U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. 26th District of Texas

In the 26th District of Texas, we run the gamut of renewable energy - from a company that manufactures solar panels in Keller and another that manufactures wind turbines in Gainesville. Biogas created at the City of Denton Landfill powers a biodiesel manufacturing facility. The Lake Dallas Independent School District uses geothermal energy to heat and cool their schools.

The future may hold a fleet of dual-fueled vehicles powered by efficient engines such as electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles and homes and businesses powered purely by solar and wind power. But our economy today is based on the availability of a cheap and stable energy supply; most of which is currently supplied by fossil fuels. Conservation and efficiency can help us to reduce our oil consumption, but until alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen, up and running, we must ensure that our policies encourage domestic production of traditional sources as well.

I believe that energy exploration in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) is an important component of comprehensive energy legislation. Protecting our wilderness and wildlife is very important, but I believe we must also recognize the importance of developing a balance between the needs of the community and those of the environment. If it takes drilling in Alaska to ensure that we don’t have to import oil from the Middle East, then I think we should drill in Alaska or any other federal lands where geologic data supports exploration.

President Bush signed The Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law on August 8, 2005. This legislation was a positive first step towards a comprehensive, long-term national energy policy. The Energy Policy Act will help contain rising energy prices. The legislation provides incentives for traditional energy sources such as oil and natural gas, but also contains a number of conservation and energy efficiency measures. Specifically, I believe that the expansion of the EnergyStar program and hybrid and alternative fueled vehicle provisions play an important role in domestic energy security and in cleaning our environment.

This Congress, the President has yet to see significant energy legislation reach his desk although provisions have passed the House and Senate. The House has passed H.R. 3221 titled, "New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act," on August 4, 2007. This legislation includes provisions that require electricity suppliers to provide 15 percent of their electricity using renewable resources by the year 2020, and provides $16 billion in renewable energy and conservation tax incentives through FY17 by repealing incentives for oil and natural gas production. Clearly absent from this legislation was any attempt to increase energy production, increase corporate average fuel economy standards, or reduce energy costs for consumers. Although I voted against H.R. 3221, the House passed this legislation and will push a Senate and House conference report to the President before the end of the 110th Congress.

Conservation is an often-overlooked area where each person can do his or her part to save energy. It can be as easy as making sure that car tires are properly inflated, installing energy-efficient light bulbs at home or at work, or buying EnergyStar products. Conservation not only saves energy, but also saves money.