U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) has promised Alaska Sen. Frank Murkowski (R) that his energy bill, which is backed by oil interests, will be one of the first five bills introduced in the Senate this year. A draft of the bill proposes more drilling for oil and gas on federal lands, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, as well as millions of dollars to revive nuclear power as a major energy source. Murkowski said, “Consumers want power. New power plants have to be built.” The draft also includes some incentives for conservation and renewable energy. In times like these, where won’t oil drilling occur? Maybe, Florida? Jeb Bush (R), the state’s governor and baby brother to the president, sent a letter this week to the Interior Department opposing oil drilling off Florida’s coast.
