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Hearing on Bush Plan Draws Overwhelming Support for Investments in Clean Energy
More than 300 people attended a hearing hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE ) in Seattle last month. The June 19 hearing to evaluate DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs kicked off with a rally of 200 concerned citizens who condemned President Bush's proposed plans to slash federal investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
The Bush plan proposes to slash DOE investments in energy efficiency Research and Development (R&D) by 30 percent and renewable energy R&D by 50 percent despite DOE reports that these vital programs have saved the nation over $30 billion in energy costs over the last 20 years at a cost to taxpayers of just $712 million.
Reverend Nancy Wright with Earth Ministry opened the rally with an announcement that some 27 rabbis and Christian leaders in Washington recently signed a statement of concern about the Bush energy plan. With an inflatable power plant and salmon as a backdrop, Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin emphasized the success of Seattle City Light's historic and ongoing investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy as well as the utility's efforts to protect salmon runs. Robert Pregulman , executive director of the Washington Public Interest Research Group , called for a doubling of federal investments in energy efficiency to $1.22 billion by 2003 and said funding for renewable energy programs should increase from $376 million to $750 million annually. Marc Sullivan , acting director of a newly formed regional climate project, closed the rally with a rousing speech, urging participants to tell President Bush that we want clean energy not an energy strategy "of, by, and for Big Oil."
Nearly 100 people representing a wide range of business, consumer, faith-based, low-income and environmental interests joined representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representatives Jim McDermott and Adam Smith who testified in support of expansion, not reductions in DOE investments in clean energy. Seattle Mayor Paul Schell and Richard Conlin testified in person. Dave Danner , Energy Policy Advisor to Washington Governor Gary Locke ; representatives of the state energy offices of Hawaii , Idaho , Oregon and Washington; and Dave Sjoding , Acting Director of Washington State University's Cooperative Extension Energy Program also testified in support of enhancing the DOE programs.
The Washington Interfaith Climate Change Campaign held a noon prayer vigil during the 12-hour hearing. Rabbi James Mirel , Temple B'nai Torah , opened the vigil by praying for the strength to change our ways and become connected to the movements of the Earth. The vigil focused on the need for a just and sustainable federal energy plan.
Held concurrently with the Seattle hearing, DOE's public meeting in Cambridge, Massachusetts , evoked a similar response. Upwards of 300 individuals attended, over 40 submitted written remarks, and more than 80 provided oral comments, including 10 public officials. As in Seattle, comments overwhelmingly supported increasing DOE investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Approximately 40 individuals commented at each of the Atlanta, Georgia , and Chicago, Illinois , hearings on June 12. DOE also held public meetings in Washington, D.C. on June 26 and in Philadelphia, PA , and Denver, CO , on June 21.
The DOE meetings are one element of a comprehensive review of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs called for in the Bush plan. The President's plan does not call for similar public input and evaluation of fossil fuel and nuclear generation.
Danielle Dixon