Barbara Boxer: “I will vote against the energy bill because it is a bad bill for California and the nation. The bill includes an ethanol…”

“I will vote against the energy bill because it is a bad bill for California and the nation. The bill includes an ethanol mandate for California that will raise gas prices. Cleaner air for California can be achieved without this mandate. Ethanol has been given a liability waiver if there are adverse consequences from its use. I tried to eliminate this waiver but lost on a 42-57 vote. We already know that ethanol may spread plumes of harmful chemicals, such as benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene. So this is a dangerous waiver. The energy bill does not do enough to protect consumers from another electricity crisis. I worked to include a measure in this bill that would have guarded against future market manipulation by companies like Enron by increasing oversight of the electricity market. Companies would be far less likely to gouge consumers if these additional protections were in place, but the Senate refused to pass this vital measure. Also, I am disappointed that the Senate walked away from reasonable fuel economy standards and stronger air conditioner efficiency standards, which are so important to our environment and to lessening our dependence on foreign oil. The 'good guys' have had few wins. We were able to keep the provision of the bill to provide tax credits for alternative energy sources and alternative fuel vehicles.”