Energy

Energy security is important to all Americans and our economy. The U.S. must address production, conservation, efficiency and reliability across a wide range of energy sources. Doing so will ensure that we decrease our dependence on fossil fuels, increase our national security, and ensure our future economic health.

Global demand for energy is rising rapidly. According to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA), global energy consumption will increase by more than 34 percent by 2015. The strongest growth is expected in economies such as China, India and other Asian nations. At the same time, the American economy and many other economies around the world are expected to increase their reliance of fossil fuels.

In 2005, Congress passed into law H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which provided something the United States had been lacking for more than a decade: a long-term strategy to confront our energy challenges. This Act advanced important national goals and put our country on a path of increased energy security. The law also recognized that we must diversify America’s energy supply and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, increase energy efficiency in homes and businesses, improve the energy efficiency of our vehicles, and modernize our national energy infrastructure.  Sadly, the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2007 rolled back many of those provisions, which is why I could not support such legislation.  Congress should not be choosing winners and losers based on political winds.  It is important that we pursue an energy policy based on science that is proven and technology that is readily available to the market now.

America must lead the way in developing and utilizing new sources of clean, safe, and reliable energy while producing existing sources more efficiently.  That is why I support H.R. 3089, the No More Excuses Energy Act, which encourage more oil and gas refining right here at home, expand nuclear energy production and open up Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). 

H.R. 3089 would also extend the wind energy production tax credit that is so crucial to development of renewable energy in the 19th District.  In fact, the 19th District is the leading wind energy producing Congressional district in the nation, and I believe it is important to continue pursuing the development of this important and abundant renewable resource.  Because wind in West Texas provides tremendous opportunities to power an individual’s home, I also support H.R. 1772, which promoted a wind energy tax credit for homeowners to make use of smaller wind turbines.  Finally, as a way to promote more scientific research into cutting edge technologies, I have cosponsored H.R. 2483, the Energy for America Act, which would expand research and development at the Department of Energy.