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 technologies 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
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]