Energy Independence
At the start of the 110th Congress, Senator Dorgan became Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee and the Energy Subcommittee, the authorizing subcommittee within the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In these key positions, he is committed to pushing for robust, long–term investments to reduce our addiction to foreign energy sources and set us on a course towards greater energy security.
The United States is the world’s largest energy consumer. We import over 60 percent of our oil, much of it from unstable parts of the world. A disruption to that energy supply could cripple our economy and military forces.
Senator Dorgan has pushed for a comprehensive plan to make our economy less vulnerable to an energy spike by encouraging efficiency and conservation, while at the same time developing domestic fossil fuel and renewable energy sources.
Senator Dorgan, along with Senator Larry Craig (R–Idaho), introduced the Security and Fuel Efficiency (SAFE) Energy Act of 2007, S.875 to bridge the gap between those who argue increased oil and gas production is the only way to increase our nation’s energy security, and those who say increased conservation and efficiency is the only answer. This bill offers a sensible, workable way to do both, as well as to develop new sources of renewable energy.
Senator Dorgan is calling for increased exploration of oil and gas resources in the Gulf of Mexico and North Dakota’s Bakken Shale, and granting American oil companies access to explore in Cuban waters.
In June 2007, the Senate passed the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. Through Senator Dorgan’s committee positions, he was able to help craft several key provisions in this legislation.
The bill included Senator Dorgan’s proposal to reform the current Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to increase vehicle fuel efficiency for all classes of vehicles. Unlike the old CAFE standards, this new system requires that appropriate standards and attributes are applied to each class of vehicles, ensuring that all vehicles, including the heavier vehicles, will get better fuel efficiency. This structure also ensures that manufacturers are not penalized for producing a wide range of vehicles.
The CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 also increases the current Renewable Fuels Standard, which Senator Dorgan originally co–authored in 2005, to produce 36 billion gallons of ethanol by 2022. The new standard will accelerate technology development of renewable fuels.
In addition, the bill includes a provision Senator Dorgan co–sponsored to protect consumers from oil price gouging. The provision will put in place a new statutory ban on manipulative practices in the wholesale petroleum markets, as well as protect consumers from price gouging during a national emergency.
Senator Dorgan has also pushed Congress to develop hydrogen fuel cells, a technology that could transform the way Americans power their homes and vehicles. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he has secured $1.5 million since FY 2004 for a wind–to–hydrogen demonstration project that began in July of 2007. The project is a joint effort by a consortium of energy companies and research institutions in North Dakota. Located at North Dakota State University’s North Central Research Extension Center, the facility is the first hydrogen fueling site of its kind in the nation.
