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Big Giveaways for Dirty Energy - New York Loses Out
Congress is about to vote on an energy bill that will give at least $19 billion in subsidies and tax breaks to oil, gas, coal and nuclear power companies. Through secret, back room meetings with politicians, these polluting industries aim to win billions of taxpayer dollars to increase their profits. The people of New York, in exchange, will get next to nothing to prevent future blackouts, reduce their dependency on foreign oil or to protect their environment. Better Choices for New York Congress' attempt to give at least $19 billion in subsidies and tax breaks over the next 10 years to polluting industries will cost New York's taxpayers $1.6 billion. If that money were spent on job creation and critical needs instead, it could buy the people of New York: renewable energy for the electricity needs of 838,865 homes, AND 3,616 new affordable housing units creating 8,852 jobs, AND * $424.9 million for public transit creating 9,490 jobs, AND $202.9 million for school construction creating 4,870 jobs. Act Now to Stop Corporate Giveaways More about the "Dirty" Energy Bill Utility Companies Gain In New York Despite some differences, both the Senate and House bills share the same central feature: giving billions in subsidies and tax breaks to the wealthiest and "dirtiest" corporations. In addition, the conference report draft
includes several other harmful Drilling in the Arctic Refuge: The conference report allows exploration and drilling in protected areas, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Arctic Refuge is the only fragment of American Arctic coastline not already open to drilling. Spoiling this pristine, fragile tundra would produce only six months' worth of oil that would take 10 years to reach the gas pump Exploration in Coastal Waters: The energy conference report includes a provision to conduct an inventory of offshore oil and natural gas resources in places such as the Gulf Coast, off the shores of California and Oregon, and on the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida. Neither the House nor the Senate energy bills included this harmful provision, which opens the door to drilling on our protected coasts. No to Fuel Economy: The energy bill will not increase the average fuel economy standards of cars and trucks. Fuel economy standards in America are at a 20 year low, despite the fact that the technology exists to dramatically reduce our oil consumption. Increasing the average fuel economy of cars and trucks to 40 miles per gallon in ten years would save us two million barrels of oil per day and reduce global warming pollution from passenger vehicles by 20%. No to Renewables: A provision that would require utility companies to increase the proportion of renewable energy used to generate electricity has been dropped from the bill. Increasing the proportion of renewables to 20% by 2020 in New York, as well as increasing energy efficiency would result in a net job gain of 68,200. Nuclear Proliferation: The energy bill provides $865 million to fund a nuclear reprocessing program that reverses a 25 year policy against reprocessing commercial spent nuclear fuel in the U.S. At a time when proliferation concerns are already heightened by North Korea's decision to restart reprocessing facilities and develop nuclear weapons, reversing the U.S. ban would set a dangerous precedent and pose serious proliferation and security risks.
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