As for Virginia, I fear we'll be waiting a long time for reform with both Democrats and Republicans serously addicted to Dominion-Virginia Power's money (actually, its our money as rate payers). Glen Besa

Incentives for more and better hybrids should have been included.  Not all car companies make them.  I am disappointed that Honda is discontinuing the Accord hybrid (it is retaining the Civic one).  There are far too few manufacturers who are providing them.  And the Prius needs some competition.  Now that we know it has overcome the supposed limitation of power (we dems learned the hard way, through the son of one of our illustrious leaders,that the Prius can go over 100, we know it can't be too gutless.  Not that I'd ever test it at ridiculously high speeds.

We need more energy efficient electronic and appliance products.

We should legislate the rebirth of the electric car, which works, but was burried by the cooperation of GM, big oil, and the administration (ref "Who Killed the Electric Car?") Despite mythology otherwise, electric vehicles are useful and effective for many drivers.  I know a physicist who drives one.  And there are kits which actually do retrofit vehicles.

We need a recommmitment to real mass transit.  No more half-way atempts like Portland's light rail, whose parking areas are so small they can't possibly mean business.  While I was there recently, we attempted to sue the train to go downtown two different days and couldn't because there was no parking.  One train station I know of there has zero parking.

On the CFL matter, I am all for widening the use of CFLs for all kinds of uses.  It's great to see an increasing variety of CFLs to replace virtually all the specialized bulbs wee need a substitute for.  But let's be real, the corporate world was asked to do far too little.

Since corporations won't do the right thing (and won't be requried to), now we will have to do it the indirect way and punish in the market place those companies which won't produce hybrids, those which inhibit alternate fuel vehicles, etc.  We did it in the 70s.  We and our children and grandchildren must do it again.  This time, though, we need three generations all working together.  Maybe that will produce lasting results.  But I am not counting on it.

You don't see too many incandescent light bulbs in office buildings, and most commercial glass far exceeds the energy efficiency of a standard home.  You can even look to Google, Yahoo, and other large Internet companies that are looking for ways to reduce the energy costs of their giant server farms.  So, I would not be too harsh on corporate America as a whole. 

I keep praying to myself, wait till '09 with a Democratic President, 240 members in the house and about 54 Senators. May the prays be answered and 8 years of neglect overridden.

On Saturday, UCS and all supporters of clean energy achieved an important milestone when the U.S. House of Representatives passed an energy bill that would significantly boost the nation's energy security and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

For the first time in history, the House passed an energy package that included a national renewable electricity standard requiring electric utilities to obtain at least 15 percent of their power from a combination of energy efficiency and renewable sources-such as the wind and sun. If passed into law, this standard would not only be a significant step forward in combating global warming, but would also create jobs and save consumers money on their electric bills.

UCS, our allies, and activists have been working for years in Washington, D.C. and key states to pressure Congress to enact a national renewable electricity standard. UCS staff worked with leaders in the House to draft the legislation-providing innovative, practical solutions to address America's energy needs. Earlier this summer, we released new economic analysis showing how a national standard would benefit 20 key states whose representatives were not yet supporters of this critical legislation. And we mobilized thousands of people to write, email, and call their representatives urging support for renewable energy. And all our hard work paid off when the House voted 220-190 to pass a renewable standard. The House bill also provides tax incentives for clean, renewable energy.

Unfortunately, the House version of the energy bill did not include fuel economy targets for automobiles. We were successful, however, in fending off automaker efforts to pass fuel economy standards that would have been far weaker than those included in the Senate version of the Energy Bill passed in June. The result is an Energy Bill in the House that has a renewable electricity standard but no fuel economy provision, and an Energy Bill in the Senate with meaningful fuel economy regulations, but no renewable electricity standard.

Congress will begin the process of reconciling the House and Senate Energy Bills in a conference committee when they return from recess in September. In order to turn this historic progress into actual law, we will have to redouble our efforts to ensure strong, clean energy standards and strong fuel economy standards are included in the final version.

But, for now, let's celebrate together what we have already accomplished. Your calls, letters, and meetings with your representatives played a critical role in advancing practical, vital solutions to the problem of global warming. Thank you.