Sierra Club Bucks County Group
Meetings at Churchville Nature CenterEvery 2nd Thursday - 7 PM to 9 PM
Directions: ChurchvilleNatureCenter.org
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CommentaryPlease Note: In keeping with Sierra Club policy, this website does not endorse candidates for Sierra Club office on the Group, Chapter, or National level. This website is a forum for policy discussion and debate among those truly concerned with protection of the environment. Opinions expressed herein are those of their authors and may or may not reflect Sierra Club policy.Letter to the editor CONSIDER THE SOURCE George W. Bush in his State of the Union speech last night said that his plans for the nation include reducing our oil imports by promoting energy efficiency measures. Should we believe him? When someone tells us something that we know little about we should consider the source: Has the person earned credibility by telling us something else that we already know to be true? Well, did he convince you of his sincerity when he rattled off that long list of countries that were helping in Iraq? You've been reading the paper over the past weeks and months. What percentage of the total cost of the war are all these countries combined paying? Almost daily we read of the death and injury to US servicemen. How many from these other countries do you read about? Bush's commitment to energy conservation? Last week a federal appeals court rejected an attempt by the Bush Administration to roll back energy efficiency standards. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act requires efficiency standards at the highest level that is technologically feasible and economically justified. The standards for large central air conditioners and heat pumps that are installed in 85 percent of new homes were issued in 2001 and would result in at least a 30 percent energy reduction in these appliances. The Bush Administration, shortly after taking office, weakened the required improvement to only 20 percent. According to the Department of Energy these weaker requirements would require building 10 new power plants. Some efficiency conservation dedication! The one best step the Bush Administration could take to improve efficiency would be to close the loophole that exempts SUV's from meeting the efficiencies required of passenger cars. Despite improvements in fuel-saving technology the average fuel economy for new vehicles is lower now than it was two decades ago. To illustrate how ridiculous this is, this year Subaru is making changes in its Outback, like raising it's ground clearance an inch and a half, so that it will now be classified as a light truck instead of a sedan, and light trucks have to average 6.3 miles per gallon of fuel less than cars! Who profits from Bush's indifference to the needs of the consumer? How about the energy industry, which gets to sell more gasoline and electricity, and the automotive industry that is in bed with them. George Emmons Sierra Club 17 North Lancaster Lane Newtown PA 18940 215-860-7134 S Up to Top |