U.S. Senator Ken Salazar

Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs Committees

 

2300 15th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

 

 

For Immediate Release

May 26, 2005

CONTACT:    Cody Wertz – Press Secretary

                        202-228-3630

Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary

                        303-455-7600

 

SEN. SALAZAR’S ENERGY INITIATIVES MOVE TO FULL SENATE AS PART OF COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY BILL

 

Washington, D.C. – United States Senator Ken Salazar today scored major victories toward reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and leading us to cleaner renewable fuels. Yesterday, Senator Salazar’s ethanol proposal was added to the Energy Bill and today his coal gasification and oil shale legislation bills were added to the Energy bill. The Energy Bill passed out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee today. Senator Salazar is a member of the Energy Committee and voted in favor of the legislation.

“An America independent from foreign oil, and an America with a responsible, diversified energy portfolio, will be a stronger America with a more robust economy,” Salazar said. “I believe the Energy Bill we passed today marches us toward those very goals, through renewable energy and fuels, through efficiency and conservation, and through a balanced approach to development. If we are able to reach a consensus on this bill it will be good for the entire country.”

Senator Salazar has pushed for development of renewable energy, clean coal and coal gasification, and thoughtful oil shale development.

Coal energy represents over 80 percent of Colorado’s electrical needs and Senator Salazar’s bill will help produce the equivalent of 1.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas according to industry experts, enough to light 40,000 homes.

It is estimated that in the Green River Oil Shale Formation of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah there are over one trillion barrels of potential oil. The United States consumes 20 million barrels of oil per day.

Colorado has proposals for ethanol plants in Evans, Sterling and Windsor and an existing biodiesel plant in Alamosa. On average, a new ethanol plant creates 41 new jobs, increases local corn prices by 5 to 10 cents per bushel and expands the local economic base of the community by more than 100 million dollars each year.

Senator Salazar’s proposals seek to increase America’s energy independence, bring jobs to Colorado and protect Colorado’s land and water.

Below is an overview of Senator Salazar’s legislation that has now been added to the Energy Bill. The Energy Bill should be heard on the Senate floor next month.

Renewable Energy: Increase Ethanol and Biodiesel Production and Use:

  • S.650, the bi-partisan Fuels Security Act of 2005, which would double the current renewable fuel consumption in America from 4 billion gallons per year in 2006 to 8 billion gallons per year by 2012; and
  • S. 610, a bill to expand the Biofuel Production Facility Tax Credit to allow small facilities to double their production capacity for ethanol and biodiesel plants from 30 million gallons of fuel annually to 60 million gallons, which will encourage further development in this budding industry.

Promote More-Environmentally-Friendly Use of Coal:

Establish loan guarantees of up to 80 percent of the cost of construction of a coal gasification plant.

Foster Responsible Oil Shale Development:

  • Create an Oil Shale Research and Development leasing program in the BLM and implement 10-year R&D leases;
  • Require the Secretary of the Interior to work with the state and local stakeholders in Colorado and other states on oil shale development;
  • Require an Environmental Impact Statement program to assess the impacts on Colorado’s land and water; and
  • Instruct the USGS to assess and map oil shale deposits on the Western Slope.

 

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