The Republican demand to “Drill, baby, Drill!” and their threat to hold the entire federal government hostage to eliminate a decades-old ban on offshore drilling, may actually prove helpful to those who understand that a truly sustainable energy policy requires a more comprehensive approach.

This week the House of Representatives will vote on a Democratic proposal that offers something more than a high-school cheer: responsible off-shore drilling; fair value to American taxpayers for oil extracted from public lands and waters; additional incentives for energy conservation; and production tax credits for renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. The House has passed these tax credits four times to no avail. Now is our chance to get the Republicans in the Senate and the President on board in giving these emerging industries, which are so crucial for Oregon’s expanding green economy, the support they need.

Our energy bill puts all the pieces together in a thoughtful way, offering more than a bumper-sticker solution to Americans’ legitimate energy concerns. As is often the case in the democratic process, this bill is not perfect, but it is certainly light-years ahead of the one-dimensional, disingenuous approach touted by the Republicans.