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Secure America's Future with Clean, Renewable Energy
On April 21, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.6, a comprehensive energy bill. In its current form, the legislation provides $8.1 billion in tax breaks primarily for the oil and gas industries. It calls for drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, does little to promote conservation, fails to set stricter fuel efficiency standards for new cars and trucks, and offers few incentives for research and development of alternative, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydrogen and geothermal. The bill now goes to the Senate for revisions and a final vote. Your help is needed to convince the Senate to craft a better bill.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
The Comprehensive Energy Bill (H.R.6) recently passed by the House of Representatives does little to secure our energy future but a lot to line the pockets of big oil, an industry already enjoying record profits. The Senate can and should change that. The bill, as proposed, provides $8.1 billion in tax breaks, primarily for the traditional oil and gas industry. This begs the question: When oil is selling for over $50 dollars per barrel, why does the industry need taxpayer-funded incentives to explore for oil and gas? If we are to succeed in reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil over the long term, we must implement conservation strategies and invest heavily in clean, renewable energy sources. The easiest and least expensive way to conserve is to increase the fuel efficiency standards for new cars and trucks and promote mass transit. Incentives such as tax credits and deductions must also be provided for development of and investment in clean, renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, hydrogen, geothermal, methane gas, and hybrid technologies. We can't drill our way out of this energy problem. Putting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the California coast, and the Gulf coast of Florida at risk in order to delay the inevitable demise of fossil fuels as our primary energy source is short-sighted and endangers the security of America. Please help secure America's future by passing a comprehensive energy bill that strongly promotes conservation, invests in clean, renewable energy now, and protects the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from drilling.
Sincerely, |
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| Background Information |
H.R.6 is a bad bill that promotes old-fashioned, outmoded energy production. If allowed to become law, it will make air and water pollution worse, intensify the climate crisis, and increase the demand for oil. It will make America more dependent on fossil fuels, not less. In addition, it gives away our hard-earned tax dollars to energy companies already enjoying record profits from $50 per barrel oil.
By giving most of the tax breaks to the oil and gas industry, it provides few incentives for development of clean, renewable energy resources, and energy conservation and efficiency programs.
In spite of claims to the contrary, we cannot drill our way out of this problem. Do the math -- while using 25% of the world's oil output we have less than 3% of the oil reserves remaining in the world. No amount of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the coast of California, or the Gulf coast of Florida will make us energy self-sufficient.
The bill also allows the makers of MTBE, a toxic gasoline additive that is polluting groundwater across the country, to walk away from the cleanup costs and leave the states to foot the bill.
The legislation also increases our dependence on oil by failing to raise the fuel efficiency standards for new cars and trucks, and does little to promote energy conservation -- the simplest solution to our problems.
We should not pass up this opportunity to create a common sense, balanced energy policy that fulfills our energy needs by promoting sustainable, renewable energy technology while conserving irrreplaceable landscapes and wildlife habitat. A vision for a viable, secure energy future will not be found by looking in the rear view mirror as this bill does. We can and must do better.