Energy has continued to be a strong point in the argument for blue state federalism, blue states just regulate it better. See this WP story "'Blue' States Tackling Energy On Their Own" discussing the effective regulation in largely blue states that makes up for the Bush administrations federal regulatory failures.

Democratic-leaning states increasingly are regulating energy use and emissions, working around a GOP-controlled federal government that state officials say has not done enough.

The states are creating energy efficiency requirements for light bulbs and household appliances, limiting power plant and automobile output linked to global warming, and requiring the use of renewable energy, such as wind and solar.

Leading the effort are "blue" states that voted Democratic in the 2004 presidential election. Even some of those states that have Republican governors, such as California and Connecticut, are making their own rules.

"In a way, the left is controlling that agenda," said Amy Myers Jaffe, associate director of the energy program at Rice University in Houston. "They're just implementing it at the community and state level."


Woohoo. Go blue states. Want to see who in this country is wasting energy? Check out map 7.



As oil and energy prices skyrocket somehow I see some of these red states coming around to the blue states way. Give Up!