“The time to implement a real, comprehensive energy policy that benefits all Americans is long overdue, which is why I voted in favor of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. While this bill is by no means perfect, it does go a long way toward promoting sensible energy measures that are critical to the current and future state of our nation’s energy needs. This bill will ultimately boost our domestic oil production, thereby reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign countries to supply our oil needs, and promotes the usage of clean and renewable fuel sources. 

“Our nation is entirely too dependent on foreign countries like Saudi Arabia and Iraq to supply our domestic oil needs. Depending on foreign countries to supply the majority of our energy needs jeopardizes our national security, and as we are experiencing with high gas prices today, stifles our overall economy. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 will effectively reduce our dependence on foreign countries for our oil needs by offering incentives that encourage American refineries to produce more gasoline and oil by-products. This bill also directs the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to be filled to its maximum capacity of one billion barrels.  

“Oil is not a renewable fuel, and at the increasing rate our world is consuming oil, it won’t be long until our oil reserves are dry. That is why it is imperative that we start reducing our rate of oil consumption today by providing incentives that encourage businesses and consumers to use renewable, alternative energy sources. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 does just that by promoting the usage of clean coal technology and renewable energies such as biomass, wind, solar and hydroelectricity.  

“The bottom line is, we must reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and develop a long-term energy policy that increases our energy independence. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the years ahead to develop energy policies that address the changing and ever-growing demands of our domestic energy needs.”