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Nelson: Time for energy plan is now

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By ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 - 06:00:25 pm CDT

U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson stopped in Lincoln Wednesday near the end of his two-day statewide tour to promote a new bipartisan energy plan he and nine other senators will try to push through Congress in September.

Calling themselves the “Gang of 10,” the five Republicans and five Democrats crafted a plan that focuses on getting more energy-efficient vehicles on the road, expanding conservation and promoting renewable energy projects and programs, and opening up more coastal areas for off-shore oil and gas drilling.

The plan includes giving drivers up to $7,500 to buy new advanced-fuel and fuel efficient vehicles; and $50,000 to gas station owners to install more E85 pumps (gas that contains 85 percent ethanol).

Story Photo
Sen. Ben Nelson
'Gang of 10' energy plan

A bipartisan group of Democrats and Republicans is proposing the New Energy Reform Act of 2008 to deal with the nation’s energy crisis and its energy future.

Some highlights:
  • 85 percent of America’s cars and trucks will run on non-petroleum fuel in two decades.
  • Tax credits of up to $7,500 to buy a new advanced-fuel and fuel-efficient vehicle, and up to $2,500 to upgrade older vehicles with advanced alternative fuel engines or for buying highly fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicles.
  • New areas of the Gulf of Mexico are opened to leasing; legislatures in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina and Georgia also could approve off-shore drilling.
  • Billions in bonds steered toward new renewable energy projects run by states, communities, tribes, public power utilities and electric cooperatives.
  • Gas station owners can obtain $50,000 per station to install new E85 pumps, so Nebraskans can fill up with ethanol produced and grown in the state.
  • $15 billion to develop advanced batteries and new alternative fuels technology; $2.5 billion to develop the generation biofuels sources from switchgrass or other ag waste materials.
  • Total cost of implementing new energy legislation is $84 billion.

“Our balanced and bipartisan bill is the best proposal to bring Congress together on this critical issue,” Nelson said. “Nebraskans and all Americans are suffering from sky high energy prices and Congress needs to get in gear now.”

Nelson kicked off his eight-city tour in Omaha Tuesday. Other stops included: South Sioux City, Ainsworth, Chadron, Trenton, Hastings, Lincoln and Mead.

Along the way, he visited an E85 gas station, ethanol plant, wind farm, woodchip-powered energy plant, active oil wells and a switchgrass field.

Nelson told an audience at the University of Nebraska East Campus Student Union Wednesday he and the other senators believe the energy legislation has a chance of succeeding, despite partisan politics in Washington, and the bad timing of the presidential election in November.

“The American people are aware of the crisis that exists and they expect solutions,” Nelson said.

The plan advocates opening up areas of the Gulf of Mexico for more oil and gas leasing and getting Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia to approve drilling for oil and gas off their shores. Coastal environmental protection also would be part of the plan.

“Nobody expects us to drill our way out of this,” Nelson said, adding that any new supplies would be for domestic use only.

Total cost of the energy legislation is $84 billion. Nelson said most of the money would come from lease revenues paid by the oil and gas industries and eliminating their tax advantages.

Ken Cassman, director of the Nebraska Center for Energy Science Research, said the plan is “a positive step forward because it recognizes that there is no silver bullet to the challenges ahead.”

Cassman, who was part of a panel that commented on the plan, said ethanol production will soon be the largest industry in the state and will help reduce this country’s energy use by 10 percent. He also praised the proposed investments in hybrid car technology and development of second-generation biofuels like switchgrass.

State Climatologist Al Dutcher said wind energy technology has improved in recent years and Great Plains states like Nebraska now have “good to almost excellent” wind energy potential. Before, much of the state was considered marginal, he said.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 402-473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.


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old guy wrote on August 13, 2008 7:00 pm:
" Just got to be in control. Laws about drilling, hauling and processing petroleum are somewhat suspect. Not one of the people who legislate for no production has ever gave up his oil and petroleum material auto, pickup, plane, train, boat, motorcycle nor the plastics, the medicines and the industry powering capability of petroleum. Mr Nelson how did you manage to get from Washington to Nebraska? How did you tour the state? Bet you it wasn't on a alcohol powered anything. You know darn well we need oil for power of everything. Did your plane have a wind powered electric motor pushing it across the 1500 miles to Neraska. And how about Stupid when the Chinese come drill in our neighborhood, right off the shore where we have "Laws" against drilling. Why don't you go down and arrest the Chinese drillers? You have your millions - why make us pilgrims of need so you are the richest man in Nebraska or wannabe? Get your head twisted on, gang of 10...gang is a good name but it should be a Gang of Hate... find another place to damage people and you know you are damaging people If you aren't where is there a viable alternative to Petroleum... ok, Petroleum and coal. You know not where, what, when, how, or who. There is not one single or a multitude of any power that even tiny little bit competes with fossil fuels even if you invent a thousand P.Bone Pickins. "
Kimbya wrote on August 13, 2008 7:04 pm:
" Nelson and his Gang seem to be dictating a special interest package. Why not just reduce or eliminate taxes rather than having another federal program? Nelson still hsan't figured out fewer vehicles should be on the roads; more people should have efficient and effective public transportation available. Home builders and home owners too need incentives to retrofit the spaces we live in so they are more efficient. Nelson has been working on energy policies since he was governor...and that has been a long long time ago. "
Mrs. Johnson wrote on August 13, 2008 8:05 pm:
" Ben Nelson went to DC and has turned into a true politician. More of Republican than a Democrat. He's either lining his pockets or those of his big money supporters. He needs to retire and spend all the money he's made representing himself and friends. "
Stan wrote on August 13, 2008 8:43 pm:
" Mass transportation isn't just something for big cities. Lincoln really could use an expansion of an airport shuttle service that uses more efficient vehicles and is door to airport. OMA LNK is a pioneer in this but times are somewhat limited. Also, tax credits for use of the city bus system would be a way to develop and grow that system. Detroit had its chance and failed, Steel prices will continue to go up and use allot of energy so more fuel efficient vehicles on the road is not going to reduce demand for energy, only shift the burden and create another problem. "
whatever wrote on August 13, 2008 8:57 pm:
" The time for an energy plan was over 30 years ago prior to the Carter Administration. Carter was the last president that tried to do anything about the energy crisis. So hear we go again the same old problems lot's of talk and absolutely no action. Why should we expect anything different this time around Sen. Nelson? "
BEN S. ALLTALK wrote on August 13, 2008 8:57 pm:
" Ben is all talk, no walk. Where was he back in 2001 and 2002? Oh yeah ... that's right ... he was busy voting to block an up-or-down vote on opening up Alaska's ANWR, which could hold an estimated 17 billion barrels of oil. The same ANWR oil & natural gas production that would create about 1 million jobs nationwide.

