Representing North Carolina’s Ninth District                                                                        

Rep. Myrick Votes For Energy Plan
To Power America’s Future

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Rep. Sue Myrick (NC-9) voted for  H.R. 6, The Energy Policy Act of 2005.  This bill provides a roadmap that will ensure all Americans have access to more efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy.

“The high cost of energy prices, for gasoline and natural gas, are harming our economic growth and emptying the wallets of hard-working Americans,” said Myrick.  “This bill will strengthen our energy security and help lower energy costs by increasing domestic energy supplies and reducing our dependence on foreign sources for energy.”

Highlights of the legislation are:

• Expansion of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power to help keep energy costs low. 
• Promotes conservation through new energy efficiency standards, and through incentives for hydrogen fuel-cell cars.
• Upgrades and updates our national electricity grid to prevent future blackouts. 
• Encourages clean-burning natural gas, and eases regulations on natural gas production. Due to current regulations, natural gas prices in the U.S. are 10 times higher than in other countries.  This bill will simplify regulations so that more natural gas can be refined and can be sent to consumers at a cheaper price.
• Reduces our dependence upon foreign sources for oil.  It will allow for more domestic production of oil and will create new oil refineries in economically depressed areas; both of which will help keep future oil prices low. 

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 will also save jobs from going overseas and will create as many as half a million new jobs for Americans.  The bill passed the house by a margin of 249-183. 

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