Alaskan Drilling Tops Debate Over Comprehensive Energy Bill
Jun 03 - The Daily Oklahoman
After years of haggling, Congress again is working to pass the first comprehensive energy bill since 1992.
One of the most highly visible parts of the bill is a plan to allow drilling
in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other areas, including parts of the
Rocky Mountains and offshore East and West coasts.
The House version passed in April allows drilling in the wildlife refuge, but
the Senate -- which still is debating its bill -- appears unlikely to include
such a measure.
"Opening ANWR would have a minimal impact on the reserve and preserve,
and a lot of propaganda being spread about it just isn't true," said Bruce
Bell, chairman of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association of Oklahoma.
"We have a lot of land that is very prospective for large finds of natural
gas. We need to be able to tap those resources. They are fundamentally important
for America's energy future."
Other people, however, think a better option is available.
"We currently have the technology to make a car get 40 miles per gallon,
and if we required that, it would save more oil than the U.S. currently imports
from the Persian Gulf and more than we could ever pull out of ANWR," said
Tom Libby, president of the Oklahoma chapter of the Sierra Club. "I'm all
about reducing our dependence on foreign oil, but we can do that through
efficiencies much more quickly than we can do that through increasing drilling
in places like Alaska."
Besides provisions for oil and natural gas production, the energy bill also
is expected to include policies and incentives regarding electric generation and
utilities.
Brian Alford, Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. spokesman, said his company would
like to see support for clean coal technology, updated electricity reliability
standards, tax incentives for building transmission lines and reform of the
Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act, which allows the government to require
utilities to buy power from certain producers.
Alford said OG&E is opposed to mandates requiring utilities to buy a
certain amount of its power needs from renewable sources, but that it supports
increased funding for renewables research and incentives for their use.
Oklahoma wind energy promoters echo Alford's support for increased incentives
for wind power and other renewables, although most also call for renewable
portfolio standards.
One of the biggest issues for renewables supporters, however, is a
longer-term extension of the federal production tax credit, which has made wind
farms and other renewable generators more affordable.
"A five-year extension would stabilize the industry and really allow for
major growth and development to occur," said Kylah McNabb, coordinator for
the Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative.
The production credit on large-scale wind and other renewable power
generators has been extended in one- or two-year intervals in recent years. The
result has been that little or no projects have been initiated during down times
after the previous credit expires and before the new credit becomes affective
and that demand spikes once the new credit is extended.
Whatever comprises the final energy bill, it is still not likely to find
President Bush's desk soon.
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