They Voted For You: Energy

U.S. Reps. Alan Mollohan, D-1st, and Nick Rahall, D-3rd, voted for the Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act late Thursday.

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd, opposed the bill, which passed 235-181. Seven Democrats voted with her, while 14 GOP members crossed party lines to support the measure.

The Associated Press described the bill as "a $21 billion tax package, much of it new taxes on oil companies," which would earmark the resulting revenue "for tax incentives for development of renewable energy sources like ethanol from grasses and wood chips and biodiesel and for energy efficiency programs and conservation."

"But the centerpiece of the bill," the AP continues, "is a requirement to boost automobile fuel economy by 40 percent to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, the first such action since 1975."

And, besides a chilly reception expected in the Senate, AP reports that "White House Press Secretary Dana Perino called the House-passed bill 'misguided' and unacceptable, and said President Bush would veto it if the bill is not changed."

House passage of the bill follows the 11-state Energy Summit hosted by Gov. Joe Manchin in West Virginia. Manchin and other governors from energy-producing states knocked Congress for failing to move on a comprehensive energy bill -- and one that embraced the coal they provide in abundance to the nation's power plants.

Update: Public Broadcasting examines coal's role in future policy on its weekly Outlook program (airs again Sunday). The segment featured a discussion with Roger Lilly, marketing manager for Walker Machinery, and Allan Tweddle, an environmentalist and member of the state Public Energy Authority.

Update II: The Campaign to Defend America has already launched robo-calls in the 2nd District targeting "Congresswoman Shelley Capito." Alleging she "has supported the greedy energy policies of Big Oil, George Bush and Dick Cheney," the automated calls also toss in a reference to Iraq and "preparation to bomb Iran."