Kill this energy bill.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Given the remote prospects that the current Congress will produce a national energy plan that addresses the nation's overreliance on fossil fuels, promotes conservation and protects the environment, it's hard to be concerned that lawmakers appear unlikely to complete work on a long-term energy plan this year.

Although President Bush has called for an accord this year, squabbling between House and Senate Republicans over rules for the electricity industry, gasoline additives and subsidies for a gas pipeline in Alaska make it unlikely that this ghastly piece of legislation will be approved before Congress adjourns.

The prospects of delay may horrify industry lobbyists, but it's cause for rejoicing for Americans who want a plan that addresses the serious energy needs of this nation and not merely those of the Bush administration's cronies in the energy industry.

The current impasse arose after the House and Senate passed differing energy bills, both lacking in vision and creativity, and then gave the job of reconciling them to Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M, and Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., longtime champions of the energy industry.

The legislation they have crafted behind closed doors is a monstrosity that continues the failed energy policies of decades past. It includes massive subsidies to the coal, natural gas, oil and nuclear industries and only a perfunctory nod to developing renewable energy resources, conservation and global warming.

Domenici and Tauzin, who have have loaded their conference committee with friends of the energy industry, have produced a "compromise" bill that bears a remarkable resemblance to the road map drawn up during Vice President Dick Cheney's invitation-only meetings with energy executives two years ago.

Anyone looking for evidence of bias in favor of production vs. conservation need look no further than a provision that would authorize oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the absence of tougher automobile fuel efficiency standards that would dramatically reduce energy consumption and produce cleaner air.

The bill also includes loan guarantees to help build nuclear plants, even though the industry still hasn't figured out how to safely dispose of aging, outdated power reactors and their radioactive wastes.

The emerging energy plan is loaded with pork intended to win the support of key lawmakers and their corporate contributors. A prime example is a provision that would greatly increase the use of corn-based ethanol as a gasoline additive. While this would have only a tiny impact on reducing oil consumption, it would greatly benefit corn farmers and, not surprisingly, has drawn the support of lawmakers such as Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

Congress should put this massive giveaway plan in the nearest dumpster and start working on a broad, forward-looking energy plan that will reduce dependence on foreign energy supplies, promote energy conservation, protect the environment, guard against energy price swings and fix the nation's electric power grid.

The current energy plan is little more than a hodgepodge of favors to powerful supporters of the Bush administration. The nation deserves far better.