Issues > Addressing our Energy Needs
Consistently high crude oil prices, continued political unrest overseas, and increased demand from China and India further underscore the need to develop and implement a national energy policy that transitions from a reliance on fossil fuel to an economy running on alternative energy sources.
As long as our nation depends on politically unstable nations for oil, particularly those in the Middle East, we will likely be entangled in future protracted and costly foreign conflicts. Therefore, it is a critical matter of economic and national security importance for our nation to commit to the goal of reducing our dependence on oil from undemocratic and politically volatile nations.
To meet the energy challenges facing our nation, I believe we need a multi-faceted energy policy that invests significantly in alternative energy sources and public transportation and improves energy efficiency.
H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act, signed into law on December 19, 2007, strengthens national security by lessening our dependence on foreign oil, reduces global warming, lowers energy costs for consumers and creates hundreds of thousands of new jobs, strengthening our economy.
In addition to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 24 percent and reducing U.S. oil consumption by more than 4 million barrels per day by 2030, H.R. 6 promotes an investment in renewable fuels infrastructure and supports the research and development of new biofuels and bioenergy sources. It also expands the current Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), increasing the renewable fuels produced and used in our country to 36 billion gallons by 2022. This increase would displace more than 25% of the gasoline that we use in our country today, expanding the market for Kansas corn and agricultural biproducts.
Estimates suggest that a major national investment in renewable energy could create as many as 3 million green collar jobs. That’s why this legislation also creates an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program to train a quality workforce for “green collar” jobs -- such as solar panel manufacturer and green building construction worker -- created by federal renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives.
Finally, the bill provides historic fuel economy standards for cars and trucks. The price at the pump demands these groundbreaking and historic provisions to increase the fuel economy standard to 35 miles per gallon in 2020 for new cars and trucks. These provisions will save American families $700 - $1000 per year at the pump, with $22 billion in net consumer savings in 2020 alone.
Energy independence is a national security issue, an economic issue, and an environmental issue. H.R. 6 puts America on the road to energy independence, strengthens our national security, grows our economy by protecting existing jobs and creating new ones, reduces energy prices and begins to address the global warming crisis. That’s why I was proud to support the bill, which also had strong bipartisan support in Congress and was championed by a wide variety of interested parties, including business, labor and environmental groups.
The evidence that we need real energy reform in the United States is becoming clearer every year. Energy prices are continuing to increase as the global demand for fossil fuels increases and our refining capacity is regularly disrupted by hurricanes and flooding. I strongly believe that alternative fuels are the answer to not just the high energy prices, but that they can also benefit the economy in Kansas. This is why I am cosponsoring H.R. 2361, the Responsible Renewable Energy Tax Credit Act of 2007, which ensures that the tax credits for producing biodiesel and ethanol are enjoyed by those who are making real breakthroughs in alternative energy production and not just adding to the profits of large integrated oil companies. Kansas-based alternative energy opportunities will drive down fuel prices and provide jobs for Kansans.
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