In the Times Aurilio says "It will not reduce America's dependence on oil and it will not create a cleaner energy future. Instead the bill allows big oil companies to pollute water supplies, plunder the Treasury and attack our coastlines." Also, PIRG experts have an op-edit "We Brake For Efficiency" posted at TomPaine.Com: "While Congress and the president continue to ignore the mounting evidence of a changing climate, state governments are taking action. One of their first targets is global warming pollution from cars and trucks."

One of the little know facts about the energy bill is that it repeals the 1930s Public Utilities Holding Company Act. Repeal of PUHCA could trigger a massive merger wave in the utility industry and bring back the sort of deregulation that allowed Enron to hold "Grandma Millie" and other citizens of California for ransom. Recent blog on Enron settling Grandma Millie case with California here. PIRG release on signing of energy bill here.