Wildnerness preservation bill passes the House

Great news on the environment front. Today the Congress passed a bill to set aside 2 million acres in nine states (from the Sierra Nevada mountains in CA to the Jefferson National Forest in VA) as protected federal park land, and the legislation is on its way to the President, who will likely sign it.

This is excellent news and comes on the heels of Bush's last minute whacks against the environment. The bill signals a new era during which land preservation and - hopefully - alternative energy development will both be top domestic priorities.

Not surprisingly top Republicans called the move a "land grab" that puts more power in the hands of government and increases our dependence on foreign oil.

Huh?

Why would we need foreign oil at all if we commit in earnest to green tech, which would unshackle us from our dependence on oil altogether and obviate the need to destroy remaining American wilderness to produce more of the stuff?