Until a more fluid, better-managed system of transmission is worked out, Makovich and others analysts predict transmission bottlenecks in large urban areas, such as New York, the Northeast, California and perhaps Chicago. Bush's advisers say they are aware of the potential for such problems but are not racing to offer solutions. That task has been left to the group headed by Cheney, and made up of Bush's secretaries of energy, treasury, agriculture, transportation, commerce, interior and the administrator of the environmental protection agency. Senate Republicans are developing a comprehensive energy bill that appears to track closely with Bush's preferences. It would not only allow the drilling of oil and natural gas in the Arctic refuge but also extend new drilling incentives, such as tax breaks, to the oil industry, according to a draft outline of the bill obtained by the Tribune.
Conservation is part of it, yes, more efficiency in energy use, yes.
But you can't keep shrinking the pie of supply and on the other hand pull down your demand and grow your economy. California is a perfect example of what we are talking about here. Democrats don't necessarily disagree. While Democrats are loath to loosen environmental standards, the California crisis has pointed up just how politically sensitive a power shortage can be. Even die-hard liberals face real problems with rising energy prices in their states, something that may work in favor of Bush's energy plan.