Energy Policy and Blue States

The U.S. Congress is trying again to pass an energy bill. Seems like an admirable task. This country could certainly use a more effective energy policy. National energy legislation could be a vehicle to get there but, unfortunately, probably not the legislation that will make it out of Capitol Hill. The 2003 energy bill was an amalgamation of giveaways to special interest groups: the nuclear industry, farmers, and the coal states, just to name a few. The automotive industry that might have been put upon to deliver better fuel-efficiency solutions was left totally unscathed by the 2003 legislation. Detroit voters, it seems, were not only important but unyielding during last year’s national election cycle.