Senator Bayh believes America’s ongoing dependence on foreign oil is one of the greatest threats to our economy and our national security. The United States imports more oil from the Middle East today than we did before the September 11th attacks and remains the most oil-dependent industrialized nation, consuming about 25 percent of the world’s oil supply. Senator Bayh believes it is dangerous to rely on unstable countries like Iran and Venezuela for our energy needs. He has championed bold, transformative steps to wean America off its oil addiction, leading a diverse coalition in the Senate to put America on the path towards energy independence. Senator Bayh advocates a redirection in oil consumption and greater investment in innovations and technologies, such as hybrid vehicles and homegrown ethanol, to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Reducing Dependence on Foreign Oil

In January 2007, Senator Bayh introduced the bipartisan DRIVE Act, a comprehensive energy reform bill aimed at reducing the nation’s oil consumption by 2.5 million barrels a day by 2016—the same amount we currently import from the Middle East. The legislation requires immediate action to reduce our nation’s oil consumption and directs the federal government to create the first ever comprehensive strategy to cut oil use. This provision, the toughest oil savings measure ever considered by Congress, passed the Senate in June 2007 with overwhelming support.

Promoting Energy Efficiency

Senator Bayh is committed to crafting an energy policy that is environmentally and economically responsible and which utilizes energy innovation to catalyze economic growth. He has encouraged partnerships between government and industry, led efforts to provide tax incentives for companies to develop energy-efficient technologies, and championed legislation to help consumers afford electric, fuel cell and hybrid vehicles. President Bush recently signed into law a landmark energy reform bill raising automobile fuel economy standards for the first time in over 30 years. Senator Bayh secured a provision in that historic bill to help build a new generation of work trucks that will consume less fuel, protect manufacturers and help consumers at the pump. The bill also contained a number of Bayh-sponsored provisions to help domestic manufacturers retool their facilities to produce plug-in electric hybrids and advanced diesel vehicles.

Developing Alternative Fuels

Senator Bayh supports the development of renewable and alternative domestic energy supplies as a way to ensure clean, abundant and affordable fuel for Hoosier families. He is a longtime supporter of E-85 ethanol and flex-fuel vehicles that can run on fuel made from corn and switchgrass. He has authored legislation to increase the number of E-85 pumps at gas stations nationwide and has fought to dramatically increase the amount of renewable fuels that must be used each year as part of an aggressive approach to move the country toward greater energy efficiency. In addition to easing the pocketbook crunch at the pump for Hoosier families, increased ethanol use will create thousands of new Hoosier jobs. Senator Bayh has sponsored the Fuel Security Act, which calls for an overall increase in ethanol use to eight billion gallons by 2012. He also helped persuade the IndyCar Series to move to 100 percent ethanol cars and is now leading a push to get NASCAR to follow suit. Senator Bayh believes that if we can power the fastest racing cars in the world with ethanol, we can power the family car, too. While Senator Bayh recognizes that ethanol will not solve all of our energy problems, he believes that depending on America’s farmers for America’s fuel makes more sense than importing it from the Middle East.

Home Energy Assistance

Senator Bayh has consistently fought to secure federal funding for Hoosiers who require assistance to pay their home heating bills and meet their other energy needs. He has been a leader in the effort to promote energy efficiency and to reduce and stabilize family energy costs. “Rising energy costs hit low-income households the hardest,” Senator Bayh notes. “No American families should have to choose between heating their home in the winter and paying for groceries or prescription drugs.”