Rep. Billy Tauzin on the Bush Energy Plan

Rep. W. J. "Billy" Tauzin is the Congressional representative from Louisiana's Third District. A member of Congress since 1980, he is currently the Deputy Majority Whip as well as Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Rep. Tauzin also serves on the House Resources Committee.

CNN Moderator: Welcome, Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA), to tonight's Crossfire chat.

Representative Billy Tauzin: Thanks. Glad to be here.

CNN Moderator: Is this really a national energy crisis? If so, how serious is it?

Representative Billy Tauzin: It's building into one. We are now nearly 60% dependent on foreign oil. We produce 14% less natural gas than we did in 1973. We have not built a new gasoline refinery in America since 1976. Our pipelines are inadequate; they break down. Our electric grids are filled with bottlenecks. It's more like a time-bomb ticking. California is just the beginning.

IN-DEPTH The Energy Crunch     THIS WEEK Bush proposals to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil   RESOURCES Read the energy plan     ALSO Bush energy plan includes coal-burning power plants Surveys: Summer fuel costs won't deter motorists     MESSAGE BOARD Energy crunch

CNN Moderator: What is your opinion about the charges that the Bush energy plan does not put enough emphasis on energy conservation?

Representative Billy Tauzin: Over 50% of the recommendations are either conservation measures, or alternative and renewable fuel incentive recommendations. My committee will enact legislation on these recommendations. I can assure you the first bill we will pass will be an omnibus conservation bill. Demand reduction must be our first order of business.

Question from chat room: Would you admit that the problem is not so much supply, but processing and delivery and with that in mind will drilling in Alaska really help?

Representative Billy Tauzin: No, it is also supply. We are planning some 270 new power plants today. 92% will require natural gas. We cannot buy that from OPEC. We've got to either produce it at home, or build pipelines from Canada or Alaska. Secondly, our dependency on OPEC, and that includes Iraq, is now 60% and growing. That's foolish national policy. It threatens national security, and it's unwise economically to depend upon undependable sources.

CNN Moderator: How will the international community react to the nuclear energy proposals in the administration's energy plan?

Representative Billy Tauzin: I think favorably. Most other nations rely upon nuclear energy to a much larger extent than does the United States. France, for example, receives 80% of its electricity from nuclear generation. Most other countries almost laugh at our failure to take advantage of the clean and safe power of the new nuclear technologies that are available to us here in America.

Question from chat room: How much is the Bush "Isolationist Policy" affecting U.S. relations with OPEC, the U.N., and ultimately, help with alternative fuel supplies?

Representative Billy Tauzin: I don't agree that the Bush administration is isolationist. I think the administration, correctly, reminds us today of how insecure our future is in the light of previous OPEC oil embargoes, and Middle East wars.

Question from chat room: Bio-mass fuels are a renewable resource, but not cheap. Will the Congress enact legislation to promote the use of these fuels?

Representative Billy Tauzin: The Bush plan recommends tax incentives for renewable fuels such as bio-mass, and it is likely that Congress will respond favorably.

Question from chat room: How will you make Americans aware of the benefits of the U.S. producing it's own fuels as we research alternative means of Energy for our Electric Production and Automobiles?

Representative Billy Tauzin: I think shortages and high prices are making the case for America to produce more of its own energy resources. But one only has to remember back to the Persian Gulf War, to consider that sacrificing the young men and women of America to defend someone else's oil fields is a much less desirable policy than putting them to work in America's oil and gas fields.

Question from chat room: Does the energy policy address the need for the safe disposal of nuclear waste?

Representative Billy Tauzin: Yes. The policy recommends a quick resolution of the nuclear waste issue, as well as changes in the tax code to allow the trust funding of the commissioning funds in advance of any new nuclear construction.

Question from chat room: What about reducing the gas tax?

Representative Billy Tauzin: A possible option. The problem, of course, is that the gas tax is dedicated to road construction. So, while we might have two or three cent reduction in pump prices, we might have expensive repairs resulting from all the potholes.

Question from chat room: Don't we already have renewable alternate energy sources that could start being used right now, like the fuel cell?

Representative Billy Tauzin: Yes. There are two hybrid fuel cell cars on the market today. There will be many more in the near future. Our conservation package will include incentives for Americans to buy and use these high-mileage, low-emission vehicles.

Question from chat room: The French reliance on nuclear energy has been largely made possible by outreach educational efforts. Do you envision a similar effort in the US?

Representative Billy Tauzin: One is obviously necessary. Americans remain skeptical of nuclear power, because of memories of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. Education should include information on the extraordinarily safe new technologies that are so much improved since the days of those incidents.

Question from chat room: The Arctic Wildlife Refugee has been kept in a sacred trust for the people of America is this trust being broken?

Representative Billy Tauzin: No. The plans for production on a 2000-acre footprint include new production technologies, seasonal activities which respect the caribou herds, and other new environmental technologies, which will both preserve the ANWR and produce revenues for its preservation.

Question from chat room: I like the idea of a 70 MPG Hybrid Car. They just need to be affordable. How can this be accomplished in an expeditious manner?

Representative Billy Tauzin: The two models currently available are priced relatively comparable to mid-priced vehicles in America. Prices are expected to remain comparable to regular gasoline and diesel powered vehicles.

Question from chat room: Will the intent of foreign industry to develop renewable energy sources while we invest little money result in an eventual increase in cost to Americans when we need to import the technology?

Representative Billy Tauzin: Good question. Obviously, renewable energy technology should and can be developed here in the good old U.S. of A. Part of the administration's incentive programs are designed to do that.

Question from chat room: Why is it that every single house doesn't have solar panels on the roof? The energy is always there, why aren't we using it?

Representative Billy Tauzin: Because solar panels are somewhat expensive, and current systems are difficult to maintain. Most current systems rely upon battery storage, and anyone familiar with batteries knows the problem. New systems will be equipped with technology recently developed at Sandia Labs, which will permit a homeowner or business to connect the solar panel system to the electric grid in a process called "net metering." This process allows the homeowner to actually sell power to the electric company when the house or business does not require it, and could produce two good results. One, more energy in the grid, and two, cheaper operating expenses as the credits earned would offset the cost of energy used. The energy department here in Washington is currently equipping its roof with one of the most extensive solar panel systems in the country.

Question from chat room: Why do SUV's still have a minimum mileage exemption? Let's start there. Isn't it clear the cars companies have found a loophole & are exploiting it?

Representative Billy Tauzin: No, the current CAFE standard, or fuel-mileage standard, for the auto industry, is fleet based. And the industry must produce much more efficient vehicles as part of the fleet to offset less-efficient vehicles in other parts of their fleet. SUVs were exempted because they were then considered trucks rather than cars in the fleet. Obviously, this exemption now comes under close scrutiny.

CNN Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts for us?

Representative Billy Tauzin: Thanks for joining me in the chat room, but remember, it takes an awful lot of energy to keep the Internet on and running! Bon Voyage! :)

CNN Moderator: Thank you for joining us this evening!

Representative Billy Tauzin: Bye!

The above is an edited transcript of a chat with Representative Billy Tauzin. The Representative joined the CNN.com chat room via telephone from Washington, D.C. on May 17, 2001. CNN provided a typist.

Check out the CNN Chat calendar
Post your opinion on our message boards

Bush unveils national energy plan
May 17, 2001
Bush ready to release 'optimistic' energy plan
May 16, 2001

CNN In-Depth: The Energy Crunch
Congressman Billy Tauzin
Department of Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
American Electric Power Company

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.