Few in Congress would argue that the recently enacted Energy Policy Act of
2005 contains strong enough measures to address the problems we face in
energy prices, energy imports, global warming, or national security.
Katrina's economic and energy impacts put the nation's unsustainable
appetite ever more costly oil and natural gas in stark relief. This
disaster is a wake-up call that fundamental and sweeping changes are
needed in U.S. energy policy.
As Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), chair of the Senate Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources recently observed: "The Senate owes it to the
American people to address the challenge of spiraling gasoline prices and
the contributing factors. ... I am very proud of the Energy Policy Act of
2005. A number of good and important policy goals were achieved there, but
some of the harder choices were not part of that bill. ... The things that
were not politically possible two months ago are still before us and
require an answer. We can either ignore them or we can act. I say we act."
We agree - but with the major caveat that the answers are to be found in
greatly improved energy efficiency and expansion of renewable sources of
energy and not in more drilling. Supply side strategies are not solutions.
At the least, it is imperative that Congress enact aggressive fuel
efficiency standards for automobiles and trucks. The new light-truck CAFE
standards recently proposed by the Administration are not only grossly
insufficient, but could actually result in a decline in overall fleet
efficiency and therefore create even greater demand for petroleum.
Research in the last two decades has proven that it is technically and
economically feasible to achieve fuel economy standards of 40 mpg within a
decade, and that was at prices less than half of current levels.
Therefore, at a bare minimum, CAFE standards for cars and light trucks
should be no less than 40 mpg by 2015.
Beyond CAFE, Congress should also enact another provision considered
during the earlier energy policy debate -- a mandatory target for an
overall national reduction in the level of oil consumption. We would
suggest that the reduction target should be set at a level equivalent to
at least two million barrels per day by 2015. Congress should also set
energy savings targets for electric and gas utilities, based on the Energy
Policy Act provision that calls for a pilot program in this area.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, beyond its current tragic
effects, is a postcard from the future on the increasing intensity we can
expect from such storms as global warming increases ocean temperatures.
Recent MIT research confirms that hurricane intensity has been growing
over the past 30 years, consistent with the accepted predictions of
climate scientists. Added to the other evidence of global warming,
including retreating glaciers, massive and persistent droughts, and
record-setting temperatures, we have had more than sufficient warning that
our nation cannot afford further delay in seriously addressing climate
change.
The United States must confront the threat of global warming by setting
mandatory limits on the production of greenhouse gases that do not merely
curb the intensity of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gas
emissions but actually reduce their levels significantly. To achieve these
emission reductions while preserving economic prosperity, it is essential
to both greatly improve the efficiency with which energy is used in every
sector of the economy and to substantially and rapidly expand the
percentage of energy produced from renewable energy sources. Research
shows that aggressive pursuit of efficiency and renewables can reduce
carbon emissions while improving, rather than harming, economic
prosperity.
To stimulate markets for efficiency and renewables, Congress should
increase the efficiency and renewable tax incentives that were included in
this year's energy bill. We recommend that efficiency and renewable
incentives be increased to the levels in the Senate version of the bill.
Congress also needs to greatly increase longer-term research, development,
and deployment funding for efficiency and renewables. The energy bill
increases authorizations substantially -- we recommend that Congress
appropriate funds at these levels, beginning with the FY2006
appropriations bills.
We further recommend that the Congress enact a Renewable Portfolio
Standard to require that the nation's power generators produce a
substantial portion of their electricity from renewables sources. While
the Senate approved an RPS provision calling for 10% renewables by 2020,
we recommend that the level be no less than 20% by that date.
Congress cannot afford to wait until the energy problems we are seeing in
the wake of this month's devastating hurricanes sink out economy, further
damage our energy security and worsen the catastrophic effects of global
warming. The time to act is now.
About the authors...
Bill Prindle is the Deputy Director of the American Council for an Energy
Efficient Economy in Washington, DC.
Ken Bossong is coordinator of the Sustainable Energy Coalition. His views
are not necessarily those of the Sustainable Energy Coalition or its
member groups.
