| Yes, the US should be held to a higher environmental | | | | suggested Green Budget, but one would suspect |
| standard than the rest of the world. We have | | | | that the Green Budget is closer to our needs if we |
| benefited from a superior economic growth powered | | | | wish to assume a leadership role in environmental |
| by consumption of a major share of the world's fossil | | | | standards. |
| fuels, causing a major share of the world's | | | | Climate change is the major issue within the Congress |
| environmental pollution. We are technically equipped | | | | and should present a major showdown on the |
| to lead toward a higher environmental standard. | | | | proposed energy budget. Democrats and Republicans |
| Currently, however, it would be a major challenge for | | | | in both the House and Senate are drafting major bills |
| the US to assume this leadership role. We will have to | | | | to reduce greenhouse gas emission through "cap and |
| wait for a new administration that, hopefully, will | | | | trade" systems. These bills would make billions of |
| want this role for us. | | | | dollars to stimulate development of cleaner energy |
| The Bush administration has continued to reject | | | | sources. The major presidential contenders for the |
| actions to reduce global warming pollution. It has | | | | upcoming election, Democratic Senators Clinton and |
| refused to require cuts in heat-trapping carbon | | | | Obama and Republican Senator McCain, also support |
| dioxide pollution, significantly raise fuel economy | | | | the "cap and trade" systems. In addition, Senator |
| requirements, or hold companies accountable for | | | | Clinton wants to tighten fuel economy standards |
| improving their energy efficiency using wind, solar and | | | | more than Congress did last year so that an average |
| other renewable energy sources. In his final FY2009 | | | | vehicle will go 55 miles per gallon by 2030. Senator |
| budget request, President Bush accurately reflected | | | | McCain sees nuclear power as a big part of the |
| his administration's low priority for environmental help. | | | | environmental pollution solution. |
| Again, President Bush stripped critical funds protecting | | | | Aggressive environmental leadership should emerge |
| America's communities and natural resources, and | | | | from the upcoming Presidential election. However, it |
| instead rewarded dirty industries. All of this followed | | | | will take the strong and concerted efforts of the |
| his State of the Union Address touting his | | | | future President and Congress to move the USA to |
| commitment to advance clean, renewable resources | | | | the forefront of environmental standards. There is a |
| and reduce dependence on oil. A quote from | | | | great watershed between the mainstream |
| President Bush' speech on energy was "The United | | | | technologies that make up the modern energy |
| States is committed to strengthening our energy | | | | industry and the newer "clean" technologies that |
| security and confronting global climate change. And | | | | offer an alternative, low carbon path to the future. |
| the best way to meet these goals is for America to | | | | This watershed encompasses costs, technology, |
| continue leading the way toward the development of | | | | maturity and scale of existing energy infrastructure. |
| cleaner and more energy-efficient technology". | | | | It is not enough to ask our new president to lead us |
| Despite the president's more aggressive statements | | | | into a new role of energy leadership. With today's |
| on fighting climate change, his budget request would | | | | known conditions, there are two immediate future |
| reduce funding for energy efficiency and renewable | | | | major hurdles that will have to be overcome to |
| energy such as wind, solar, etc. The president gets | | | | continue to a leadership role. The first hurdle is the |
| much of that reduction by slashing funding from $280 | | | | slowing of the US economy. We suspect that the |
| million to $60 million for low-income households to | | | | economy will slow and possibly go into recession in |
| "weatherize" their homes with new windows, better | | | | late 2008 and 2009. This poor economy could slow |
| insulation and other efforts. | | | | investments into renewable energies and postpone |
| As a frame of reference, the Green Budget, which is | | | | the momentum that the US currently has in adopting |
| used in Congress' budget deliberations, recommends | | | | renewable energy. |
| a FY2009 Weatherization budget of $300 million | | | | The second hurdle is congress' failure to renew |
| dollars. On average, the Department of Energy has | | | | energy-incentive tax credits that lapse at the end of |
| stated that weatherization reduces heating bills by 31 | | | | 2008. A new economic study by Navigant Consulting |
| percent and overall energy bills by $358 per year. | | | | finds that over 116,000 US jobs and nearly $19 billion |
| The total 2009 request for Office of Energy | | | | in US investments could be lost in just one year if |
| Efficiency and Renewable Energy, a major | | | | energy tax credits are not renewed by Congress. |
| Department of Energy agency, is $1.255 billion, a 27 | | | | It is a full agenda for a new President just to position |
| percent cut from the 2008 level of $1.722 billion. The | | | | the United States to account for and reduce its own |
| Green Budget recommendation for the Office of | | | | environmental pollution. To achieve a leadership role |
| Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is $81 Billion | | | | would be a great accomplishment and one that I |
| Dollars. One would anticipate major differences | | | | hope that we will witness. |
| between the President's requested budget and the | | | | |