Greenzone Online

A bi-partisan group, dubbed the “Gang of Ten”, through compromise and the swallowing of a little partisan pride, has come up with proposed legislation that most Americans can support and is really good news for the environment. And it actually might do everything it’s intended to do: reduce our need for foreign oil, reduce gas prices, and build a stronger economy.

Democrats may not get their way for a “wind-fall” profits tax on oil companies, but the plan still calls for the elimination of $30 billion in oil company tax breaks. Republicans will not get to drill in Anwr, but they will still get to drill 50 miles or more off the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. And though a lot of environmentalists will not be happy with the legislation’s call for the speedy development of nuclear and liquid coal plants, at least the liquid coal plants will only be allowed if they capture their carbon emissions.

This new environmental policy should be aggressive enough to please the most avid environmentalists. It calls for $20 billion to be spent over a 10 year period to transition 85% of American cars and trucks to use something other than gas or diesel in the next 20 years. At the same time, this bill calls for strong conservation provisions, generous consumer tax credits, and for all domestically produced energy resources to stay in the United States. It even calls for the establishment of a National Commission to help overcome any obstacles to reaching it’s ambitious goals.

This is a serious bill and it should develop a ground swell of support from consumers all accross the political spectrum, leaving our politicians with little choice but to embrace the legislation. After all, swallowing a little partisan pride is good for the country. Our representatives in Washington should all do more of it.