Monday, May 14, 2007

Our nation has just experienced one of the worst attacks in its history. While the specifics are still emerging, it's already clear that Middle Eastern terrorists are behind what happened. The United States most definitely will respond, but when considering military or other action in that part of the world there's always a wild card -- oil.

Wouldn't it have been great if President Bush, or some leader in this country, had turned the Sept. 11 tragedy into something we all know should have been started decades ago: America's determined march to energy independence? None of us would have opposed such a campaign at that time. By now, 51/2 years later, we would have made substantial progress.

Instead, our leaders failed us then on this issue, as they have for too long. We remain as reliant on foreign oil as ever. That means we're vulnerable too, vulnerable to anger in the Middle East, to shenanigans in Venezuela, to the profit demands of our own Big Oil.

But there may be a glimmer of hope.

A bill is advancing in Congress that would require mile-per-gallon standards for all cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. to increase by 4 percent annually. Come 2020, the average fuel-efficiency standard would be 35 miles per gallon for the U.S. fleet, up from 25 miles per gallon today.

The Senate bill, sponsored by Maine Republican Olympia Snowe and Senate Democrat Dianne Feinstein, is criticized in some quarters for having too many loopholes.

The Christian Science Monitor quotes experts saying there are ways for automakers to avoid the benchmarks if meeting them proves "too onerous." American automakers, who rely more on SUV and pickup truck sales than their foreign competitors do, also have resisted parts of the proposal.

What we like about the legislation is that it could, if enacted and consistently enforced, simultaneously ease our reliance on foreign oil, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and -- this may be the best part -- put our country on stronger footing when dealing with Arab oil barons and mercurial world leaders like Hugo Chavez.

This measure won't solve our energy and national-security ills, not by a long shot. Bolder steps and greater vision are still sorely needed, as is conservation to diminish our demand. But passing the fuel-efficiency standards would be a step in the right direction.

With gas selling here in Maine for close to $3 a gallon, our message to automakers in Detroit, Japan and Europe is, "Take your medicine. Meet or exceed 35 miles per gallon. And please, hurry."