Jones’ Problematic Energy-Policy Views

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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 Plancalls for billions of dollars in subsidies for the nuclearand coal industry, a dramatic expansion in domestic oil and natural gas drillinginto protected areas, and massive new energy industry tax breaks and loopholes.

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Meanwhile, the plan argues that Congress should prevent regulation of greenhouse gas emissionsunder 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.”