Energy Independence

Congresswoman Lowey remains concerned about American reliance on foreign oil sources. Over the last three decades, every major spike in oil prices has been followed by a recession. Lowey believes it is vital to our national security and economy to significantly increase our investment in alternative energy sources and to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

That is why she cosponsored the Energy Independence and Security Act, signed into law in 2007. This law mandated the first congressional increase in fuel efficiency standards in 32 years and aims to slash U.S. oil consumption by more than twice our daily import total from the Persian Gulf and cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a quarter. Lowey also favors increasing production of biofuels, making new vehicles more energy efficient, and promoting the introduction of technologies such as plug-in hybrids.

Congresswoman Lowey is also working to secure federal funding for projects in Westchester and Rockland Counties that will reduce energy consumption and promote conservation.  For more information about her efforts to secure federal funding, please click here.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.  The Act includes measures to enhance energy independence, including:

  • $5.0 billion to help low-income households weatherize their homes, saving money on utility bills;
  • $2.0 billion for advanced batteries manufacturing; and
  • $6.7 billion to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

For more information about the federal stimulus initiatives to promote energy independence, please click here.


Safe and Clean Energy Development

Congresswoman Lowey strongly believes that the development of renewable sources of energy is a key step in moving our country closer to sustainable, environmentally-friendly energy production. Lowey supports legislation to roll back subsidies and tax breaks for Big Oil and reinvest $14-18 billion in clean, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and alternative fuels. 

During her time in Congress, Lowey has consistently opposed energy measures that would endanger the environment or perpetuate our dependence on foreign oil. She has opposed opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to extensive oil and gas drilling, which would provide billions in royalty and tax relief to companies producing the dirtiest forms of power, as well as a provision that would force municipalities rather than manufacturers to shoulder the nearly $29 billion to clean up MTBE, a suspected carcinogen, that has seeped into thousands of drinking water wells in New York and around the country. 

Nuclear Security

September 11th underscored the vulnerability of our nuclear power plants to a catastrophic terrorist attack. In the absence of strong federal leadership and oversight, profit-driven energy companies have been slow to respond to these threats, cutting security costs wherever and whenever possible.

Rep. Lowey strongly believes that the threat posed by the Indian Point nuclear plants is unacceptable because of the dense surrounding population and its proximity to New York City. Lowey is working to ensure that the plant be closed down in an orderly manner. She secured $1 million for the National Academies of Science to study options for replacing the power generated by Indian Point. The report, which compared strategies for meeting power demand without Indian Point, indicated that it could be closed without jeopardizing energy output or raising energy costs with proper planning.

In addition, Lowey has cosponsored legislation to take the following security measures:

  • Demand an Independent Safety Assessment of the design, construction, maintenance, and operational safety of Indian Point, as well as an evaluation of its radiological emergency plan by the Department of Homeland Security;
  • Require that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) distribute funds collected as fines for safety violations to counties surrounding nuclear facilities, which are required to maintain radiological emergency plans;
  • Authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish no-fly zones around nuclear facilities located near major metropolitan areas, including Indian Point;
  • Deploy top-flight federal guard teams to all commercial nuclear power plants;
  • Require that any nuclear plant receiving a renewed license meet the same standards that a new plant would be required to meet; and

Mandate state and county certification of emergency plans as a precondition for the continued operation of all commercial nuclear power plants, in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s continued certification of the evacuation plans for the communities surrounding Indian Point despite lack of support by local and state officials and the first responders charged with carrying out the plans.