The Columbus Dispatch
www.dispatch.com
Governors stress conservation for energy policy
Alan Johnson
Dispatch Statehouse Reporter
Wednesday, August 8, 2001
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- While U.S. governors agree with President
Bush's call for greater use of domestic energy sources,
an energy policy approved yesterday by the National Governors'
Association also strongly emphasizes conservation.
And though the governors' ranks are dominated by Republicans,
they could not reach a consensus on whether to back a controversial
plan by the GOP president to open Alaska's Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling. The governors include
29 Republicans, 19 Democrats and two independents.
The nonbinding energy policy, adopted on the final day
of the National Governors' Association conference, also
does not address a contentious proposal to drill for oil
and gas under the Great Lakes. Ohio Gov. Bob Taft opposes
the idea; Michigan Gov. John Engler -- incoming chairman
of the association -- supports it.
Bush's energy policy was criticized for emphasizing production
over conservation when it was rolled out this year. The
plan as passed last week by the U.S. House would provide
$33.5 billion in energy tax breaks and credits -- most to
promote coal, oil, nuclear and natural- gas development
-- and about $6 billion for energy-conservation efforts.
The governors' plan focuses on energy conservation and
efficiency, including development of more renewable energy
sources such as wind and water power, and incentives for
energy providers to save electricity. The policy also calls
for exploring new energy resources and developing clean-coal
technology -- an issue critical to Ohio's coal-burning power
plants.
Taft brought up another area of tension in the energy debate
that troubles many governors: state rights versus federal
authority.
"We want the federal government to respect our traditional
state role,'' Taft said at the conclusion of the 93rd annual
conference.
It's a touchy issue for governors, despite the majority's
shared party label with Bush. On electricity, unfunded mandates
and a number of other issues, governors, regardless of party,
are protective of the role played by states as opposed to
the federal government.
Likewise, state and federal officials remain at odds over
the eminent-domain proposal by the Bush administration.
That would empower the federal government to intervene in
states -- taking land and rights of way in some cases --
to fix electricity transmission problems.
The governors urged federal and electric industry officials
to work with the states on power issues in "a way that
does not intrude upon traditional state and local authority.''
"There's going to have to be an answer because when
the lights go out, they call Washington,'' Engler said.
The governors' energy policy was prompted in large part
by the energy crisis in California, a state hit repeatedly
by blackouts and high electricity prices. Gov. Gray Davis
has asked for federal help.
With California's electricity nightmare on their minds,
the governors agreed to team with the federal government
to study power problems nationwide.
U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham joined the governors
to announce formation of a task force, with members ranging
from the Department of Energy to state utility commissions,
to ferret out and eliminate "bottlenecks and choke
points'' plaguing the nation's power system.
Taft also announced that Ohio will have its own energy
summit, primarily focusing on electric issues, on Oct. 1
in Columbus.
Engler said he wants to make sure the governors' association
has a "unified voice'' in dealing with the federal
government.
"When we speak together, we set the agenda,'' Engler
said. "We're going to let Washington worry about politics.''
The governors agreed to push Washington for more money
for special education, a promise unfulfilled for many years.
The governors want the federal government to come up with
the 40 percent share it has promised for special education.
The federal government now pays 15 percent, or $7 billion.
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