California Conservative

This is the Sierra Club’s official statement praising Ms. Pelosi’s latest non-energy energy plan. This statement leaves no doubt what Ms. Pelosi’s goal is in offering another version of the DRILL Act.

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director

“No one is more committed to clean energy solutions than Nancy Pelosi.

“The upcoming debate in Congress will allow the truth to come out, that offshore drilling won’t lower gas prices today, tomorrow, or a even a decade from now and will simply benefit Big Oil’s bottom line instead of helping hardworking Americans.

“The new legislation that Speaker Pelosi has outlined includes crucial clean energy solutions and other important measures that will make America more energy independent, offer consumers relief at the pump, and will force drilling supporters to admit whether they really want to move America forward or simply want to continue helping the oil companies.”

Mr. Pope’s language is clear: he thinks that drilling is bad for the environment and that it won’t help “hardworking Americans.” Mr. Pope, along with the Sierra Club, is certain that drilling won’t lower prices at the pump.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Gary Pecquet and Morris Coats know better. So does the Energy Journal. So does the average American consumer.

Mr. Pope has since issued another statement condemning House Republican Leader John Boehner’s Washington Times op-ed:

“Over the weekend Sierra Club stated that Speaker Pelosi’s new compromise energy legislation ‘will force drilling supporters to admit whether they really want to move America forward or simply want to continue helping the oil companies.’ Boehner’s hysterical response to Pelosi’s plan tells us exactly where he stands before any votes have even been cast. We now have proof positive that Boehner has chosen Big Oil over hard working Americans.

“Despite months of complaining and political stunts, Boehner and his allies are now refusing to fast-track comprehensive energy legislation. Taking a cue from arch-conservatives Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich, they oppose a compromise plan that will support renewable energy, give consumers real relief at the pump, put America on the true path to energy independence, and take back billions in government giveaways to Big Oil. So much for ‘all of the above.’

“They held the Congress hostage and blocked measure after measure while gas prices soared. Now they want to stop yet another comprehensive energy bill that would deal with our energy crisis because they think it will help them win an election. Their bluff has been called and now all they have to rely is overheated and inaccurate rhetoric to defend their indefensible blockade against real energy solutions. They’ll do—or say—anything to protect Big Oil and the billions in government giveaways it continues to receive while we pay record prices at the pump.

“Boehner is complaining that renewable energy, common sense policies that will bring immediate relief at the pump, and taking away billions in government giveaways from Big Oil are ‘poison pills.’ Boehner and other ‘none of the above’ supporters will find out soon enough that opposing clean energy and being in the pocket of Big Oil is what’s really poisonous.”

Mr. Pope’s statement is riddled with inacuracies. Here’s the most blatant inaccuracy:

“They held the Congress hostage and blocked measure after measure while gas prices soared.”

FACT: Congress did nothing while gas prices soared. When gas was $2.22 a gallon, the Hosue voted to congratulate the UC-Santa Barbara Soccer Team. When gas hit $3.03 a gallon, Pelosi’s House voted to congratulate the Houston Dynamo soccer team. When gas hit $3.77 a gallon, they voted for National Train Day. When gas hit $4.09 a gallon, they voted to commemorate the International Year of Sanitation.

Mr. Pope also asserts that “Boehner has chosen Big Oil over hard working Americans.” That’s a pile of BS. He’s realized that hard working Americans won’t get a break at the pump if ‘Big Oil’ doesn’t increase output.

Here’s another inaccuracy:

“Despite months of complaining and political stunts, Boehner and his allies are now refusing to fast-track comprehensive energy legislation.”

I’d love to hear Mr. Pope explain which efficiency and conservation provisions in the AEA he opposes.

To promote renewable and alternative energy technologies, the legislation will:

• Spur the development of alternative fuels through government contracting by repealing the “Section 526” prohibition on government purchasing of alternative energy and promoting coal-to-liquids technology, as proposed in H.R. 5656 by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), in H.R. 6384 by Rob Bishop (R-UT), and in H.R. 2208 by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL);
• Establish a renewable energy trust fund using revenues generated by exploration in the deep ocean and on the Arctic coastal plain, as proposed by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA);
• Permanently extend the tax credit for alternative energy production, including wind, solar and hydrogen, as proposed in H.R. 2652 by Rep. Phil English (R-PA) and in H.R. 5984 by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD); and
• Eliminate barriers to the expansion of emission-free nuclear power production, as proposed in H.R. 6384 by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT).

Would Mr. Pope oppose any of these provisions?

To improve energy conservation and efficiency, the legislation will:

• Provide tax incentives for businesses and families that purchase more fuel efficient vehicles, as proposed in H.R. 1618 and H.R. 765 by Reps. Dave Camp (R-MI) and Jerry Weller (R-IL);
• Provide a monetary prize for developing the first economically feasible, super-fuel-efficient vehicle reaching 100 miles-per-gallon, as proposed in H.R. 6384 by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT); and
• Provide tax incentives for businesses and homeowners who improve their energy efficiency, as proposed in H.R. 5984 by Reps. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Phil English (R-PA), and Zach Wamp (R-TN), and in H.R. 778 by Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL).

Perhaps Mr. Pope opposes these measures? Finally, there’s this BS:

“Boehner is complaining that renewable energy, common sense policies that will bring immediate relief at the pump, and taking away billions in government giveaways from Big Oil are ‘poison pills.’”

He’s doing nothing of the sort. Leader Boehner is advocating the AEA, which is everything that the environutters want in terms of efficiency and alternatives plus drilling.

It’s time that America saw that the Sierra Club, not Big Oil, is the cause of high gas prices. It’s also time that they saw that Democrats don’t dare argue with these environutters.

Most importantly, it’s time to take action to bring gas prices down so families aren’t hurt more than they already are.

Technorati Tags: Gas Crisis, Nancy Pelosi, Carl Pope, Sierra Club, Environutters, John Boehner, Zach Wamp, Rob Bishop, American Energy Act, Big Oil, Election 2008

Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 at 7:07 am and is filed under Activism, Author: Gary Gross, Election 2008, Energy, Environment, Liberals, Pelosi, Special Interests. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.