"This energy bill contains a five billion gallon ethanol mandate that will subsidize corn production in the Midwest at the expense of higher gas prices in New England; it provides a liability waiver to the makers of MTBE that has contaminated groundwater and a number of wells in Maine; and it provides billions of dollars in subsidies for oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy production.
"I am equally disappointed with what appears to have been excluded from the bill as with that which has been included in the bill. I have seen no indication that the bill will require any of our electricity to come from clean, renewable energy sources; I see no indication that the bill will reduce our reliance on foreign oil by increasing automobile fuel efficiency or mandating oil savings; and I see no indication that the bill will do anything to address climate change.
"I call on the conference committee to reject any bill that does not contain an appropriate balance between energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy production, and environmental protection."