by Dennis T. Avery (NAPS)—The Kyoto energy treaty, might permanently drive gas, coal, and electricity to the equivalent of $5 to $7 per gallon gasoline. High commuting costs would punish the suburbs and the energy rationing. Even so,the first phase of Kyoto is unlikely to reduce world fossil fuel use very much. Europealready inflicts high fuel prices on its industries, and Third World countries have refused to sign the treaty. and still hasn’t fully complied with Kyoto’s first phase! The U.S. Senate voted 95-0 before the Kyoto conference against any international energy wave goodbye to SUVS, snowmobiles, fel(e) ef: and weekenddrives. Warming Thefirst phase of pr the Kyoto treaty thus likely to be a shift of factory and farming jobs from the United U.S. to cut energy use at least 30 percent from projected levels, 1970’s. After 2015, U.S. energy emis- agreement that did not include Third World countries. That’s why the administration hasn’t offered the treaty for Senateratification. The Energy Department’s Dan Reicher testified to Congress in 1999 that he hopedfor a tripling of renewable power generation by 2010—which would still supply only 3 percent of America’s current powerneeds. the Kyoto caps, and would force dramatic cuts in U.S. energy use. low with the Hudson Institute of Indianapolis and a former inter- ing drivers close to $5 per gallon— U.S. Department of State. The auto industry as we would require the according to Vice President Gore. Other experts suggest that increase could be as much as 40 percent. That would mean a huge price hike for all fossil fuels—or Kyoto’s first major impact is States to coal-burning countries like China and India. The Midwest could lose more jobs than in the “Rust Belt” days of the sions would be 50 percent above Britain has recently been charg- Dennis T. Avery is a seniorfel- national policy analyst with the
