Energy Bill Blues: A Criticism

My good friend and colleague from the MVCA, Brian Duffy, has a piece up wherein he laments the recently signed in to law Energy Bill. Brian has a laundry list of items he finds concern with in the law...

* The cost: $11.5 billion.

We have to weigh the cost versus the benefit. Energy isn't free and we have long neglected this vital part of American infrastructure.

* It does not include oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

ANWR will be attached to a bill that can't be filibustered and which the Democrats will vote for regardless. It will be part of the budget.

* It does not reduce dependence on foreign oil.

This one is kind of interesting because follwoing this criticism is a list of alternative energy that would indeed reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

* It nearly doubles ethanol production.

* It provides new subsidies and tax breaks for solar, wind, geothermal and nuclear power.

Which brings us to this strange bit:

* Almost nothing found in the bill to foster nuclear power.

What are subsidies if not an incentive?

Moving on...

* It strengthens the nation's energy grid in order to avoid the kind of blackouts. (how it does this is anyone guest)

I suspect this is homeland security jargon as there is a section devoted to threats to nuclear facilities. Although, all the attention to alternative energy measures and other research and development of existing technologies is scattered throughout the bill. (Chapter II of Title IX is as good a place to start as any.) Any one of which would enhance the nation's energy grid.

* Extends daylight saving time by a month.

I hate this as much as the next guy, but really, what's the beef with this?

* Takes authority away from States and ensures complete federal authority to approve liquified natural gas import terminals.

We finally get a solid conservative argument. I'm with Brian on this one...unless somebody can find a compelling reason for the feds to take control.

* Mandates new conservation measures for dishwashers, refrigerators, clothes washers. (this means tiny European appliances for us in the future)

The provision that Brian refers to is Title I, Subtitle C, and is about new products. The government isn't going to come in and take away your refrigerator, Brian.

* Directs the testing requirements for ceiling fans and ceiling fanlight kits, as well as (together with energy conservation standards for) refrigerated bottled or canned beverage vending machines, commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers; and definitions and test procedures for the power use of battery chargers and external power supplies.

Same section. See above... They aren't coming for your ceiling fans either...

I'm about halfway through Brian's list...and I've seen one thing that should bother conservatives. Seriously, take a look at the bill...it just doesn't look that bad to me...

Here is Brian's conclusion:

This is just scratching the surface, but the bottom line is whether you are a Democrat or Republican, Liberal or Conservative, you were on the losing side; and the taxpayer lost once again. Who won: the Federal government, the federal bureaucracy and private industries won.

I thought we were FOR private industries...

I'm just not convinced this was a bad bill, Brian...