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