The energy bill now snaking its way through the backrooms of Congress is a pork-laden, industry payoff masquerading as energy policy.

While there are provisions of the legislation that deserve support, too much of it is warped by Congress’ tendency to weigh down even good ideas with scores of disastrous ones.

Already dead is a provision in the Senate version of the bill that would have required energy producers to increase the amount of electricity they generate from renewable sources. It was supported by 53 senators.

Drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge remains in the bill, despite great opposition. According to Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Congress, Rep. Tom Delay, majority leader in the House, revealed in a closed-door meeting the true intentions behind the ANWR provisions: To set a precedent that will allow oil company exploration and drilling in other pristine areas.

The bill also requires an inventory of offshore gas and oil resources of the Outer Continental Shelf, including the sensitive fishing grounds of Georges Bank. Protections for these areas have been in place since 1982.

Besides tax incentives and breaks for the energy industry that could range from $8 billion to $18 billion, the energy bill contains a “safe harbor” provision for makers of MTBE, a gasoline additive that is blamed for contaminating ground water supplies. MTBE helps reduce air pollution. But unlike gasoline, it mixes easily with water, and contamination is difficult to clean up. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies it as a possible carcinogen. The Clean Water Accountability Coalition says that 17 water systems serving 57,000 people are contaminated in Maine alone. Costs nationally to clean up the MTBE pollution and prevent further leaks could reach $29 billion.

The companies that manufacture MTBE have powerful allies in Washington that are trying to protect them from liability for a product that has been judged defective.

Differences between regions and high-powered lobby interests leave reform of the country’s electric transmission grid in doubt. The Blackout of 2003 was a warning for the nation that for too long we have allowed our transmission network to deteriorate. In a matter of seconds, 50 million people lost power. At this point, there’s a question of whether the legislation will address this glaring problem in any meaningful way.

What’s not in the bill is almost as bad as what is. There is no long-term strategy to reduce demand for fossil fuels, to encourage more fuel-efficient automobiles, or to reduce the pollution generated by burning oil and coal.

It’s hard to know exactly what the final energy bill will look like. Negotiations have moved behind closed doors, with most members of Congress locked out.

It’s clear, though, there will be more to hate about this legislation than to like. Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe have been on the forefront in the fight to reform this bill. They should join other conscientious lawmakers to carve out the good and throw out the rest.


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