New Energy Future News

Bill would have reduced dependence on foreign oil and saved Pennsylvanians money at pump, but falls one vote short

Statement of Nathan Willcox, PennEnvironment Energy & Clean Air Advocate

Philadelphia, PA--Earlier this morning, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter cast a critical vote against a federal proposal to increase federal fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks.  Needing 60 votes to be considered, the federal energy bill fell one vote short—a vote that could have been cast and should have been cast by Senator Specter.  We applaud Senator Bob Casey, Jr. for listening to Pennsylvanians instead of the auto and oil industry lobbyists, and casting a vote in support of this much-needed legislation. 

It is extremely disappointing that a minority of Senators—including Sen. Specter—were able to block forward progress on a national energy policy that Pennsylvania and the entire country need and deserve.  Senator Specter and the other thirty-nine senators who voted “no” are blocking a historic opportunity to harness modern technology to deliver savings at the gas pump.  Senators like Arlen Specter who voted “no,” voted for more gas-guzzling vehicles, more global warming pollution, more dependence on foreign oil, continued reliance on politically volatile nations and endangering our national security. 

Senator Specter’s “no” vote was especially disappointing given his past statements in support of raising fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks.  Today, Senator Specter had a chance to follow through on those statements in support of a new energy future, but he chose instead to vote for a continuation of the status quo.   

We all know that Pennsylvanians want to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, have lower prices at the pump and tackle global warming. Unfortunately Sen. Specter didn’t hear that today.  Pennsylvanians shouldn’t tolerate leaders who are defending the status quo on energy.  At a time when oil prices are hovering around $90/barrel, the public deserves a 21st century clean, green energy policy that saves money at the gas pump.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a groundbreaking and historic energy bill that would harness American ingenuity and put us on a path to cleaner, smarter new energy future.  This legislation is a breakthrough on energy policy, and would bring to the U.S. more clean energy, a reduced dependence on oil, and less global warming pollution.  After failing to pass this legislation last week, the Senate leadership removed the important renewable energy requirement from the bill and made changes to the clean energy tax package in the hopes of garnering the 60 votes that this proposal needed for passage. 

All of these policies would substantially reduce global warming pollution while saving consumers money.  We are also dismayed that despite public statements of support for the compromise fuel economy language in the bill, the auto industry and its allies in Congress and the White House are now blocking this legislation. To make matters worse, these officials are now attempting to block states like Pennsylvania and the EPA from regulating global warming pollution from cars.  The Supreme Court and several lower courts have consistently upheld the rights of states and the EPA to play this important role.