Global Warming News

Key Tests To Come On Arctic Refuge Protection And Sound Energy Policy

As the new home of Illinois PIRG's environmental work, Environment Illinois can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release.

Senator Durbin goes to the head of the class with his votes so far on a national energy bill, according to an energy report card released today by a coalition of environmental groups. Senator Durbin earned a "B" grade and Senator Fitzgerald a "C" in the evaluation.

"With key tests yet to come on drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, protecting families and other energy policies, the Senate has so far failed to make the grade for a smarter, cleaner and more secure energy future," said Brian Metcalf, Environmental Associate for the Illinois Public Interest Research Group (Illinois PIRG). "Senator Durbin earns high honors for his leadership on increased miles-per-gallon standards and to increase the renewables portion of energy production."

"The energy bill is unacceptable in its current form. As it stands now, the Senate energy bill does nearly nothing to reduce our consumption of foreign oil, to increase our energy security, to protect families from electricity price gouging, or to safeguard our environment," said Jennifer Johnson, Conservation Organizer for the Sierra Club.

At a minimum, forward-thinking energy legislation should reduce consumption of oil by at least one million barrels a day, guarantee that at least 10 percent of electricity supplies come from new, clean, renewable energy, cut subsidies to polluting energy sources, ensure a reliable and consumer-friendly electric system, reduce pollution to our air, land and water, and safeguard the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other wild places, said the groups.

The groups releasing the report card, including Illinois PIRG, Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and the Natural Resources Defense Council, called on Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald to oppose efforts to drill in our last pristine wilderness areas, in particular the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and block further attempts to pollute this bill with special interest handouts. The groups also called on Illinois' senators to ensure that any energy bill that emerges from the Senate solves, rather than exacerbates, our nation's overall energy problems.

With a vote on drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other energy issues expected when the Senate returns from their spring recess, the coalition highlighted the following amendments in evaluating the Senate's progress on energy policy:

• Polluting Sources of Energy: Despite the fact that no sound solution exists for dealing with deadly radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, the Senate voted 78 to 21 on an amendment by Senator Voinovich (R-OH) to extend the life of dirty and dangerous nuclear power by using taxpayer dollars to extend liability insurance to the industry in case of a catastrophic nuclear accident. It also unanimously passed an amendment by Senator Craig (R-ID) to use taxpayer dollars to construct new nuclear plants by 2010.
  
  
• Automobile Miles-Per-Gallon Standards (CAFE): By a vote of 62-38, the Senate passed an amendment offered by Senators Levin (D-MI) and Bond (R-MO) to strip the only provision to significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil-increased fuel economy standards. Here in Illinois, consumers would have saved $155 million at the gas pump every year from vehicles that went further on a gallon of gasoline. The amendment also compromises public safety by striking vehicle safety standards from the energy bill. Another amendment by Senator Miller (D-GA) actually weakens current law by creating a new loophole that exempts pickup trucks from any future increases in fuel economy standards. Senator Durbin championed increased miles-per-gallon standards and lead an effort to keep them in the bill. In sharp contrast, Senator Fitzgerald voted to strip the increased miles-per-gallon standards from the bill.
  
  
• Renewable Energy Standards: By a vote of 70-29, the Senate rejected an amendment by Senator Jeffords (I-VT) to increase the percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources to 20 percent by 2020, passing up a golden opportunity to create jobs and protect the environment. Illinois PIRG's research shows that here in Illinois, we have the potential to generate 88 percent of our electricity from clean renewable energy. Senators later rejected efforts by Senator Kyl (R-AZ) and Murkowski (R-AK) to strip or gut the renewable portfolio standard in the underlying bill, but accepted an amendment by Senator Bingaman (D-NM) that weakens the renewable standard and could encourage more toxic mercury-emitting garbage incinerators and logging in our national forests. Both Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald displayed leadership on these amendments, voting for the Jeffords amendment and against the Kyl amendment.
  
  
• Weaken Drinking Water Protections: Senators Bingaman (D-NM) and Inhofe (R-OK) offered an amendment that weakens Safe Drinking Water Act requirements in order to expand oil and gas exploration and development. One of the techniques used in drilling wells for oil and gas exploration and extraction is injection of water, sand and toxic chemicals, which can pollute underground sources of drinking water. In effect, the Bingaman-Inhofe amendment blocks regulation of this dangerous practice for the duration of new studies and potentially permanently, despite the fact that the courts have ruled that environmental protections should be put in place. Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald supported safe drinking water in votes against the amendment.