Energy Policy: Deja Vu All Over Again
I recently signed up to an email newsletter from Bush Greenwatch, and today's issue summarizes what we have to look forward to regarding energy policy for W II:

Besides the fact that the bill provides huge subsidies to the fossil fuel (greenhouse gas) industries closely tied to the Bush administration, while doing almost nothing for alternative energy or energy conservation, environmental experts oppose a laundry list of other harmful provisions likely to be carried over from last year. Among other things, the bill would:

• Exempt all oil and gas construction activities -- including roads, drill pads, pipeline corridors and refineries -- from having to obtain a permit controlling polluted stormwater runoff caused by construction activities, as is currently required under the Clean Water Act.
  
• Dramatically increase air pollution and global warming with its huge new incentives for burning coal, oil and gas.
  
• Threaten drinking water sources by exempting from Safe Drinking Water Act regulation the underground injection of chemicals during oil and gas development.
  
• Allow more smog pollution for longer than the current Clean Air Act authorizes.
  
• Establish an "Office of Federal Project Coordination" within the White House to expedite the permitting and completion of energy projects on federal lands and override environmental safeguards.
  
• Continue to promote development of all Outer Continental Shelf lands -- including sensitive moratoria protected lands and, potentially, national marine sanctuaries -- through two poorly defined studies.
  
• Repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act, the main law protecting consumers from market manipulation, fraud, and abuse in the electricity sector, even while evidence of corrupt industry behavior is front page news and ratepayers are owed billions to compensate for the industry's illegal activities.
  
• Mandate the siting of a high voltage electricity transmission line through the Cleveland National Forest in southern California and other public lands, overriding a decision by the State of California rejecting such siting.

And let us not forget about drilling for oil in Alaska (usually referred to as ANWR, or the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge):

The top U.S. Senate Republican with authority over energy matters on Tuesday named oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as his first priority for the coming congressional session.

New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici, after being re-elected chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, immediately issued a news release touting his plans for the 1.5 million-acre coastal plain in Alaska's northeast corner.

"We are going to make a push to develop our vast oil resources in the Arctic Refuge in a way that leaves the environment pristine while stabilizing oil prices and enhancing our energy independence," he said.