Issue_Energy

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Energy

America�s continued dependence on imported oil and polluting fossil fuels continues to compromise our national security, burden our economy, and threaten our health and our environment. The need for real leadership to pursue a new path to energy independence has never been greater, and I am committed to fighting in Congress to meet this challenge.

Clean Energy Agenda
In order to break away from our reliance on old sources of energy and to forge a new, clean energy future America must take bold, comprehensive action. I support undertaking a crash, Apollo program-like effort to spur research into new technologies, renewable sources of energy, and energy efficiency. We should use greater investment in wind, solar, and hydropower, particularly low-head hydropower, to replace the need to rely on polluting forms of energy like old, coal burning plants and nuclear power facilities. It is also imperative that we take the simple, yet long-overdue step, of raising vehicle fuel economy standards to 40 miles per gallon. By doing so, we could virtually eliminate our need to rely on oil from the Persian Gulf, dramatically reduce tailpipe emissions, and save drivers money at the gas pump.

During my first weeks in Congress, I was proud to take to the floor of the House in support of H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act, which would repeal unnecessary subsidies to the big oil and gas companies and establish a trust fund to support clean energy development. In order to help address America�s energy challenges, I have cosponsored:

H.R. 589, the Get Real Incentives to Drive Plug-in Act, which provides grants and incentives to encourage the use of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). PHEVs can operate using electricity or biofuels, dramatically increasing fuel economy, cutting dependence on foreign oil, and reducing tailpipe emissions.
H.R. 670, the Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy Act, which establishes a goal of reducing the need for foreign oil by 2.5 million barrels per day, eliminating dependence on Persian Gulf oil by 2015, and by 5 million barrels by 2025. Toward this goal, the bill would provide tax credits for biofuels, hybrid vehicles, flex-fuel vehicles, and establish measures to increase fuel efficiency and sources of alternative fuels.

New York Regional Interconnect
I oppose the New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) project because I believe that the proposed 200-mile transmission line would hurt local communities, steamroll property owners, and damage environmentally sensitive areas like the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. I don�t think big energy companies deserve special treatment or have the right to run roughshod over local communities and am strongly opposed to the so-called National Interest Electric Corridor authority contained the 2005 Energy Bill.

This authority could ultimately allow NYRI to override local opposition. That�s why I have cosponsored:

H.R.809, which would repeal the provision of the 2005 Energy Bill that provides the NIETC authority.
H.R.801, the Protecting Communities from Power Line Abuse Act, which would prevent the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from allowing power projects to use eminent domain, making it nearly impossible for a project to proceed without a permit from state government.
H.R. 829, the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor Clarification Act, which includes language to prevent the establishment of NIETCs in sensitive scenic, natural, cultural, or historic areas like the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.