Energy Independence
One of my top priorities in Congress has been crafting a balanced national energy plan, based in equal amounts on production, conservation, and innovation. As a country, we heavily rely on foreign oil to fuel our daily lives, sending nearly $800 million per day to oil producing countries in the Middle East and elsewhere. Reducing our dependence on foreign oil is critical to strengthening our national security and bolstering our domestic alternative energy industry.
 Finding alternative fuels is especially important given the recent hardships energy prices are placing on families' pocketbooks. Specifically, gas prices are nearing $4.00 a gallon in California , and rising crude oil prices have topped $100 a barrel. There are many factors contributing to the sharp rise in price including increased demand both at home and abroad, decreased supply, instability in the Middle East and strict regulations in California that require our fuel to be blended with more expensive additives in order to reduce pollution. Since the causes come from a number of different sources there is unfortunately no easy, short-term solution to this problem.
However, during this session of Congress, I have voted several times in favor of bills aimed at lowering gas prices, cutting off windfall tax breaks for big oil and encouraging the use of clean alternative energy technologies. In addition, in 2005, I installed solar panels on my home in Atwater , CA in order to do my part to conserve energy. Even during the hot Valley summers, my family is often producing more energy than we are using and removing hundreds of pounds of greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. I encourage more Californians, with our abundant sunshine, to look into the promise of solar energy for their families.
Priorities
• Creating a responsible national energy plan that encourages conservation, innovation and new technologies while still promoting domestic production capabilities.
• Finding both short and long-term solutions to the gas price crisis to alleviate the burden on lower income Californians.
• Encouraging the nationwide use of solar technology through increased tax incentives and breaking down bureaucratic barriers to installation. |
|
Accomplishments
• I strongly supported H.R. 6049, the Renewable Energy and Jobs Creation Act that will extend and expand tax incentives for renewable energy which will, in turn, retain and create hundreds of thousands of green jobs in the Unite States.
• In June of last year, I introduced H.R. 2848, the Solar Opportunities and Local Access Rights Act (SOLAR Act) to mandate the ability for solar customers to sell back unused electricity to the grid, reduce barriers to solar implementation and to create a Center for Advanced Solar Research to help bring solar technologies to more Americans.
• I was an ardent supporter of H.R. 5351, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008, which passed the House of Representatives on February 27, 2008. This important legislation will end unnecessary subsidies to major Oil companies, at a time when they are reporting record profits, and invest the revenue in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency. H.R. 5351 will extend and expand tax incentives for renewable electricity, energy and fuel, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy efficient homes, buildings, and appliances.
|
|
