From CCNC's Legislative Watch

More Presidential Talk on Energy
President Bush used part of his State of the Union address this week to call for a major expansion in the use of alternative fuels (mostly ethanol and biodiesel) and more-efficient vehicles as a means of cutting dependence on oil. In theory, his proposal asks Congress to cut U.S. gasoline use by 20 percent by 2017.
Unfortunately, he once again declined to support the use of strengthened auto fleet fuel-economy standards as a means to pursue that end. As a result, his proposal is likely to be as empty as last year's Presidential proclamation that "America is addicted to oil."
For example, his coming budget proposal is expected to include $2 billion in loan guarantees for cellulosic ethanol plants. Yes, and the 2005 energy bill pushed by the Administration included (in theory) an authorization for $3.8 billion worth of conservation and renewable-energy programs—most of which have remained unfunded in fact. Actual Energy Department requests for renewable fuel and efficiency program appropriations have remained flat over the past six years.
The PR folks at the White House clearly understand that the public likes the sound of cutting oil use and substituting more clean, renewable fuels and efficiency. It's a pity that those who are setting the real priorities in this Administration don't seem to have much interest in following through.

Hackney Elected Speaker:
Joe Hackney has been the voice of environmental conscience in the N.C. General Assembly for over 25 years, and has been a consistent friend of CCNC during that time as well. As one of North Carolina's outstanding career legislative environmental champions, he is truly one of "ours". Congratulations, Joe!
Also elected to House leadership was Rep. William Wainwright (D-Craven), chosen as Speaker Pro Tem. Both Hackney and Wainwright were elected on party-line votes of 68-52. In the Senate, Sen. Marc Basnight (D-Dare) and Sen. Charlie Dannelly (D-Mecklenburg) were elected president pro tem and deputy president pro tem, respectively.

Campaign Watch:
New Mexico's governor Bill Richardson, a former Energy Secretary under Bill Clinton, kicked off a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination this week. While presidential candidates have become rather thick on the ground lately, Richardson gets a special mention in CIB because he gained a solidly pro-environmental reputation as a Cabinet secretary in the Clinton Administration. With his strong background in energy issues as well, we hope that his entry into the race will help to focus additional attention to the environment as the campaign progresses. Richardson also served 15 years in Congress, and a year as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.