This Year’s Energy Bill– Not Half Bad
As much as we complain about this congress, there’ve been some small-to-medium victories that we shouldn’t take for granted. Most recently, the House hammered out a compromise energy bill which, though not as good as it can be, it does verily kick the crap out of the oil industry welfare that was in past energy bills. What does it have? From the NY Times (h/t MyDD):
Congressional negotiators reached a deal late Friday on energy legislation that would force American automakers to improve the fuel efficiency of their cars and light trucks by 40 percent by 2020.
[...]The latest version of the measure, if it becomes law, will force wrenching changes on the American car companies, from design studios to new-car showrooms to executive suites. Automakers now have to achieve 27.5 miles per gallon on cars, a figure that has not changed since 1984, and 22.2 miles per gallon for light trucks, including minivans, sport utility vehicles and pickups. Under the compromise, the companies will retain the distinction between the classes of vehicles, but must still meet a combined 35 m.p.g. fleetwide standard.
[...]
The package will also include a requirement that most electric utilities produce 15 percent of their power from renewable sources, like wind and solar, by 2020.
MyDD’s Jonathan Singer does a good job of pointing out some of the good things this congress has done:
So while this deal doesn’t appear to be perfect, and its passage wouldn’t likely lessen the unhappiness of those who want above all to see change in Iraq (or those unhappy about FISA or whatever else), it does underscore an important point: Far from being a “Do Nothing Congress,” as was the case with the 109th, this new Democratic Congress is continuing to bring some much needed change, including (but not limited to) an increase to the minimum wage, the enactment of the 9/11 Commission recommendations, a boost in student loans and now (potentially) serious energy reform.
With Bush Dog Dems allowing Bush to govern with an effective conservative majority, it’s amazing what good stuff the Dems have been able to get passed in spite of that. Just whetting my appetite for a government with not just more, but better Dems.
Dems like, I dunno, Eric Massa, Jon Powers, Dan Maffei, maybe?
While this bill is a step in the right direction, I can see that it also falls far short of what other countries are doing and what this country needs. A forty percent increase in a 13 year time period? Good, but we can do better, and we should have done better.
Anyway, lets see if our very own John R. Kuhl returns from Brazil and actually does something to improve the country’s energy independence. My money is betting that he does nothing on this issue. I applaud RT for bringing up the issue of Kuhl’s trip. When he returns, we need to keep his feet to the fire to make sure that the money was well spent and results in actual policy changes by all of the Congressmen on the trip.