Does House Energy Bill Have the Power?
The House passed an energy bill yesterday that’s packed with progressive initiatives: greater fuel efficiency standards; tax breaks for homeowners who install solar panels, geothermal pumps, or energy efficient appliances; a national training program for “green collar” jobs. There’s even a provision that lets employers offer workers a $240 per-year, tax-free benefit for biking to work. Oh, and the bill also calls for the repeal of $21 billion in tax breaks for the oil and gas industry. It’s quite a wish list for those of us who’d like to see a shift to alternative energy sources and conservation. But it’s also wishful thinking, because the Senate’s unlikely to pass the bill without drastically altering it, and the President’s already threatening to veto it. He can’t support legislation that doesn’t dig oil, and he’s always been wobbly on bikes.
