Jim Jeffords on Energy & Oil Independent Jr Senator (VT, retiring 2006)

Permanent protection for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

It may be easy for some to look at maps of ANWR and envision it as an empty expanse of land that should be valued only for its small and scattered oil pockets. [On the contrary,] in 1997, I traveled to the Refuge and was able to see first hand how beautiful and important this land is to both Alaska and the Nation.

Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR.

Voted YES on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas.

Voted YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%).

Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010.

Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill.

Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds.

Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months.

Voted NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling.

Voted YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards.

Voted NO on defunding renewable and solar energy.

Voted YES on approving a nuclear waste repository.

Voted YES on do not require ethanol in gasoline.

Include pickup trucks in CAFE; include hybrids in HOV lanes.

• Amends the Federal law to prescribe annual fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks starting in model year 2005.
• Dictates that by 2013, there shall be an average combined fuel economy standard for such cars and trucks of at least 35 miles per gallon.
• Allows States to permit vehicles occupied by one person to use HOV lanes if a vehicle is a hybrid or runs totally on alternative fuel.
• Devise a system in which manufacturers can sell credits earned for cars and trucks exceeding fuel economy standards.
• Requires that trucks, as well as cars, display a label with environmental information such as fuel economy and annual fuel cost.
• Requires manufacturers to add a logo to the existing label or to add a separate green label detailing a vehicle's performance on fuel economy and greenhouse gas and other emissions.

Keep climate change in EPA "State of the Environment" report.

Dear President Bush:

We are deeply disturbed to read reports this morning that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House have decided to omit data and language pertaining to climate change from the Agency's upcoming "State of the Environment" report. We would like to know if this is true. [Note: The section on climate change was indeed omitted–Ed.]

According to these reports, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) made decisions to delete from the "State of the Environment" report scientifically sound, consensus-based conclusions about the human contributions to global warming that have been confirmed by the National Research Council and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We would like to know why, and who within the Administration made this decision.

Perhaps most distressing are reports that Administration officials substituted into the report for the deleted language a reference to a study partially funded by the American Petroleum Institute that questions the National Research Council's conclusions. If true, this action brings into question the ability and authority of the EPA or any agency within this Administration to publish unbiased scientific reports. This would dramatically weaken both Congressional and public confidence in the Administration to allow credible, peer-reviewed study to prevail over political agenda. If these reports are accurate, your Administration has done a serious disservice not only to the hard-working professionals at the EPA, but also to the American people and our future.

We request all drafts of the report as well as comments prepared by the EPA, OMB, & CEQ. We request a list of all participants involved in review of the document, including all Administration officials and entities outside the Administration. Furthermore, we ask that appropriate actions be taken regarding those responsible for doctoring this report.

Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy.

Mr. President: A recent federal court decision regarding energy efficient air conditioners is a significant victory for consumers, for the environment, and for our nation's energy future. We respectfully request that you do not appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second District (Natural Resources Defense Council et al v. Abraham, Docket 01-4102) affirmed that central air conditioners sold beginning in 2006 must be at least 30% more energy efficient than those available today.

Air conditioners are a necessary modern convenience but are also major users of electricity. On hot days, cooling homes and businesses is the largest category of electricity demand. Requiring air conditioners to be as energy efficient as possible will begin to reduce the stress on the electricity generation and transmission network and decrease the likelihood of blackouts that many regions of the country experience during warm weather conditions.

Air conditioners that meet the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating 13 standard will provide benefits for consumers, the environment, and the nation. The SEER 13 standard will alleviate the need for additional electricity production and transmission resulting in as many as 48 fewer power plants required by 2020. This standard will also result in less harmful air pollution being emitted into the atmosphere. Moreover, by 2020 power plant emissions of carbon dioxide will be 2.5 million tons lower as a result, and emissions of mercury, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides will also be held down resulting in cleaner air and healthier citizens.

Finally, the higher standard can be expected to save businesses and residential consumers $1 billion per year in lower electricity bills. Lower electricity bills will recover the slightly higher purchase cost for the more efficient air conditioners in less than 18 months.

Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances.

OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: A bill to provide for a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change, to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the US by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable allowances, to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the US and reduce dependence upon foreign oil, and ensure benefits to consumers from the trading in such allowances.

SPONSOR'S INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: Sen. McCAIN: This bill is designed to begin a meaningful and shared effort among the emission-producing sectors of our country to address the world's greatest environmental challenge--climate change.

The National Academy of Sciences reported, "temperatures are, in fact, rising." The overwhelming body of scientific evidence shows that climate change is real, that it is happening as we speak.

Terrible things are happening at the poles, which will have global implications. Amplified global warming, rising sea levels, and potential alterations in ocean circulation patterns are among the global concerns.

The International Climate Change Task Force recommended that "all developed countries introduce mandatory cap-and-trade systems for carbon emissions and construct them to allow for future integration into a single global market." That is already being done in Europe as we speak, which is the substance of this legislation.

If we do not move on this issue, our children and grandchildren are going to pay an incredibly heavy price because this crisis is upon us, only we do not see its visible aspects in all of its enormity. We have done relatively nothing besides gather additional data and make reports. That is what the US national policy is today: gather information and make reports. I would argue that is a pretty heavy burden to lay on future generations of Americans.

LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; never came to a vote.

Supports immediate reductions in greenhouse gases.

The Republican Main Street Partnership supports the goal of immediate, near-term reductions in greenhouse gases, and would move toward this goal by providing strong incentives that have minimal adverse impact on the economy, and to continue to apply our best scientific minds to developing a better understanding of the long-term nature of climate change and the means to cope with it.

Two objectives should be accomplished:
1. create an "early action crediting system" to provide assurances to companies that actions taken now to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases will be recognized and credited in the eventual system of emissions reductions standards that will be developed; and
2. commit the necessary resources to national and international scientific efforts to better understand the cause and effect of global climate change.