Bush Reveals Energy Plan

While President George W. Bush's newly released energy strategy proposes some proactive measures to help alleviate the nation's power woes, including increased oil and gas drilling and nuclear power production, environmentalists are up in arms, as are Californians who feel that Bush's proposal offers few short-term measures to increase electricity supply and decrease blackouts.

By Staff May 17, 2001

While President George W. Bush’s newly released energy strategy proposes some proactive measures to help alleviate the nation’s power woes, including increased oil and gas drilling and nuclear power production, environmentalists are up in arms, as are Californians who feel that Bush’s proposal offers few short-term measures to increase electricity supply and decrease blackouts.

The 163-page report, prepared by Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy task force, offers 105 recommendations including easing regulations for siting and licensing power plants and gas refineries and speeding up license procedures for hydroelectric dams and geothermal plants.

Of interest to consulting engineers are Bush’s plans for energy-efficient buildings, notably the expansion of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Star program to include schools, homes and hospitals, in addition to commercial buildings.

However, critics of the Administration’s plan claim that Bush’s interest in energy conservation is currently not backed by dollars. In fact, Bush’s proposed budget, which he sent to Congress in February, seeks to cut energy efficiency and renewable energy programs by almost a third.

For more information, see www.whitehouse.gov .