Bush To Set About Energy At G8 Summit

Members of Congress are asking President George W. Bush to address a host of energy matters at the Group of Eight summit later this month.

In separate letters, lawmakers asked Bush to raise issues ranging from the impact of speculation on soaring oil prices to the need for international cooperation on capturing carbon- dioxide emissions from power plants.

The requests come amid increased concern over record oil prices and lawmakers' efforts to devise a plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions linked to global warming. Oil futures traded in New York have doubled in the past year. They touched a record $144.32 a barrel today.

The summit ``is an important opportunity to tackle the problem of rising oil prices on a global scale,'' 49 House Democrats wrote to Bush. ``We urge you to engage your counterparts in efforts to reduce global oil speculation and other questionable market activities that distort the supply and demand market equation.''

Michigan Representative Bart Stupak, chairman of the House energy subcommittee on investigations, and John Larson of Connecticut signed the letter and have introduced legislation aimed at limiting speculation.

Separately, Senator Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican, said today he was urging Bush to eliminate the 54-cent tariff on imported ethanol from Brazil to help encourage better trade relations. Lugar sent a letter to Bush encouraging him to discuss the tariff at the G8 meeting.