Subject: New Congressional Science Chair Against ANWR drilling > The following is excerpted from an article written by Randy Showstack > that appeared in EOS, the weekly newsletter of the American Geophysical > Union (Feb. 13 issue, page 82). > > NEW CONGRESSIONAL SCIENCE CHAIR TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION, ENERGY POLICY, > AND ENVIRONMENT > > ... Sherwood L. Boehlert, a 10-term Republican congressman from upstate > New York, has been selected by the Republican leadership to be the chair > of the Science Committee in the House of Representatives.... Boehlert > said that the committee will initially focus on three priority areas; > science and math education, energy policy, and the environment. > > ... In the area of energy policy, Boehlert said he agrees with the new > Administration of George W. Bush on the need for a comprehensive energy > policy. "But my focus," said the moderate Republican known for his > strong stances on environmental issues, "will be on ensuring that we > concentrate sufficiently on alternative sources of energy- wind, solar, > fuel cells, etc.- and on conservation and efficiency. These are areas > that have been underfunded in terms of both research and development." > Boehlert later told EOS that whlie he is a "big fan" of President Bush, > he also diverges with the Administration on some energy issues. "I > would advise strongly against drilling in (the Alaska National Wildlife > Refuge)," he said. "I think that's not the approach to go. One of the > things I think we have to do is concentrate on investment in renewable > energy sources, investment in conservation, investment in increased > efficiency. That's going to get us what we want, rather than getting a > small percentage of our total requirement for ashort period of time in > some pristine, pure area off the coast of Alaska." > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]