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Murkowski, Bingaman agree on gasline issues Victory on CAFÉ amendments: pickup trucks exempt from new CAFÉ standards; DOT to establish fuel efficiency guidelines for cars Steve Sutherlin PNA Managing Editor
Sen. Frank Murkowski , R-Alaska, and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mexico, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, reached agreement on a number of issues affecting the proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline, Murkowski said in a March 15 statement.
Murkowski said issues “include the need to craft language that sets procedures in place for allocating initial gas capacity for the pipeline,” adding that language should be added for “any subsequent expansions that might be warranted based on new discoveries or additional needs in Lower 48 markets.”
Murkowski said Bingaman would help address lowering the overall risk associated with the project, and help develop clear and expedited procedures for resolving legal challenges during permitting and construction of the pipeline.
Murkowski is ranking Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Murkowski-favored CAFÉ amendments pass Requiring auto companies to build smaller trucks would adversely affect Alaskans and Alaska commerce, Murkowski said March 13 during debate on an amendment by Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., which would exempt pickup trucks from new corporate average fuel economy standards. The amendment passed, 56-44.
“For those of you who have never driven a pickup and gotten stuck in the snow, you need four-wheel drive to get out,” Murkowski said. “We wouldn’t have been able to develop the trans-Alaska pipeline without the U.S. made pickup that has a heavy undercarriage to withstand gravel roads.
“Automakers can make more fuel efficient pickups. There’s nothing in this amendment that would prevent this,” Murkowski said. “The reality is a pickup is a heavy piece of equipment designed to do a job.”
During floor debate on increasing CAFÉ standards, Murkowski said he supported the Bond-Levin amendment, which would allow the Department of Transportation to establish new fuel efficiency standards for automobiles through the federal rule making process. The Bond-Levin amendment passed on a 62-38 vote.
Murkowski said he rejected calls for immediate and arbitrary CAFÉ increases.
“We have about 15 different types of fuel in use around the country, yet we do not even address that issue in this bill,” Murkowski said. “We have proven we are not very good chemists in the United States Congress. We’re not very good automotive engineers, either.”
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