Dingell aims to cut American oil habit

[jpak]

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061111/BIZ/611110326/1005

<snip>

n the catbird seat - perhaps the hot seat - is Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., who again becomes chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a post he held before the Republicans took control of Congress.

<snip>

Likely to get attention:

# Alternative fuels. Look for moves to extend tax benefits to wind and solar power and for producing so-called biomass fuels, such as ethanol.

# Big Oil subsidies. "We'll take a look," Dingell said.

# Conservation. "If you went through the (1973-74) Arab oil embargo, as I did, we found that ... failing to be prepared and have good conservation practices was hideously costly," Dingell said.

<not much more>

[roamer65]

1. He's my representative and I plan...

to let him know I want him to make good on these promises. I still have his lawn sign and Gov. Granholm's on my front lawn.:evilgrin:

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Awesome!

[gulfcoastliberal]

3. NPR said Dingell would protective of "big 3" concerns...

And not too interested in cutting CO2 or raising CAFE because of that.

[YankeyMCC]

4. I heard him on NPR say

that he's not inteterested in raising CAFE standards.

[hatrack]

5. So in other words it's time to praise technology and call for voluntary programs

And this differs from Bush . . . how?

[YankeyMCC]

6. Exactly my concern

I don't expect him to be as clueless as Pombo perhaps but it does seem clear we still can't expect our 'leaders' to do all that is necessary.

[jpak]

7. Tax incentives/disincentives could circumvent CAFE standards

Taxation falls under different House committees and Dem leadership could do some arm twisting too...

[JohnWxy]

9. I think you can count on seeing actual legislation incentivising development of

alternative sources of energy coming from the new congress. the Auto industry hasn't consistently given 70%-80% of the campaign contributions to Repubs for nothing. Democrats are more inclined to enact legislation in the public interest even if it causes increased costs to private industry in the short run (which are recovered in the purchase price).

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?Ind=M02

[nam78_two]

8. "good conservation practices"

Why what an alien concept :)-when you can just drill in all the protected areas in this country!

k&r