Environmentalists are already preparing to be underwhelmed by Bush’s State of the Union speech, at which he’s expected to acknowledge climate change for the first time ever—and unveil a list of policies that will do virtually nothing about it. Among the policies Bush is expected to propose:

• Huge new subsidies for ethanol producers. Bush will pay lip service to alternatives like cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel, but the majority of the subsidies will go where they always have: Big Corn.

• “Improved” fuel economy standards that actually just shift the playing field to favor larger cars at the expense of smaller, more efficient vehicles.

• The same old emphasis on “energy independence,” which will once again be code for more and more drilling for oil. (For a great synopsis of Bush’s “energy independence” rhetoric in previous SOTUs, go here.)

• No commitment to specific emissions reduction goals.

By the way, emissions reductions are hardly controversial. As one supporter of mandatory emissions goals put it recently, “Action is not only justified, it’s critical - greenhouse-gas emissions are rising at an unprecedented rate.” The source for the quote is that noted environmental extremist Peter Darbee, head of Pacific Gas & Electric.