It's A Start

I'm not at all convinced that the incoming Congress really understands how important an issue climate change is and the urgent need for really serious measures. But things have got to be better than when the Republican Party, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exxon-Mobile, was running things. Today's EEI newsletter indicates that there's hope:

Rep. Dingell Signals Intent to Consider Renewables, Climate Change
Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., said he plans to promote energy efficiency and renewables while advancing policies to deal with climate change when he becomes chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Dow Jones Newswires reported. Dingell added that House Democrats intend to investigate the workings of the energy task force assembled by Vice President Dick Cheney early in the Bush administration.

Bill Wicker, spokesman for Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., the likely new chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said Senate Democrats would probably not seek to investigate or overturn provisions in the energy bill.

Meanwhile, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy predicted that renewables and energy efficiency measures are expected to be a focus for the next Congress. Steven Nadel, executive director of the council, was quoted as saying: "The new House leadership will advance energy policies that did not get airtime in the last Congress, and some of these have shown support in the Senate. We could therefore see progress on key energy efficiency issues that have not moved in the past."
Dow Jones Newswires , Nov. 8; Washington Post , Nov. 9.