FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 28, 2002
For More Information Contact: David Ponder, MontPIRG 243-2908


Senators Baucus and Burns have failed to make the grade with their votes so far on a national energy bill, according to an Energy report card released today by a coalition of environmental groups.  Senator Baucus and Senator Burns earned grades of C and F, respectively, in the evaluation.

“With key tests yet to come on drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, protecting families and other energy policies, the Senate has so far failed to make the grade for a smarter, cleaner, and more secure energy future,” said David Ponder, Executive Director of MontPIRG. 

Senator Baucus earned positive marks for his leadership in supporting the protection pristine wildlands like the Arctic Refuge and the Rocky Mountain Front and for supporting increases in renewable energy development.  Senator Burns earned failing scores for his position on increasing oil production in wildlands while opposing common sense solutions to curb energy consumption. 

“The Senate Energy bill began as a promising step toward a smarter, cleaner energy future, and a far cry from the dirty, dangerous House energy bill and Bush-Cheney energy plan.  Unfortunately, in vote after vote, the Senate bill has been plundered by the auto, oil and nuclear industry,” said Ponder. 
 
In a report, “Failing Grades: How the Senate Energy fails to Secure a New Energy Future” the groups grade the Senate on five key votes (see attached vote chart).  Releasing the report card were MontPIRG, Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

 The groups said at a minimum, forward-thinking energy legislation should reduce consumption of oil by at least one million barrels a day, guarantee that at least 10% of electricity supplies come from new clean renewable energy, cut subsidies to polluting energy sources, ensure a reliable and consumer-friendly electric system, reduce pollution to our air, land and water, and safeguard the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other wild places.

Senate leadership has announced plans to complete action on the energy bill when it returns from its two-week recess on April 9.  At that time, it will likely take up the issue of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 

“According to U.S. Geological Survey data, the Refuge would produce at current consumption, only six months worth of oil that would not reach the Lower 48 for ten years,” stated Kathryn Hohmann of the Sierra Club.  “The Senate’s next test after the recess will be a vote on drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.  To study for this test, they should listen to the overwhelming majority of Americans, who oppose drilling and support protecting this national treasure.”

“The Senate should pass an energy bill that increases our nation’s energy security, protects energy consumers, and safeguards our clean air and water,” concluded Ponder. “If the Senate does anything short of that, it fails to make the grade, and fails the American public.”