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Editorial: Senate tosses out flawed energy idea

Friday, April 19, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

On Thursday the Democratic-led Senate wisely rejected President Bush's plan to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Drilling in those environmentally sensitive lands would be harmful, and the amount of oil that could be tapped would not appreciably decrease the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

Rather than trashing the environment -- whether it's drilling in ANWR or trying to dump nuclear waste in Nevada -- Congress should adopt an energy policy that would incorporate sensible measures, such as increasing the fuel economy of cars and trucks. But most Republicans haven't looked at conservation and clean sources of energy -- such as solar, wind and geothermal -- because green power's supporters aren't big campaign contributors for GOP politicians. Until the GOP cuts its blind allegiance to the oil, coal and nuclear power industries, a national energy policy that recognizes the value of the environment will be impossible to attain.

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