Energy and climate, March Madness-style

Barton Region

1. No Bill. With hundreds of battles fought, millions of dollars spent, and more than a little blood, sweat and trash-talk exchanged among those in the top-tier of the contest—what happens if the Final Four participants arrive in Indianapolis, site of this year’s NCAA championship, only to find the final game (and tournament!) has been canceled? At least they’ll have a beautiful stadium to admire—Lucas Oil Stadium, that is.
2. S. 2776 (Clean Energy Act of 2009): With Tennessee reeling after the dismissal of its star guard/forward earlier this season, and neither Virginia nor Virginia Tech receiving an invitation to the 2010 field, one would think an energy and climate bill written by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Jim Webb (D-Va.) would be DOA on Capitol Hill. Not so fast. Easily the most nuclear energy-friendly bill currently being considered by Congress, the Webb-Alexander plan has received warm praise from both sides of the aisle—even if the offense it puts on the floor is largely one-dimensional.
3. H.R. 2486 (American Energy Act): A plucky mid-major (think George Mason) whose prospects for victory were far stronger in 2006 than they are today, the House Republicans’ American Energy Act—while still regrettably picks winners and losers—includes a slate of supply-oriented energy provisions that poll incredibly well with the fans, but not so well with the committee charged with choosing this year’s field. A streamlining of the byzantine nuclear permitting process, a robust proposal to expand domestic energy exploration offshore, and a plan to kick-start the nation’s oil shale recovery work—this bill has it all, everything except a bus ticket to get it to the field house.
4. S. 1462 (Dorgan amendment to American Clean Energy Leadership Act): The Destin Dome may not be hosting any tournament games this March—but it does happen to host one of the largest remaining natural gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico. If the Bingaman team decides to split up the team and pursue free agency, the Dorgan amendment to S. 1462, which seeks to unlock the Dome, is likely to be a highly sought-after addition to any contender in a position to make a final push.

With that, it’s time to sit back, fasten your seat belts (and wallets), and let March Madness on Capitol Hill take hold. Who do we see emerging from the talented field above? Will this year’s tournament turn out to be lay-up line for supporters of government-led action on carbon, or just another air ball?  And we’ve got five bucks that says it’ll be a winner in 2010.

Thomas J. Pyle is the president of the Institute for Energy Research and the American Energy Alliance.