Narrow Victory for Energy Bill in the House

June 28, 2009

By Bob Difley

The energy bill that passed the House on Friday will no doubt antagonize a lot of people around the country, mostly those from industrial Midwest, farm, and southern states whether Republicans or Democrats. All the Republicans and 44 Democrats that voted against the bill warn that we are in for economic disaster, that carbon caps will raise energy prices forcing more manufacturers to move to China where there are no caps, and to other countries that do not limit greenhouse gasses. They also contend that energy costs will rise to consumers, jobs will be lost, and the country will sink into such debt that it may ruin the country.

On the other hand, those who voted for the bill, all Democrats, feel that this climate legislation would begin to tilt the equation of energy policy in the US. It would cap greenhouse gas emissions for the first time in US history, boost production of renewable electricity sources, create investments in clean-energy technology, create thousands of jobs, and help free us from the grasp of foreign oil producers and their hold on the nation’s economic and foreign policy.

You know that it is going to result in higher energy costs, at least in the near future. Fuel prices will rise, affecting our RV lifestyles. But it may also mean that we will buy smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles, and install renewable sources of energy on our rigs, like solar and wind, and maybe boondock more.

I guess it all comes down to whether:

You think that doing nothing is the best policy
You think that doing something is necessary
The Democrats will always find a way to tax and spend your money
The Republicans will always try to keep your earnings and savings in your hands
You think that global warming is real
You think that global warming is a hoax
You are progressive and think the nation needs to move ahead on energy production even if it costs us more for energy
You are conservative and think that big oil and coal are the right answer because they are cheap and efficient
You think that paying more for energy will benefit us all in the long run, and eventually costs will come down as the technology improves
You are tired of having to shell out more money when the systems in place work fine and will for decades to come

I live in a coastl state (California), a blue state, and like the majority of us on the coasts, we tend to be liberal, progressive, and feel that we need to do something now to improve our energy policy and to head off into a new direction, toward renewables and sustainable sources of energy both for our future and that of our children and grandchildren. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, of the twelve House Representatives, eleven voted for passing of the bill. But what can you expect, the Bay Area doesn’t have a single Republican Representative. But maybe it won’t pass in the more conservative Senate. Then nothing will happen.

But what do those of you in the Midwest and South think? Is it an ideological matter? Or are you concerned that the timing (mid-recession) is wrong, the cost is too high, it is unnecessary, or it is a ploy for those in power to get rich? I would be interested in your comments.