congress to enact this legislation and for the President to support it and sign it into law.”
And from Norm Coleman, senator from Minnesota, come these words: “As a nation, we are finally coming to terms with our addiction to foreign oil. Without question, our reliance is the greatest threat to our economy, our security, and our freedom. We can pass this legislation that puts America on the path to energy self-sufficiency.” Adds Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado: “We need more than a carefully worded speech. More production of renewable fuels, combined with more development of wind, solar, biomass and other renewable resources will move the United States closer to energy independence.” Sums up Congressman Eliot Engel of New York, founder of the bipartisan Oil and National Security Caucus: “We cannot cling to partisanship in such matters. Congress already has passed two flawed energy bills since President Bush took office, neither of which speaks to the goals of our bipartisan bill. Now that the President is endorsing our vision of alternative fuels, let us see him and Congress take action on our legislation.”
In addition to reducing the amount of oil used in America, the bill, which has 41 co-sponsors in the House and 12 co-sponsors in the Senate, would also: Push for the development and mass marketing of hybrid technologies, including cars that give drivers the option to plug them in at night; Encourage the construction of more alternative fuel pumps at gas stations; Include, for the first time, fuel-efficiency standards for trucks; Offer standards to ensure fuel efficient replacement tires are available for cars and trucks; and Provide tax credits for manufacturers to retool facilities for advanced technology and alternative fuel cars and trucks.
In Business magazine thanks Deron Lovaas, Vehicles Campaign Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, for sending the above comments from the Congressional bipartisan coalition. In the May-June, 2005 issue of In Business, his report was titled, “The Business Case For Reduced Oil Dependence” and concluded as follows:
“The plan that we are working on with hawks and religious conservatives isn't just good for security and the environment - it's good for business. We urgently need new federal policies to dramatically improve the context for entrepreneurial activity like that covered by In Business and BioCycle. With better policies to support sustainable businesses, we can reenergize America.”