The National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs are known for winning NBA championships in odd years, winning in 1999, 2005, 2005 and 2007. Bad energy bills are beginning to follow the same trend as Congress passed energy bills in 2005 and 2007 that focused on subsidies and mandates as opposed to a market-driven approach. 2009 is shaping up to be no better; in fact, the draft of new energy legislation suggests it will be much, much worse.
Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Edward Markey (D-MA) of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee released draft legislation that includes:
• A clean energy title that promotes renewable sources of energy, carbon capture and sequestration technologies, low-carbon fuels, clean electric vehicles, and the smart grid and electricity transmission;
• An energy efficiency title that increases energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy, including buildings, appliances, transportation, and industry;
• A global warming title that places limits on emissions of heat-trapping pollutants; and
• A transitioning title that protects U.S. consumers and industry and promotes green jobs during the transition to a clean energy economy.
