Jun 15 - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Daniel W. Reilly Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) sparred Wednesday over progress on reducing America's dependence on foreign oil at a forum on energy efficiency sponsored by Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls Inc.

In the face of skyrocketing gas prices and an unstable oil supply, officials agree that more needs to be done to reduce dependence on foreign oil and on the importance of alternative fuels such as ethanol. But Bodman and Clinton diverged on whether the nation is on the right path.

Clinton said that accounting for inflation, the Bush administration has cut the budget for energy efficiency programs by one-third over the past five years.

"I believe our present system of energy delivery and use is . . . hurting our pocketbooks, violating our common values and threatening our children's future," Clinton said. She also said "our failed energy policy dictates our national security."

Clinton said in recent years there has been a lack of "evidence-based decision-making" on energy policy.

She accused the Bush administration of talking tough on energy efficiency, then cutting the budget for key programs such as weatherization for low-income family homes and for the State Energy Program, which provides federal grants to states to adopt emerging renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Bodman accused Clinton of "cherry-picking" statistics and said that the Department of Energy is "very committed" to the issue of energy efficiency.

Bodman said he "disagreed strenuously with the issue that our energy policy has had a negative impact on our foreign policy."

In his keynote speech, Bodman said energy independence is one of President Bush's top concerns and that the answer to high energy costs is the comprehensive approach being pursued by the administration, which includes diversifying energy supply, developing new domestic sources and an increased reliance on efficiency and conservation.

Johnson Controls Vice President for Government Relations Mark Wagner said he was "very encouraged" by the Bush administration's approach to energy conservation but said he would like to see more done, especially on the Energy Savings Performance Contracts, a federal program that finances energy efficiency upgrades for federal buildings and installations.

The program was cut in 2004 but was reinstated in the latest energy bill, which passed last year. Wagner said he wanted to see the program "ramped up" as quickly as possible.

Wagner said the company would also like to see the Bush administration extend more tax credits for energy conservation, especially for commercial and residential building energy efficiency.

Johnson Controls is a leader in interior experience, building energy efficiency and power solutions. The company also runs a consulting business performing energy audits for corporations, school districts and other non-profit organizations, helping to reduce energy costs.

Now in its 17th year, The Energy Efficiency Forum was created by Johnson Controls to raise awareness of energy conservation issues in Washington. This year's forum, at the National Press Club, was co-sponsored by the U.S. Energy Association.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, also spoke at the event. Bush, who visited the company headquarters in Milwaukee in February, addressed the forum last year.