The Badger Herald

Skyrocketing energy costs and global climate change were the topics atop the isthmus Monday as legislators and energy officials gathered to discuss the country’s efforts to achieve independence from foreign oil.

The informational seminar was hosted by the Madison-based nonprofit Customers First! Coalition that works to provide low-cost, environmentally friendly energy to Wisconsinites.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, joined CFC in celebrating the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed into law by President George W. Bush in December.

The act mandates the new standard for fuel efficiency be 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Additionally, it requires fuel producers to use at least 36 billion gallons of biofuel by 2022, up from 7 billion gallons in 2007.

“This bill takes some big strides toward reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and confronting global warming,” Baldwin said. “It lowers energy costs for consumers and creates hundreds of thousands of new jobs, strengthening our economy.”

The EISA also provides for a phase out of traditional incandescent light bulbs by 2012. 

According to Robert Talley, an energy lobbyist in Washington for Talley & Associates, these changes will not have an effect on heating bills or gas prices in the near future but will lower costs in the foreseeable future.

“There’s not much Congress can do immediately to lower gas costs, lower energy costs in general,” Talley said. “On the longer term, that’s not the case.”

Talley applauded Congress for its quick action in 2007, saying that to get an energy bill done in nine months was “astounding.”

Dan Ebert, chair of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, said he believes both the federal government and the state government are headed in the right direction in energy policy.

Gov. Jim Doyle’s energy plan allows for extended research into biofuels and demands more renewable energy sources.

“The time has come to bring together [Doyle’s] leadership and the vision he has laid out and bring the state into a partnership with local communities,” Ebert said. “We really do have an opportunity as a state to make some significant steps forward.”

Baldwin hopes to continue promoting legislation that will reduce the cost of energy, including creating a cap and trade system and regulating railroads in an effort to bring down the cost of coal.

In her remarks in support of railroad regulation, Baldwin pointed to Dairyland Power Cooperative in La Crosse, which provides power to more than five million residents in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota.

Dairyland is a coal burning plant that receives all of its coal via rail. Since the rail companies have so little competition, it now costs Dairyland $75 million to receive $30 million worth of coal, forcing the plant to pass the costs onto consumers.

Baldwin said this cost could be avoided with increased regulation.

“These efforts are laying a groundwork for what the 111th Congress and the 44th president of the United States will undertake next year,” Baldwin said. “This effort this year will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, invigorate our economy and restore our standing in the world on this issue.”

Both Baldwin and Talley implied energy reform legislation would be quickly pushed through following the inauguration of any of the three remaining presidential candidates.