Stepping into our Washington office during the energy bill fight now under way in both houses of congress is a bit like walking onto the bridge of a battleship during heavy maneuvers (except the offices are messier). All hands on deck for a process that is at once rapid fire and slow motion. For an excellent take on events, check out Legislative Director Karen Wayland's excellent turn on this morning's Diane Rehm show.

For insiders, every hour brings a new wrinkle. But even for someone only half an arm's length away, it sometimes seems like the same movie has been playing over and over again for about six years. I can't imagine what it is like as a Washington beat reporter having to cover this stuff in a way that is even marginally interesting. The answer, as usual, seems to be more horse race stories, sprinkled with occasional prognostication about who's up and who's down, and why.

At least this time around we don't have to replay the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge fight again. Bottom line: We are being reminded loudly that neither party has a monopoly on bad ideas or special interest coddling. Or on pathological fear of the other guy's campaign ad next year. (“Meet Suzy. She won't be here for Christmas. She died because Congressman Smith voted to take away her mom’s SUV. Help Candidate Jones help make America proud again.”)

It does go to show how important it is for communicators and advocates to come at this through other doors, starting with local ones, and to focus on story basics. Tell it right, and bland policy pieces can come alive with local color. Case in point: Our report on controversial oil substitutes like liquid coal, shale, and tar sands.

It's a narrative about the troubles associated with emerging technologies that focuses on the facts out there in the world that can be written about from out there instead of in here. But lo and behold, congress is seriously considering two of the three. Which bumps the relevance of a local enviro or business piece up a couple of notches, maybe to the Sunday edition or the top of the editorial column.