A cross-section of U.S. energy representatives this weekpresented a laundry list of actions that they believe the WhiteHouse, Congress and regulators must take to boost energy supplies,which they say are at dangerously low levels.

In a 52-page report issued Wednesday, they advocated a number oflegislative and regulatory actions that have long been sought bythe domestic energy industry, but which have taken on a new senseof urgency in light of the rolling electricity blackouts inCalifornia, threats of utility bankruptcies in the state, andsoaring natural gas prices this winter.

The report by the United States Energy Association (USEA) inWashington D.C. calls for greater access to federal lands to carryout environmentally sound production, investment tax incentives andaccelerated depreciation to encourage energy production andconstruction of new delivery infrastructure, more reliance on adiversified energy portfolio for the country, a balance betweenenergy and environmental concerns, regulatory policies that are”simple, durable and predictable,” and policies to encouragegreater investment in power generation and transmission facilities.

The USEA members believe these principles and others should becentral to any national energy policy that comes out of the WhiteHouse, and to any comprehensive energy legislation that emergesfrom Congress. A Cabinet-level task force chaired by Vice PresidentDick Cheney currently is working on developing an energy strategy,while Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-AK) is expected to introduce a majorenergy bill on Monday that will call for opening the ArcticNational Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling. The Houseis working towards an energy bill or bills as well.

While the USEA report did not specifically mention ANWR,American Petroleum Institute President Red Cavaney said “everything— including ANWR – should be on the table” when consideringoptions to enhance domestic energy supplies. Cavaney is a USEAboard member.

The USEA members urged policymakers not to favor one supplysource over another, but rather to encourage the development of abroad-based portfolio of energy supplies – oil, natural gas, coal,nuclear, electricity and alternative energy. While they supportcontinued development of solar, wind and biomass energy sources,they recommended that policymakers focus their attention ontraditional energy resources, which provide more than 98% of thenation’s current energy supply.

As for the role of energy efficiency, the group said it believesefficiency and energy production should have a “complementaryrelationship,” but there shouldn’t be a “trade-off” of one for theother.

Moreover, the USEA called on policymakers to side withcompetition over regulation. “.[G]overnment officials at all levelsshould not impose new regulations on the energy supply system -even in an attempt to address health, safety and environmentalissues – unless those regulations are based on sound science andincorporate the most cost-effective options.”

On the international front, the USEA believes there are a numberof steps that the Bush administration and Congress can take tostimulate energy trade between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico. TheBush White House could put energy on the agenda when negotiatingWestern Hemisphere free trade agreements; work with the newgovernment in Mexico to allow U.S. companies to participate in theoil, natural gas, coal and electric power sectors; and negotiate aNorth American energy trade strategy with Canada and Mexico, thegroup said.

©Copyright 2001 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.