Designing a worse energy policy
June 15, 2007| By Nathaniel Ward
With energy prices soaring, Americans are clamoring for lawmakers to act. But instead of enacting reforms that will allow for expanded energy supplies—and lower costs to consumers—liberals in Congress are loading up their new energy bill with all sorts of misguided policies.
“Almost every bad energy policy idea circulating around Washington has found a home in the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007,” writes Heritage energy expert Ben Lieberman.
Some of these bad policies are real doozies.
- Price-gouging legislation that could bring back the spot shortages and gas lines of the 1970s
- An expanded renewable fuels mandate that would boost both fuel and food prices
- New home appliance standards likely to raise prices and adversely affect performance and reliability
- New fuel economy standards for cars and trucks that would reduce vehicle safety and consumer choice while increasing sticker prices
Lieberman picks apart this laundry list of terrible left-wing ideas in detail in his paper.
He concludes that by “focusing instead on misguided, anti-market measures,” the bill “will likely add to the nation’s energy problems in the years ahead.”
Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation.
