The federal energy bill may move to the Senate floor as soon as Tuesday, May
6th. So please call Senators Harkin and Grassley before then, and ask them
to vote NO on the energy bill. You can also write and submit letters to the
editor based on the information below. Thank you!
Senator Grassley: 202-224-3744 Washington, DC
515-284-4890 Des Moines
712-233-1860 Sioux City
563-322-4331 Davenport
Senator Harkin: 202-224-3254 Washington, DC
515-284-4574 Des Moines
712-252-1550 Sioux City
563-322-1338 Davenport
TELL YOUR SENATORS TO VOTE NO ON THE ENERGY BILL!
The Energy Policy Act of 2003 threatens the environment and takes us
backwards by entrenching our dependence on polluting sources of energy. From
opening up our coasts and special places to oil development, to removing key
consumer protections in electricity markets, to funneling billions of dollars
to polluting industries, this bill fails on all counts. Instead of an energy
bill that takes us backwards, the country needs an energy policy that cuts
our dependence on oil, increases our use of clean, renewable energy sources
like wind and solar power and protects our special wilderness places from
drilling. The current bill is even worse than last year's energy bill and
should not be passed. We call on the Senate to reject this irresponsible and
environmentally destructive legislation.
THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2003 TAKES US BACKWARD -
" Threatens our coasts and other public lands. The bill allows new oil
exploration all along the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) using invasive t
echnologies that will damage sea life and ocean habitat in environmentally
sensitive areas. In addition, the bill would open our public lands to
further destructive drilling and mining operations. These provisions
threaten some of our nation's most unique wilderness areas and critical fish
and wildlife habitats that provide the headwaters for most of the drinking
water in the West.
" Puts consumers at risk from electricity market manipulation. The bill
repeals the nation's oldest law that protects electricity consumers - the
Public Utilities Holding Company Act (PUHCA). This would allow power
companies to set up multiple subsidiaries and blur their financial reports,
opening the door to the type of market manipulation that was seen during the
California energy crisis.
" Funnels billions of dollars to polluting industries. The bill provides
close to 10.7 billion dollars in tax breaks to polluters, including a
first-ever tax break for burning coal. In addition, the bill provides tens
of billions of dollars in loan guarantees to build new nuclear plants and
indefinitely exempts the nuclear industry from liability. The bill also
allows the oil and gas industry to stop or reduce royalty payments to the
government and states at a time when they are in a fiscal crisis.
" Undermines the property rights of farmers and ranchers by providing
incentives for destructive coalbed methane drilling that ignores the rights
of surface property owners. This practice threatens thousands of acres of
sensitive lands in the West and its scarce water resources.
" Removes environmental protections for Native American lands. The bill
removes the protections of the nation's hallmark environmental law, the
Nation Environmental Protection Act, from Native American lands, opening them
up to destructive mining and drilling projects.
" Does nothing to cut the nation's dangerous dependence on oil. The
country's dependence on oil threatens our national security and our
environment. There are many opportunities to cut our oil consumption economy
wide, particularly from the biggest consumers - our cars and trucks. Making
new cars and trucks go further on a gallon of gas is the biggest single step
we can take to curbing our dependence on oil.
" Does nothing to increase our use of clean, renewable energy. The bill
fails to include a Renewable Energy Standard (RES) that would ensure that
more of our electricity comes from clean, renewable energy sources like wind
and solar power. Encouraging the use of clean, renewable energy would reduce
air pollution and global warming emissions that threaten public health.
Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
[log in to unmask]
www.iowa.sierraclub.org
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