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Washington DC Office:
2263 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Ph.: 202-225-5161
Fax: 202-225-5163
District Offices:
Marin Office:
1050 Northgate Drive
Suite 354
San Rafael, CA. 94903
Ph.: 415-507-9554
Fax: 415-507-9601
Sonoma Office:
1101 College Avenue
Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Ph.: 707-542-7182
Fax: 707-542-2745
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| Energy | | | |
| CHAMPIONING RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR REAL ENERGY SECURITY
As a senior Democrat on the Science and Technology Committee’s Energy Subcommittee, I firmly believe that there are few more pressing threats faced by our nation than our continued addiction to fossil fuels and foreign oil. Breaking this addiction is going to take hard work on everyone’s behalf, but it’s an obligation that we can no longer afford to ignore.
We must start by redoubling our efforts on energy efficiency and conservation measures, including a greater reliance on renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and geothermal energy. That’s why I am proud of the steps we took in the 110th Congress, such as, passing into law H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act. The legislation updated fuel efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon, encouraged the use of plug-in electric drive vehicles, expanded energy efficiency programs, and promoted the training a new workforce to specialize in “green jobs.” It also included an amendment that I authored with Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) which mandated that any new federal research on biofuels take into account the total life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of producing these biofuels. This will help to ensure that we are moving forward in an environmentally friendly way.
That legislation was only the beginning. With a new administration that is dedicated to confronting this challenge, we need to spur innovation in renewable energy. Last Congress I supported H.R. 6049, the Energy and Tax Extenders Act, which extended and expanded tax incentives to jumpstart our renewable energy industry. Green energy is an essential piece of our economic recovery, which is why Congress recently included $60 billion in funding for green energy in H.R. 1 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
While we move forward with new technology we must also reject the tired policies of the past. While it’s clear that volatile gas prices in recent years have had a detrimental effect on our economy, expanded drilling as some have called for is not a solution. There are currently over 68 millions acres of federal land and water under lease to oil and gas companies that have not been fully developed for production. That’s why last Congress I supported H.R. 6251, the Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act, which would require the oil industry to produce on the leases they already have or risk losing the right to bid on future leases. Despite the rhetoric on drilling, the bottom line is that expanded drilling in some of our nation’s most pristine sites wouldn’t yield any oil for at least 10 years—and would only save consumers pennies per gallon by 2025. I have also introduced legislation, the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Protection and Modification Act, to protect the entire Sonoma and the southern part of the Mendocino coasts from the threat of coastal drilling.
Renewable energy is one of my top priorities. Our energy future must increasingly rely on domestic renewable energy sources that minimize the impact on our environment, help leave a sustainable energy future for our children, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil sources. I will continue to be an outspoken voice for measures that support renewable energy sources as well as energy efficiency measures, and fight for funding for local projects that promote conservation and renewable energy.
(updated March 09) |
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