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I wanted to pass this important request regarding the upcoming vote on this countries direction on energy sustainability.
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> Each of us have made an important contribution on reducing oil dependency and greenhouse gases. There is so much more to do though and we have had so many lost opportunities.
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> Please consider if you would like to share your opinion with your Representative.
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> Thank you in advance for your consideration in this matter.
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> Bradlee Fons
> The Milwaukee Hybrid Group
> milwaukeehybridgroup.com
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> Hi Friends,
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> With the swearing in of the 110th Congress, America has an opportunity to move in a new direction, starting by moving toward a cleaner, new energy future.
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> One of the first votes of the new Congress will be to create a multi-billion dollar fund for new investment in clean energy by cutting subsidies to Big Oil. This new funding will expand the use of clean energy technologies like wind and solar power, while helping reduce our dependence on oil.
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> The vote is scheduled for this Thursday, January 18. We expect the vote to be very close, and the support of Reps. Petri and Sensenbrenner is critical to win this important victory for clean energy. You can help by calling your representative today at 1-866-699-9243. Just tell the operator where you're from, and they will connect you.
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> Here's a sample message you can leave:
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> "Hello, my name is _______ and I live in _______. I'm calling to urge Representative _______ to vote to stop the taxpayer handouts to the oil industry and invest in clean, renewable energy."
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> To report your call, click here, or paste this link into your web browser:
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> http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=1122&id4=ES
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> Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this message to them.
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> Background
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> Oil Company Profits Continue to Skyrocket
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> Big oil companies are swimming in a sea of record-breaking profits while American consumers and taxpayers pay the price. In 2005, the world's biggest oil companies reported a combined $111 billion in profits. In the first three quarters of 2006 they reported more than $94 billion.
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> Some of the biggest oil company profits in 2005 were:
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> * ExxonMobil: $36.1 billion
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> * Royal Dutch Shell: $25.3 billion
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> * BP: $22.3 billion
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> * ConocoPhillips: $13.5 billion
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> * Chevron Texaco $14.1 billion
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> Federal Handouts Lavish Billions on Oil and Gas Companies
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> Despite earning record profits, oil and gas companies continue to benefit from billions in handouts courtesy of American taxpayers. Between tax incentives, below-market fees for drilling on public lands, research and development subsidies and accounting gimmicks, these companies will receive more than $31.6 billion from the federal government over the next five years.
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> Specifically, these handouts break down as follows:
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> * Tax breaks: $16 billion
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> * Research and development subsidies: $1.8 billion
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> * Below-market fees for drilling on public lands: $9.5 billion
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> * Accounting gimmicks: $4.3 billion
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> * Total: $31.6 billion
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> Some of most outrageous handouts to Big Oil allow companies drilling for oil and natural gas on public lands to pay below-market fees, or royalties, for the resources they extract. Oil companies are currently slated to shortchange taxpayers by $9.5 billion over the next five years.
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> Another giveaway allows oil companies to write off the costs of oil drilling and refining. Together, these giveaways total more than $4 billion over the next 5 years.
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> The week of January 15 Congress will vote on a bill to create a multi-billion dollar clean energy fund by cutting taxpayer handouts to the oil industry. You can help by calling your representative today at 1-866-699-9243. Just tell the operator where you're from, and they will connect you.
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> Here's a sample message you can leave:
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> "Hello, my name is ____ and I live in _____. I'm calling to urge Representative ____ to vote to stop the taxpayer handouts to the oil industry and invest in clean, renewable energy."
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> To report your call, click here, or paste this link into your web browser:
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> http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=1122&id4=ES
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> Sincerely,
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> Bruce Speight
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> WISPIRG Field Director
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> (608) 251-9501
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> bspeight@wispirg.org
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> www.wispirg.org
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> Join WISPIRG's Email Alert Network - go to www.wispirg.org and enter your email under "To receive issue updates."
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My question on this is. If they cut subsidies to big oil, what is stoping big oil from raising prices to compensate? If they do this then wouldn't it be a worry that the rising price of oil will lead to a rising price for goods delivered by truck? Another concern is public transportation costs. I could be wrong, but my assumption is that localities have to pay for the fuel for the busses and it could end up costing local municipalities a lot of money. This may lead to increased prices to people in the inner cities. Some of them can barely make it as it is. This could lead to an increase in crime. Riots could ensue. Then possibly a class war. And before you know it the end of the world as we know it. :)

Heh. Sorry. Got off topic. I wish they gave the bill number and a place to read it online. The wording sounds kind of angry so I worry that the bill isn't so much about investment in clean energy, but rather to get even with the oil companies.

It does kind of seem like what Lutz from GM wants. He has said that he wants our government to do more in funding alternative energy research for vehicles.

I was thinking the same thing. A sudden jump in the cost of oil certainly would create a ripple effect throughout the economy (but so will an increase in the minimum wage). I know Indianapolis runs Biodiesel in their busses and I think a lot of other cities do as well. An increase in the cost of dino-diesel might encourage more cities to move to Bio. And it would get the attention of the public. They're slow, but they will vote with their money. A substantial, sustained increase in the cost of oil might be the only thing to get people out of their monster trucks and land yachts and into sensible transportation.

I'd like to read the bill myself, too. All too often bills that sound good on the surface turn out to have a hidden purpose, which usually includes shoving money into already overflowing pockets. This one is supposed to stop that flow, but I'll file it in the I'll believe it when I see it category.

I think its about time we did have a good class war in this country, but maybe I'm just bored with the status quo. ;)