National Energy Policy

In 2001, Vice President Cheney headed up a team to design a new energy policy for the U.S. President Bush said in a May 17 speech: "The [National Energy Policy] addresses all three key aspects of the energy equation: demand, supply, and the means to match them. First, it reduces demand by promoting innovation and technology to make us the world leader in efficiency and conservation. Second, it expands and diversifies America's supply of all sources of energy — oil and gas, clean coal, solar, wind, biomass, hydropower and other renewables, as well as safe and clean nuclear power. Third, and finally, the report outlines the ways to bring producers and consumers together, by modernizing the networks of pipes and wires that link the power plant to the outlet on the wall."

Think about what the President said and how it relates to some of the recommendations in the 2001 National Energy Policy. Is he putting a positive or negative "spin" on some of his recommendations? Why?

Recommendations

	Each state's unique geography should determine how to better serve the needs of diverse areas of the country.
	Funding should increase for the Weatherization Assistance Program by $1.2 billion over ten years. This program helps low-income people improve the efficiency of their homes.
	The Environmental Protection Agency should propose legislation that establishes mandatory reductions for emissions of three main pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury; and, provide incentives, such as emissions trading credits.
	The Secretary of Energy should improve the energy efficiency of appliances.
	The President's Administration should remain committed to the Department of Transportation's fuel-cell powered transit bus program.
	The President should direct the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation to develop ways to reduce demand for petroleum transportation fuel consumption from long-haul trucks at truck stops by developing alternatives to idling.
	The President should direct the Secretaries of energy and the Interior to promote oil and gas recovery from existing wells through new technology.
	The President should direct the Secretary of the Interior to work with Congress to authorize exploration and, if resources are discovered, develop the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Congress should require that activities of oil exploration and recovery will result in no significant adverse impact to the surrounding environment.
	The President should support the expansion of nuclear energy in the United States as a major component of our national energy policy, including using the best science to provide deep underground storage for nuclear waste.
	The President should direct the Secretaries of the Interior and Energy to re-evaluate access limitations to federal lands in order to increase renewable energy production, such as biomass, wind, geothermal, and solar.

The complete policy is available at http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?BT_CODE=AD_AP.