High Prices Make Energy Bill Likely

[LiviaOlivia]

March 21, 2004
By REUTERS
Filed at 10:39 p.m. ET

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - High energy prices make the passage of a comprehensive energy bill more likely, the chairman of the U.S. House energy and commerce committee said on Sunday. The bill, supported by President Bush, needs the agreement of only two more senators to bring it before the full Senate for consideration, said Rep. Joe Barton, a Texas Republican.

"I think the chances are pretty good," Barton said to reporters after a speech to the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA). "Most energy prices are near to all-time highs. Sooner or later people are going to say, 'You know, we have a bill that would do something about that.'"

<snip>

The bill includes a protection for makers of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) against lawsuits claiming the pollution-reducing petrochemical additive is a defective product.

Most states have banned the use of MTBE because it has been found to cause groundwater contamination, leading to lawsuits against refiners. The energy bill would also increase the production of ethanol, a pollution-reducing alcohol made from grain, to 5 billion gallons (22.7 billion liters) a year.

<snip>



http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-energy-usa-barton.html

[Lithos]

1. So this is blackmail by the oil companies?

We articificially raise the price of gas if you don't pass what we like?

[theoceansnerves]

2. this is exactly

what i was just thinking.

[ochazuke]

3. Kill two birds with one stone

Jack up the prices to create a sense of crisis, pass the horrible energy bill, then drop the prices like a rock to delight the SUV guzzlers and boost consumer confidence, win the election, conquer world.

What a plan!

[Florida_Geek]

6. Problem being these people are greedy

And if they get what they want, sure they will drop the price maybe 1/3 of what they raised it and the SUV sheep will be happy.

[mbperrin]

8. They'll promise to drop, but won't.

These people have been doing this for 30 years+.

Remember how they got everyone to pump their own gas in order to save us money? And killed full service?

That's why no way in hell do I use the self-service check out counters appearing in several major retailers.

[mrdmk]

13. Good one!

I never used them because I did not want to bother learning how to use one. More useless knowledge.

[prolesunited]

9. That was exactly what I was thinking

Certainly seems like extortion to me. Is there any way we can bring a case against them under RICO laws? I'm serious here.

Funny thing is they convinced many to go into Iraq for a cheap source of oil. Look what happened there. I've even heard people talk about taking Saudi Arabia for the same reason.

Hey, what's OUR oil doing under your sand? :mad: :mad:

[mrdmk]

4. The Oil Companies did the same thing in 1978-79

to Jimmy Carter. Of course were oil was over $1.00 per gallon there was no gasoline shortage. In California at that time the cost of a gallon of gas was regulated. Guess what, there was a shortage and raising prices for all petro products. This is more of the same with our corporate government at work.

[w4rma]

5. This bill is anti-environment and a diversion of resources to big oil (nt)

[truthisfreedom]

7. from what i understand of ethanol, it REDUCES efficiency of the entire

infrastructure because it takes more energy to produce than it delivers in octane units. anyone else familiar with this? i think all of the support from ethanol has been focussed on helping American farmers, which isn't a bad thing, but if ethanol is really hurting the environment more than helping it, i think the emphasis should be shifted away, not toward, this approach.

[74dodgedart]

10. maybe true of ethanol, but not biodiesel

www.biodiesel.org

send your money to Amercian farmers, not OPEC

[74dodgedart]

11. Maybe hybrids aren't such a bad idea after all....

To bad the US car makers missed the boat on hybrids..Once again the Japan beats Detroit to the punch.

[DBoon]

12. So we invade Japan

to ensure our supply of hybrids?

[mrdmk]

14. Electric Vehicles

<snip>
Eventually, a core group of Anaheimers used the NEVs religiously. In 10 months, there was never an accident, users took care of the vehicles, no one vandalized them, and none broke down because—other than batteries and brakes—nothing needs replacing on electric cars. And unlike the models sold on car lots, these vehicles could plug into standard electrical outlets.
<snip>

Unlike hybrids or and other type of engine there are fewer moving parts in an electric car, truck or bus, thus less things to go wrong and when they do, they cost less to fix. The electric cars will not be put onto the market because the auto manufactures are not making any money per say on the backside. There needs to be some arm twisting for these cars to be on the market.

These cars would be great for short range trips. The short range trips for instance are shopping, dropping off children at school, going to a friends house, maybe to work. How much money would the energy companies and auto manufactures loose if people discovered how practical this transportation really is. Not to mention most of the cars that are being used can exceed 70 mph. I would love it.

[mrdmk]

16. Oops, forgot the link

http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/03/36/cover-coker.php

[JetCityLiberal]

15. Must be time for another tax cut

With a new energy bill that will help all of b*sh's buddies make higher profits another tax cut must be around the corner. :puke:

High energy prices make everything more expensive.

JetCityLiberal