The plan of ten (first impressions)

CNN released a compromised energy plan that was proposed by ten senators, both Democrats and Republicans . Story here

The bill would be an important short-term measure towards energy independence and any common sense liberal should be willing to support the concessions the Republicans were willing to make in turn to having something passable in the near future.

First the necessary evil, we would support drilling expansions in the Gulf and East Coast. I know that this would look bad on the surface to any environmentalist, but we have to consider that pollution from drilling is nowhere near as dangerous as other ocean pollutants. Pollution from plastics, mercury run-offs, fertilizer run-offs and other sources are creating the dead zones we hear about. Aside from the danger of repeating certain historic blunders when it comes to letting drunk captains pilot tankers (glares at Exxon), delving into the benefits of this compromise easily permits this.

Now the good!

Keeping the ban on drilling in ANWR is worth the trade-off for offshore drilling expansion alone. It says a great deal of our country if we can prove that even in times of great need, our national resources are only to be tapped as a last resort, if at all.

It removes the tax break on oil companies that served absolutely no purpose in the modern economy. The gas companies are quick to point out that they make only 8 cents on every dollar of sales that their company does (source here) but when we multiply that out against a hundred and forty dollar barrel, they get ten bucks. So our government is giving tax breaks to a company that is making ten dollars of profit for every barrel of oil sold. Does that make any sense?

The bill additionally puts billions of dollars towards developing alternative fuel vehicles. On the surface this looks great but I can't say how good or not depending on which alternative energies are specifically mentioned. Natural gas cars would be less favorable compared to hydrogen fuel cells distilled with solar energy. (see hydrogen-solar source here)

I have to give political props to the creators of the first energy plan compromise we have seen so far between the Democrats and Republicans. Please make sure to read these names. If your senator is not on this list, call their office up and ask that they support the compromise. It would only make sense.

Conrad, D-North Dakota; Saxby Chambliss, R-Georgia; John Thune, R-South Dakota; Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina; Blanche Lincoln, D-Arkansas; Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana; Johnny Isakson, R-Georgia; Bob Corker, R-Tennessee; Mark Pryor, D-Arkansas; and Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska