12/18/07

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jay Natoli, (202) 785-8683 or jay_natoli@lcv.org

New Year’s Resolutions: Cut Tax Subsidies for Big Oil and Pass Federal Renewable Electricity Standard

WASHINGTON, DC - League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski issued the following statement regarding the House’s  passage of the energy bill:

“We applaud the U.S. House and Senate  for passing a much-needed energy bill. We especially commend Speaker Pelosi  and Majority Leader Reid for their leadership on this forward-looking  legislation. Most significantly, this bill, which President Bush has promised  to sign, increases fuel efficiency standards for our automobiles to 35 miles  per gallon by 2020. Its passage marks the first time in 32 years that  lawmakers have acted to raise fuel mileage standards, and it will  significantly reduce Americans’ oil consumption and our dependence on  imports.
 
“However, due to opposition from a minority of senators, the bill was stripped of a provision that would have required that 15 percent  of our electricity come from clean, renewable energy sources by 2020. And we  are disappointed that at a time when the oil industry is enjoying near-$100  per barrel oil and record profits, a minority of senators also rejected an  attempt to repeal billions of dollars in tax giveaways to Big Oil and invest  that money instead in clean, renewable energy for the  future.
 
“These are critical issues that must be addressed as soon  as possible if we are to meet the challenge of combating global climate change  with responsible legislation that is good for jobs, good for the economy, good  for national security, good for the consumer and good for our planet.  
 
“As lawmakers head home for the holidays, we urge them to  remember ’tis the season for New Year’s resolutions. Here’s ours: LCV will  continue to fight for a comprehensive approach to addressing global warming in  future legislation, plus work to elect a pro-environment President and more pro-environment lawmakers who will side with the planet and future generations over the interests of Big  Oil.”
 

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The nonprofit League of Conservation Voters  (LCV) is the independent political voice for the environment. To secure the  environmental future of our planet, LCV’s mission is to advocate for sound  environmental policies and to elect pro-environmental candidates who will  adopt and implement such  policies.