Nuclear Energy Information Service
Illinois' Nuclear Power Watchdog for 25 Years

National Energy Policy Op-Ed

"20-20 ENERGY VISION: FOR NOW, AND FOR THE FUTURE"

Energy is a topic on everyone's mind lately. Increased costs, potential shortages, and now the Bush-Cheney National Energy "Tragedy" make it impossible to ignore any longer.

The good news is that on May 16, 22 Illinois environmental and citizen advocacy organizations announced a new vision for our energy future: a "20-20 Energy Vision."

This energy vision clearly states the energy choices we can and must make to ensure that safer, cleaner, reliable and affordable energy resources exist to meet legitimate energy needs, now and in the future.

This plan demonstrates that we can cost-effectively meet 20% of our electrical needs by the year 2020 by emphasizing money saving energy efficiency; and by greatly expanding the use of already available renewable energy technologies. It says we can reduce both gas costs and pollution by getting better mileage out of our cars. And it says we can restore the health of people, the economy and our environment in the process.

It is a vision that produces the energy we need without needlessly increasing pollution, or exacerbating environmental problems. It leads to a healthy, sustainable economy, where people are not blackmailed into choosing between EITHER a clean environment, OR keeping their jobs or their lights on.

Our "20-20 energy Vision" couples the best and most successful elements of traditional energy approaches -- namely conservation, energy efficiency, and less-environmentally damaging energy production -- with the best available and most promising 21st Century energy technologies, such as wind power, advanced solar power, fuel cells, and others.

Our vision stands in stark contrast to the "pollution-solutions" of the Bush/Cheney (so-called) "National Energy Strategy." This plan is a re-tread of his father's failed National Energy Strategy of 1991; the only major difference between the two being that we are not currently at war in the Persian Gulf.

The Administration's plan was created behind closed doors by an energy team over 80% of which represent the fossil fuel and nuclear power industries; only one of whom has energy efficiency background; and none of whom hail from the renewable energy sector, environmental, or consumer groups, or the general public. It's a team of foxes asked to design the next generation of chicken coops.

The Administration plan is about: expanding energy industries that are major polluters; emphasizing and subsidizing inflexible, costly, large-scale projects; ignoring proven, quicker and effective ways of reducing energy consumption and pollution; disparaging efficiency and decentralized, sustainable approaches to energy. It is 19th Century thinking, designed to maximize benefit to campaign contributors who run energy companies, not consumers and ratepayers. It could most charitably be described as a giant leap "Forward -- into the Past!"

This is not policy, it's pork. It is not strategy, but tragedy.

The American people deserve better. The Illinois environmental community is uniting to deliver it: a "20-20 Energy Vision" for now, and for the future. We call upon like-minded individuals, organizations and institutions to demand something better from their government, and support the "20-20 Energy Vision."

(492 words)

Sincerely for a safe environment,

David A. Kraft
Director
Nuclear Energy Information Service
P.O. Box 1637
Evanston, IL 60204-1637
(847)869-7650; -7658 fax
neis@neis.org
www.neis.org

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