US Trade Groups Voice Frustration On Lack Of Energy Bill
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The heads of several energy trade groups Wednesday agreed that the best way to address the U.S. energy supply crunch is to get Congress to pass a wide-ranging energy bill.
Also, they voiced frustration over the fact that Congress didn't pass such legislation in previous years, despite an energy bill being a White House priority, the last few years being marked by rising gas and oil prices and what's been called the worst blackout in U.S. history.
"We keep coming as close as we can ... and then the ball gets yanked
away," said Electric Edison Institute
He noted that the industry has urged Congress to pass a comprehensive energy bill every year for the past several years, and each year the effort fails.
Still, Kuhn said he's hopeful.
"We sincerely hope Congress will address energy legislation" early next year, he said.
The energy bill would help the industry fill in the gaps in the U.S. energy supply picture, Kuhn said, by including several provisions that would benefit not only the electricity industry, but also the nuclear, natural gas, oil and coal industries.
He noted that the country's demand for energy is growing faster than supplies, and causing prices to rise.
"If you don't find enough supply to address demand, you know what happens," Kuhn said. "It's Economics 101."
Meanwhile,
"We're no closer today than we have been. In fact, we may be farther away," he said, noting that several energy provisions were stripped from the stalled legislation and recently approved individually by Congress.
Richardson also said that it's been a challenge for Congress to pass a comprehensive bill because energy is very "political by region."
Still, he said,"`that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep trying."
The U.S. "won't benefit by just letting this thing run its course over time," Richardson said of rising energy prices.
Similarly, American Petroleum Institute
But Cavaney said he's undeterred.
"We're hopeful. And we're going to go try again," he said. "Sooner or later, we hope people understand that the prices ... don't have to be this way. And they need to be addressed by Congress and the (Bush) administration in the upcoming year."
Electric Power Supply Association
"Whether or not that's going to happen is anyone's guess," she said.
Although the energy industry seems to be calling for a broad bill,
Noting that the natural gas industry, in particular, is most interested in seeing provisions that would help foster new gas projects, he said that " pursuing those initiatives in other ways would still be an option."
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