Congressional debate in N.O. focuses on U.S. energy policy

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“You pay once at the (gas) pump; you should not pay again on April 15,” said Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.

But Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said that transmission lines are needed to get alternative energy sources to the nation’s power “grid.”

“It’s no good to have solar (energy) or wind out in west Texas if you can’t get it to the grid,” Upton said.

Panelists from both parties agreed to support legislation to stimulate construction of a transmission network for alternative energy sources.

Democrats blamed the energy crisis on the “poor” management of the Bush administration, which has been in office almost eight years.

“This will change Jan. 20, 2009,” Inslee said, predicting the inauguration of Democrat Barack Obama.

Republicans, meanwhile, blamed the energy crisis on impediments placed in the way of the energy industry by Congress and, policy decisions dating to the Democratic Clinton administration, and the allegedly undue influence of environmentalists.

“You know why the Internet has been so successful?” Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., quipped to the crowd. “Because Congress hasn’t found a way to screw it up.”

Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., who cheered the fledgling revival of the nation’s nuclear power industry, said both parties are responsible for not making “the next generation of research and technology” a national priority.

Other panelists included Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., and Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif.