The Beastie Boys, Alanis Morissette, the Dave Matthews Band and Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio are among the artists banding together in the “New Power Project,” an effort to fight President George W. Bush’s energy plan.
The members of the coalition – which also includes Tom Petty, Jackson Browne and Blues Traveler – hope to use their Web sites, online fan mailing lists and tours to get their fans to petition Congress and the Bush administration to alter federal energy policy.
“President Bush’s energy plan recommends drilling for oil in the biological heart of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, bringing back nuclear power, cutting research spending on alternative energy, and basically causing irreversible damage to the planet, heading us back to a time when humanoids dragged their knuckles on the ground,” Beastie Boy Mike D said in a statement released by his publicity firm, Nasty Little Man.
Morissette hopes to bring attention to the New Power Project’s cause with her July 31 show in Anchorage, Alaska, not far from the wildlife refuge, according to Nasty Little Man and the singer/songwriter’s publicists.
In response to the coalition’s efforts, White House spokesperson Mercy Viana said Thursday (July 26) that Bush’s energy policy is environmentally friendly, and includes a focus on increasing conservation.
Bush said earlier this year that his energy policy had four parts, according to a transcript offered by his press department: “First, to make energy security a priority of our foreign policy, by restoring American credibility with overseas suppliers…. Second, to encourage environmentally friendly exploration and production of domestic energy sources, like oil, natural gas and coal. Third, to promote the production of electricity, to keep pace with America’s growing demands. Fourth, to support the development of cost-effective alternative energy sources.”