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April 18, 2005
As Americans contend with surging gas prices at the pump, right-wing leaders are again calling for massive handouts to the energy sector and increased pollution to deal with the crisis. House legislation likely to move forward this week would provide $8 billion in new tax breaks to oil companies-less than $500 million of which would to go increase renewable energy or conservation efforts-and would do nothing to strengthen fuel economy requirements.
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Polluting our air is not sound energy policy. The House energy plan includes industry-backed measures that would exempt states from cleaning up their air if any pollution comes from other states. So those living in "downwind" states will be forced to suck up dirty air as long as "upwind" states and their polluters do nothing to clean up their act.
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Shielding companies that poison our water is not sound energy policy. The House energy bill also shields the manufacturers of a dangerous gasoline additive MTBE from lawsuits stemming from the contamination of drinking water. The additive has been detected in water sources in 29 states. Oil giants and their right-wing pawns in Congress are now trying to shield these polluters from any legal liability for dumping poison in our water supplies.
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Destroying wilderness areas for oil profits is not sound energy policy. The bill contains yet another sop to big oil by allowing drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Drilling in the refuge would irreparably harm this fragile area and would do nothing to reign in today's skyrocketing gas prices. Increasing fuel efficiency standards would conserve far more oil than could ever be produced from the refuge.
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