The House of Representatives is preparing to vote THIS WEEK on an energy bill that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other pristine wilderness to oil and gas drilling, provide tens of billions of dollars to the fossil fuel and nuclear industries, and increase air pollution from coal-fired power plants.

Comments are needed now to inform lawmakers that this plan is radically out of step with the majority of Americans. Please take a moment to DEMAND A RESPONSIBLE ENERGY POLICY!

NRDC has set up an action page that will send an urgent email or fax to your representative. Click on this link to take action now: http://www.nrdcaction.org/index.asp?step=2&item=537

See below for more information about this issue. Thanks for your time and concern.

-----------------------------------------------
NRDC Earth Action Center
Stay Informed. Speak Out. Make a Difference. http://www.nrdc.org/action
-----------------------------------------------

Background:

Instead of investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in a serious way, the House energy bill proposes huge new tax breaks for the oil and coal industries -- even though energy companies are currently making record-breaking profits. And rather than raising fuel economy standards adequately, the bill ducks the issue by offering a provision that will do almost nothing to help reduce gasoline use, and could actually increase fuel consumption. Meanwhile, the bill would encourage development of more coal-fired power plants -- the dirtiest source of energy, responsible for premature deaths, asthma, mercury poisoning, acid rain, and global warming -- and would also promote new investments in nuclear power, increasing the risks of nuclear weapon proliferation and contamination from nuclear waste.

Between now and the time the House votes on the bill, bipartisan amendments will be offered to save the Arctic Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas drilling and increase vehicle fuel economy standards. Other amendments may seek to preserve stronger federal oversight of drilling operations on sensitive public lands, and reduce subsidies in the current bill for polluting industries.