Ben, like the 9/11 memorials say, WE WON'T FORGET! "
Mark wrote on August 13, 2008 8:58 pm:
" Just another selfish, self-centered, me-first-only politician catering to the wealthy at the expense of the poor while they continue to rape the planet for their own selfish gain. "
Nelsons More Now Plan wrote on August 13, 2008 9:27 pm:
" Johanns can’t go wrong by supporting the Nelson More Energy Plan. More oil drilling for More oil users for More subsidies to the oil industry will need More taxes to subsidize More vehicles. Off shore drilling won’t make us less dependent on foreign nations in the long run, just until the reserves are depleted then the USA will be More dependent on Russian Oil and risks are More likely troops will again be in More wars to fight for oil. Nelson and Johanns look More and More alike, and More like Cheney and the neoCons who oppose Conservation and Diplomacy as the basis of policy. Nelson sits on the Armed Services Committee and works for More military solutions and More tax dollars to be spent on Defense. "
Paul Rudolph wrote on August 13, 2008 9:34 pm:
" Sen. Nelson is wrong. We can and will "drill our way out of this." The law of supply and demand is constant. New oil can start to flow within the year. Only Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid stand in the way. Please tell all the congressional people to drill now.

Paul Rudolph "
Al wrote on August 13, 2008 11:46 pm:
" Unfortunate for old school economistss, finite economics is here and there is a finite amount of oil. The supply demand curve has a new twist, there is a cap. Policy aimed at meeting demand simply will drive costs up for a nation built around the myth of "cheap oil forever".Nelson should be suggesting cities receive $50000 for each 1000 drivers of cars they can successfully reform into using public transportation. "
Julio wrote on August 14, 2008 12:24 am:
" Those E85 fumes must be affecting Nelson’s sense of reason. Adding incentives for more pumps with a subsidy @ $50,-000 per pump doesn’t make a lick of sense. Ethanol is only a small part of an energy/environmental solution; creating added demand for a fuel that has limited global production capacity is silly. The USA already has to import ethanol from Brazil to meet Congressional mandates. Imagine how limited supplies will have high costs following. If there is a global energy crisis on the horizon, then the environment and cities would benefit from programs that encourage cities to retrofit their infrastructures to accommodate less dependence on mass consumption/use of oil and its derivatives. The gang has a gaggle of remedies that are as poorly planned as was the plan in Iraq after defeating Saddam. "
MarkyMark wrote on August 14, 2008 9:12 am:
" Ben is one of the fairest guys in the Senate. He is dissed by Republicans for being a Democrat and dissed by Democrats for acting Republican. Too bad all politicians aren't less partisan. We need more like Ben. "
Research of recent... wrote on August 14, 2008 10:38 am:
" Research of recent votes on gas price relief legislation shows republican obstructionism in the House of Representatives on July 24th on House Resolution 6578. It was rushed to the floor under suspension of house rules meaning a 2/3 vote was needed to pass. Its aim was IMMEDIATE relief at the pump. It got 62%.....268-157. All 157 voting in favor of Arab oil sheiks over you and me were republicans. Furthermore, all three of Nebraska's representatives voted in favor of Arab oil sheikhs. That ain't right.....that ain't why I voted to send them there.

Then, in the United States Senate, on July 25th Senate Bill 3268 came up for vote to stop "specultion" and tighten regulation on energy trading to stop the gouging of citizens. The cloture motion failed 50-43 on party line vote. Again, Senate republicans siding with Arab oil interests over ours. I've had it!

This election I will vote democrats right down the ticket, somwething I've NEVER done before.

We HAVE to change what is going on here.

Obama can't do it alone. He needs support in the house and senate.

Vote for Kleeb, Yashirin, Esch and HOPE for the CHANGE we need so desperately need. "
bo wrote on August 14, 2008 10:41 am:
" Inflation at fastest pace in 17 years.

thats got to be bill clintons fault some how right? "
same old game wrote on August 14, 2008 4:42 pm:
" Note to Senator Nelson: The time for an energy plan, dear Senator, was 35 years ago. And, what you are proposing here is NOT an energy plan, but instead the usual giveaway funneling billions of taxpayer dollars to giant agribusiness companies, and undeserving automobile companies whose executives spent that past three decades since the last energy crisis aggressively marketing and selling Americans ever-larger vehicles because they made more profit on them and, worse, instead of investing those profits in alternative energy vehicles they paid exorbitant salaries to undeserving executives. You and your Gang of 10, Mr. Senator, are the best government (big) money can buy. "

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