Jones’ Problematic Energy-Policy Views
Via Matt Yglesias, ThinkProgress’s Brad Johnson takes a look at National Security Adviser-designate James Jones’s work on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s energy task force and finds it to be pretty disturbing stuff:
“„The institute deserves credit for having its first strategic priority be energy efficiency, but its other priorities and specific policy suggestions are wrongheaded and reflect the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s typical anti-regulatory, pro-pollution industry agenda. Jones’ Transition Plan calls for billions of dollars in subsidies for the nuclear and coal industry, a dramatic expansion in domestic oil and natural gas drilling into protected areas, and massive new energy industry tax breaks and loopholes.
“„Meanwhile, the plan argues that Congress should prevent regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under any existing state or federal law, and that “any new national climate change policy should be conditional on an international agreement that requires full international participation.” In short, the Institute’s climate change policy looks stunningly like that of the Bush administration: “Don’t just sit there, do nothing.”
As someone who’s praised Jones on energy issues, allow me to take my lumps on this. All this looks pretty bad. Is Jones’ support for alternative energy sources less than meets the eye?
