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None of the coal, oil, natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal or other interests involved in the energy business is completely happy with the legislation signed Monday by President Bush.
Bush claims the massive $14.5 billion energy bill, which he initiated in 2001 as part of his energy plan, points the country in the direction of reducing its dependence on foreign oil. Credit the president for putting money into alternative sources of energy and earmarking billions for new electricity generation and power transmission. It spreads a lot of money in tax breaks and subsidies to a lot of energy producers.
But does it go far enough fast enough to curb our consumption of foreign oil? Probably not.
It's estimated the U.S. by 2025 the U.S. will be importing 68 percent of this country's oil needs. A decade ago, the U.S. imported 45 percent of its oil needs. That means dealing with potentially hostile countries for many years to come. Even Saudi Arabia, which this country is inextricably tied to for oil, is no fan of democracy. The day this country can thumb its nose at OPEC is the day Americans are truly energy self sufficient.
The energy bill has some pluses in it, such as incentives for use of cleaner burning coal, tax credits for renewable energy production, and up to $3,400 in tax credits for purchasers of the new hybrid cars. A proposed extension of Daylight Savings Time starting in 2007 will reduce power consumption. The bill also requires the nation's gas suppliers to use more ethanol made from primarily corn, a boon to this country's farmers.
Critics who say the bill doesn't do enough to curb fossil fuel use are unhappy with the billions in tax breaks and subsidies for big oil and gas contained in the bill. They also say the legislation doesn't do enough to address global warming or force automakers to produce more fuel-efficient cars.
Here in Nevada, especially Churchill County, we're happy to see the leasing process for geothermal production has been simplified in the energy bill. State and local governments will see a more favorable royalty arrangement for geothermal development on public land. According to Congressman Jim Gibbons' office, counties will share in 25 percent of geothermal royalty payments.
At 1,724 pages, the energy bill is big and some might say bloated to the point it doesn't move quick enough to achieve energy independence for America.
We say it's a move in the right direction.
Bush claims the massive $14.5 billion energy bill, which he initiated in 2001 as part of his energy plan, points the country in the direction of reducing its dependence on foreign oil. Credit the president for putting money into alternative sources of energy and earmarking billions for new electricity generation and power transmission. It spreads a lot of money in tax breaks and subsidies to a lot of energy producers.
But does it go far enough fast enough to curb our consumption of foreign oil? Probably not.
It's estimated the U.S. by 2025 the U.S. will be importing 68 percent of this country's oil needs. A decade ago, the U.S. imported 45 percent of its oil needs. That means dealing with potentially hostile countries for many years to come. Even Saudi Arabia, which this country is inextricably tied to for oil, is no fan of democracy. The day this country can thumb its nose at OPEC is the day Americans are truly energy self sufficient.
The energy bill has some pluses in it, such as incentives for use of cleaner burning coal, tax credits for renewable energy production, and up to $3,400 in tax credits for purchasers of the new hybrid cars. A proposed extension of Daylight Savings Time starting in 2007 will reduce power consumption. The bill also requires the nation's gas suppliers to use more ethanol made from primarily corn, a boon to this country's farmers.
Critics who say the bill doesn't do enough to curb fossil fuel use are unhappy with the billions in tax breaks and subsidies for big oil and gas contained in the bill. They also say the legislation doesn't do enough to address global warming or force automakers to produce more fuel-efficient cars.
Here in Nevada, especially Churchill County, we're happy to see the leasing process for geothermal production has been simplified in the energy bill. State and local governments will see a more favorable royalty arrangement for geothermal development on public land. According to Congressman Jim Gibbons' office, counties will share in 25 percent of geothermal royalty payments.
At 1,724 pages, the energy bill is big and some might say bloated to the point it doesn't move quick enough to achieve energy independence for America.
We say it's a move in the right direction.
