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