European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 28, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                R conservation id. In it on i s an. � 15 in a on in Tho while House dismantled a solar collector Carler installed on the roof for heating water. The transportation department rolled Back new ear mileage standards to 26 mites per gallon for 1987 and 1988 models from 27.5 mpg. General motors corp. And Ford motor co. Sought the reversal because More customers Are buying big cats. Pm says its Fla twide average will slip from 28.4 Miles per gallon last year to 26.1 mpg this year. The general services administration announced plans to ease government thermostat salting from 68 degrees to 70 in the Winter and from 80 degrees to 78 in the summer. The Agency said cheating on the current rules is common. Congress in revamping the tax system let die most lax incentives to develop alternate Energy sources. The House Energy and Commerce committee merged its Energy conservation and Power subcommittee into us Fossil fuels subcommittee. The Reagan administration s 19b5 National Energy policy plan said that conservation depends on tens of millions of individuals and organizations and thai compulsory efficiency standards can impose substantial unnecessary costs on the  and this year the administration came in Ullh another budget proposal for the Energy department that critics say will barely keep conservation programs alive. I m appalled said Tina Hobson head of Energy department outreach programs in the Carter administration and now executive director of the fund Lor renewable Energy and the environment. Her organization is itself a sign of the times. It s the result of a 1986 merger of the solar lobby and the Center for renewable resources who found it Milf cull to survive alone according to the Energy conservation and Power subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce committee the administration is seeking $94 million Lor development of renewable Energy sources solar panels windmills hydroelectric dams and of her non Luel sources and $86 million for conservation programs and Grants to the states Congress last year provided $146 million for renewable and �375 million for conservation including Grants to the states. The administration now proposes to cancel $112 million in Grants on the grounds hat some s3 billion in Oil company overcharge refunds will go to the states and they Don t need Federal funds the sub Commilee s analysis noles that in 1961 conservation got $802 million and renewable �777 million nuclear fission research would gel $593 million Down from $613 million and Fossil fuel research would gel s369 million compared with �450 million. The department is olten criticized Tor Over emphasizing military activities building nuclear bombs and warship reactors. The subcommittee s analysis says weapons spending will be 65 percent of the department s total under the president s request up from 61 percent this year and 39 percent in Carter s last budget. Department officials argue Hal weapons dollars do not compete for other dollars in the department. However some nuclear research outside the weapons programs is aimed at military goals reactor Power sources that could be used in Star wars for example Donna Fri Patricj. Assistant Secretary of Energy Tor conservation and renewable resources questions whether it s the governments proper role to support Large projects that Are close to  however she says the administration will support High Neft i Escaich thai oilers Long term payoffs and that Lor one reason or another Industry has Lio Uble taking on is conservation rum ethical Issue Filip Alrick replies you should t waste but whal constitutes waste is another  she clearly thinks Congress is wasting Money in some of the projects it requires Ifie government to support. An example is the 3 2-Megawall wind Turbine being developed by the Boeing co. With $10.2 million a year in government funds. Fitzpatrick says the wind Generator Industry prefers smaller turbines for ease of maintenance. There were Many other such projects the Reagan administration wanted to Hill but Congress insisted on keeping. The administration according to subcommittee aide David Mouton is Likely to win More of its Points this year because of the incredible budget pressure we re All  but he says the administration does t live by its own rules.". For example he says nuclear Power is a mature technology but it has been showered with Federal Money and we continue to do All kinds of research for  of course Energy conservation Docan t depend solely on government Lor motivation. Many economists argue Hal there is no incentive As powerful As a High. Price and there s a Good Chance that Energy costs will go Back up. The conservator Ince Lii a 19 one argument Lor a Stilt Tarih on imported Oil to snarl the transition to of her sources Well before the mid-1990s, when Many experts predict that persian Gulf Oil countries will regain control of the world Oil Marcel. Bui sen Bennett Johnston. 0-la., the new chairman of the Senate Energy commit Itee who is clearly interested in helping he troubled Domestic Oil Industry of his state says tariffs have no Chance As Long As Reagan remains opposed. When prices Rise again presidents in swe Alors. Cool shaves and lowered thermostats May be Back in fashion again. President Carter in 1979 at tie inspected White House solar water Healing system now dismantled. Aft photo Oil consumption Urban gasoline prices is a Csc to 28,1987 the stars and stripes Page 15