Critical US energy bill crafted in secrecy

[salin]

Critical US energy bill crafted in secrecy

Action on GOP-drawn measure involving oil, gas, nuclear could come as early as Friday.

By Gail Russell Chaddock | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

WASHINGTON – The massive energy bill taking final shape behind closed doors on Capitol Hill this week began in controversy and is heading into more of it.

Secrecy on energy issues began years ago when Vice President Cheney's energy task force met behind closed doors - a controversial process still being debated in the courts.

Now the two Republican chairmen in charge of the energy packages from the House and Senate are behind closed doors again - this time to rewrite the bill themselves without input from Democrats and other critics.

The process defies convention in this capital city.

What's known so far is that if the bill becomes law it would bring about several important changes. It would seek to:

• Open protected federal lands to exploration and drilling.

• Revive the nuclear power industry.

• Inventory offshore drilling sites from Florida to California.

• Open huge natural-gas reserves on Alaska's North Slope.

Much more: http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1002/p01s02-uspo.html

[salin]

1. related story: Renewable energy standards is dropped from federal energy

Renewable energy standards is dropped from federal energy bill

WASHINGTON (Oct. 1) -- A renewable energy portfolio standard has been dropped from the energy bill being crafted by a House and Senate conference committee.

The standard is unlikely to be restored despite a letter from 53 senators asking for its inclusion, according a congressional source close to the talks.

The bipartisan letter, dated Sept. 29, urged the two conference committee chairmen -- Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La. -- to include requirements for power companies to purchase renewable energy generated from wind, biomass, solar and geothermal sources.

more: http://www.wastenews.com/headlines2.html?id=1065041246

[RainDog]

10. gee, how surprising that a state with offshore drilling

and all the related industries, and a state with uranium mining wouldn't be interested in alternative energy and would want to push nuclear power and the oil hogs.

oink, oink, oink.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. But you won't see that on the news!

That was my fear...I was just going to post..gee..i wonderwhat's going on with the enrgy bill while everyone is distracted by arnold and Wilson.

I have never ever said this on this board or used this four letter word but I am finally saying it.... I HATE REPUBLICANS.

The fucking bastards have finally done it..they finally MADE me hate.

[bigtree]

3. conference falling apart?

Saw the Democrats on C-Span today talking about the Republicans excluding all but industry types from negotiations. They didn't say they would oppose the conference report, but came close. More pressure!

SENATE ENERGY CONFERENCE POSTPONED UNTIL THIRD WEEK OF OCTOBER, FOLLOWING SENATE RECESS October 1, 2003
http://energy.senate.gov/news/rep_release.cfm?id=212465

DEMOCRAT SENATORS, REPS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO ENERGY CONFERENCE DRAFT October 1, 2003
http://energy.senate.gov/news/rep_release.cfm?id=212459

Updates:
http://energy.senate.gov/

[10digits]

4. Sorry they don't have the votes.

We can elect a Dem. prez. If there are no coat tails it will be for nothing.

Think about that.

[salin]

7. things leaking out sound worse and worse

not sure whether they are getting so bold and arrogant (and pressured to give goodies to bush donors) that they think they can pull this dangerous, pork-bloated legislation off - or if they are actually trying to put so much controversy within it that it is destined to fail.

[htuttle]

13. Maybe they had to accelerate their time table

Perhaps the big money guys are a little worried that if they don't get this passed now, it will be too late.

[are_we_united_yet]

6. I'm feelin you n/t

[dusty64]

5. NO DUH!

This whole mess was created in secret with ken lay and the taliban. The repigs are being so blatant with this, its almost like they are daring it to be killed. I feel confident the Democrats will drive a stake through its putrid heart, but I wonder why they are acting almost desparate for them to do so. Any ideas, I have a theory.

[Rose Siding]

8. Filibuster

This isn't budgetary so it can be filibustered to direct enough publicity til the public outrage catches up. (am I right?)

[salin]

11. Fillibuster

may be the only tool they have. So much pork is being put in here that some who would have voted it down due the re-addition of the ANWR provision, are mighty tempted....

[jus_the_facts]

9. Bye Bye Mother Earth.....what the meaning of life is to us all.....

....should be to leave the garden *better off* when you leave it than it was when you entered it.....at least that's my philosophy *sigh* :cry:

[kwolf68]

12. Hate...Hate...Hate

Ideologues hammer out plan with cronies, bring it to congress/parliment, and push through legislation.

This is how Fascist Italy did government. This is a FACT.

[salin]

14. This bill - and the Iraq reconstruction contracts

lay bare for all to see - the merging of corporations and government. Fascism - is this plus totalitarian rule. We aren't to the second point yet, but with the push for Patriot2, the attempts to shutdown dissent in the press, to frame all dissent as 'helping the terrorists', the questions surrounding auditless voting machines, it appears that point two could be just around the corner.

[jus_the_facts]

16. KICK.....THIS NEEDS TO BE SEEN....rush...and ahhnie ARE distracting.....

....this MOST important issue!!!! :kick:

:hi: Salin!!

[jus_the_facts]

18. kick

:kick:

[pfitz59]

15. Government of the people, by the people, for the.........

CORPORATIONS! This is getting absolutely out of control! They are aiming to KILL THE PLANET! Unfreaking believeable....

[ignatius]

17. With all the Arnold and Rush news, let's not forget that

the Supremes are hearing the case for sealing the energy task force records.

Is this a done deal that will quietly fly "under the radar?"

[Democat]

19. Arnold will allow offshore drilling in California

If Arnold steals the office from Davis, kill California's beaches goodbye.

[Robbien]

20. Remember to please use the action alert from Public Citizen

to send faxes to Congress asking them to vote no on the energy bill.

http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/electricity/energybill/articles.cfm?ID=10479

[Judi Lynn]

21. A Friday article on the Alaska gas pipeline issue in the energy bill,

(snip) Fight over tax subsidies snags effort to develop Alaska gas
VOLATILE PRICES: White House says no to guarantees that pipeline backers want.


By H. JOSEF HEBERT
The Associated Press

(Published: October 3, 2003)


WASHINGTON -- Despite warnings about future shortages of natural gas, a pipeline that would open access to huge supplies in Alaska is facing problems in Congress in a dispute over how much of the $20 billion project taxpayers should underwrite.

The proposed pipeline, which would stretch 3,600 miles from Alaska's North Slope through parts of Canada to the Midwest, would deliver 4.5 billion cubic feet of gas a day, about 8 percent of what the country now produces. When finished in 2013, it would help ease expectations of a dwindling supply of the fuel at a time when demand is expected to grow sharply, energy experts say.

But Alaska officials and several oil companies interested in building the pipeline want Congress to provide a package of tax incentives and loan guarantees to ease concerns about the project on Wall Street.

However, some key House Republicans and the White House oppose the size of the tax breaks being discussed as part of a broad energy bill nearing completion. Disagreements over the pipeline subsidies were among several issues Wednesday that stalled progress on the energy bill, according to lawmakers involved in the talks.
(snip/...)

http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/4069482p-4088098c.html