West TX Congressmen Neugebauer and Stenholm Push Energy Plan in Wake of Northeast Blackout

Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 09-09-03 | Fuquay, John

[Theodore R.]

Energy plan gets local push By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

A pair of West Texas congressmen are hoping last month's catastrophic blackout in the Northeast will open the door for a comprehensive energy policy that will benefit West Texas and other domestic oil production.

U.S. Rep. Randy Neuge bauer, R-Lubbock, said Monday that he believes controversial drilling in the Arctic National Wild life Refuge (ANWR) will be tied to an energy bill, which, he said, would lessen dependence on foreign oil.

"The House is currently conferencing that bill on some of the more noncontroversial issues to get some agreement on that, and then we'll tackle some of the more controversial issues, which will certainly include ANWR," he said.

"The president and House think that ANWR is a doable deal; that there are tremendous resources there and that it can been done safely and not damage the environment."

A comprehensive energy plan has long been a goal of Republicans and Democrats in Washington. But familiar party differences have slowed the process.

Republicans favor drilling in Alaska and relying on other sources of fuel, such as nuclear and, someday, hydrogen.

Democrats, meanwhile, cite environmental risks associated with new drilling and some alternative fuels. Instead, many Democrats want more stringent regulations placed on utilities that, they believe, should improve reliability and benefit consumers. They believe grid reliability should be addressed separately from a comprehensive energy plan.

The energy debate heated up three years ago when California utilities ran out of money to buy power from generating companies. The federal government stepped in and mandated the generating companies continue selling to the utilities.

The issue gained new life last month in an energy crisis on the other side of the country.

A failure at an Ohio electric plant triggered blackouts across a power grid that stretched from Michigan to New York and into Canada.

An analysis by the National Energy Regulatory Commission revealed that power grids in many parts of the country are susceptible to similar massive failures.

"I am cautiously optimistic we'll get an energy bill passed this fall," Neugebauer said.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, has been appointed to serve on the conference committee responsible for reconciling different versions of energy legislation passed in the House and Senate.

"We are in a unique position in America where this Congress and this president need to come together to enact a balanced energy policy that ensures reliable and affordable energy for everyone," Stenholm said in a prepared statement.

"My hope is that we now will be able to separate the wheat from the chaff and eventually enact meaningful legislation to stabilize the oil and gas industry in West Texas, without busting the budget in the process."

In another budgetary matter, Neugebauer said he supports President Bush's plan to seek $87 billion from Congress next year to continue the war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I think the president is absolutely right. The question isn't, 'Can we afford this?' I think the question is, 'Can we afford not to finish what we started?' I think our security as well as security and stability in Middle East depend on it."

With next year's deficit already projected at a record $480 billion, Neugebauer said a temporary spending shortfall can be justified if it's to achieve national and world security.

"The deficit, in perspective to gross national product, is a smaller deficit than we had in the past," Neugebauer said. "I'm concerned, and it's not something that's popular right now, but it's part of a strategy to bring stability to our country and the world.

"As the economy picks up, which it is, I think you'll see the deficit begin to shrink."

jfuquay@lubbockonline.com 766-8722

[Theodore R.]

Stenholm and Neugebauer could be forced into the same district if a long pending Republican redistricting plan ever becomes law. Many West TX Reublicans, who have historically supported the Democrat Stenholm, are therefore opposing the redistricting plan.