Dems Push “Energy Independence” Bill
Legislation introduced in the House by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) would make the oil-rich 1.2 million-acre coastal strip of Alaska a permanently protected wilderness and end repeated efforts to open the area east of the Prudhoe oil field to energy companies. Markey called the bill a small, first step toward total energy independence for America.
“Getting more energy leads to using more energy,” Markey observed. “We need to break the cycle of dependency. This bill helps start the weaning process.”
Markey has introduced similar legislation in each of the last three congressional sessions only to see the effort die in the Senate. This time, with Democrats in the majority and a number of moderate Republicans on record as opposed to drilling, Markey believes he has a good chance.
Markey disputed critics who maintain that increasing domestic sources of oil will lead to energy independence. “These people don’t get the big picture,” Markey said. “They think that ‘energy independence’ means America won’t be depending on foreign oil. They’re wrong. True energy independence will only come when we learn to live without it.”
Markey has the backing of environmentalist groups that want the new Congress to reject policies encouraging more domestic energy production. Instead, these groups want to discourage energy production and consumption of coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear power. “These things should stay in the ground where nature intended,” said Sandy Beech, spokeswoman for the Environmental Defense Fund.
While acknowledging that his dream won’t come overnight, Markey said he is confident that people will embrace the idea of returning to a ‘hunter-gatherer’ lifestyle. “Instead of being stuck in traffic driving to a 9-5 job, people will roam the wilderness hunting for game and collecting fruits,” Markey said. “They’ll get more exercise. They’ll eat less fat. They’ll live as nature intended our species to live.”
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Did Jimmah give you his sweater to go along with that ... er....ah...stuff?