U.S. energy policy is politics as usual Fight over Arctic refuge, Yucca site helps Dems 'preserve' themselves

Developments involving two desolate places and one lush one--thefertile Midwest--demonstrate how Congress plays with energy policy.Herewith a story of sexually ardent caribou, a governor vetoing apresidential decision in order to defend the sweetness of ruralNevada, and the political imperatives behind putting corn in your gastank.

Although there is drilling for oil and gas in 29 wildlife refuges,the most fiercely contested question about the energy bill was aboutdrilling on one-hundredth of 1 percent of the Arctic NationalWildlife Refuge, which is described, by people more passionatelydevoted to preserving it than visiting it, as "pristine." Yes, andthe moon's surface is …