Dems GOPs offer own energy goals

FROM THE ARCHIVE

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MAY 16, 2001

Hoping to land a pre-emptive strike against President George W. Bush, Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled their own national energy plan trumpeting conservation over production.

With a Capitol Hill gasoline station in the background, the group fronted by House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (Mo.) said the Bush plan, to be released tomorrow, doesn't offer concrete solutions to the nation's looming energy crisis. Drilling and tax cuts, they said, are merely short-term and environmentally unfriendly responses to a long-term problem.

"Energy is not plentiful enough in our country, and the costs that people are paying for it are too high," said Gephardt. "In order to address this problem, we need a balanced program, and the program we're announcing today, we feel, is that balanced program."

Streamlining electricity line and pipeline approvals, putting price caps on rising energy prices, offering tax incentives to small oil and gas providers, and supporting development in federal lands already open to drilling are the key components of the Democrat's plan. They argued these will keep high energy prices down while fulfilling the demand for power.

The American public would appear to support some of the Democrat's goals. An ABC News poll released yesterday showed that 56 percent of respondents favored conservation over production. Many are also worried about rising prices.

But the White House, naturally, wasn't convinced. "Price controls will cause more harm than good in the economy, in terms of people's ability to get energy," said spokesman Ari Fleischer. "They will drive supply down, they will create more demand."

"The President believes that we can promote conservation, we can increase energy development, and we can do so without complicating matters or hurting matters through price controls."

Meanwhile, Republicans also said they were ready to step up to the plate and offer additional measures. Tax incentives for home conservation and fuel-efficient cars are under consideration by lawmakers.

Bush tomorrow will present his 170-page document which has largely developed secretly. Headed by Vice President Dick Cheney, the energy task force has consulted with industry groups but won't disclose their identities, refusing requests by Congress and environmental groups.

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and her department are a large component of the plan. The Interior will be responsible for managing development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other federal lands, such as those in the Rocky Mountains and in off-shore areas off Florida.

Initiatives affecting tribes are also expected proposed. Since decision making on timber harvesting and oil, gas, and coal development on tribal lands are up to tribes individually, Bush's push to eliminate "regulatory hurdles" affecting new electricity and nuclear plant construction won't apply across the board to Indian Country.

But Acting Assistant Secretary James McDivitt said the Bureau of Indian Affairs won't be turning away tribes who are interested in development. Tribes stand to gain financially from use of their natural resources or tribal land.

Among other proposals, the Interior is currently considering coal bed methane development on the Southern Ute Reservation in Colorado.

Get the Poll:
POLL: Crisis Management - Most Favor Conservation in Response to Energy Needs (ABCNews 5/15)

Relevant Links:
Gwich'in Steering Committee - http://www.alaska.net/~gwichin
Oil Issues in ANWR, US Fish and Wildlife - http://arctic.fws.gov/issues1.html
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service - http://arctic.fws.gov
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Pro-Development site - http://www.anwr.org