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Thune (R-SD): Bill “could bankrupt US air carriers.” We must wait for new technoloiges

[Congrats to Thune -- he found a new way to spin the same old "higher energy prices" talking point!]

Minimal environmental benefits (since no China, India, blah, blah)

Profound and devastating impact on our economy

Will increase gasoline prices extensively

After months of debating high gasoline prices, we are now considering legislation that would increase gasoline prices.

Big impact on the aviation sector, which has been crippled by high oil prices:


This bill would start by adding another $5 billion to US aviation fuel bill

At a $40 a ton of CO2 price, it would add $10 billion

The alternative fuels this bill promotes are not applicable to the aviation sector [not true -- I'll have to blog on this later]

This could bankrupt US air carriers

Cumbersome new bureaucracy

We need to lessen our dependence on foreign oil with technology [not sure how he envisions this happening]

Cites DOE study on possibility of wind being 20% of U.S. power.

This bill puts the cart before the horse.

We need to develop the technology before imposing mandates [apparently he didn't read the DOE wind study he cited that said we already have the technology] that pose an onerous burden on every part of our economy.

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