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Issues Energy Renewable Energy
Our country’s dependence on oil threatens
our environment, our economic progress, and our national security.
We must develop policies that move us toward the increased
use of renewable energies such as biofuels, solar, and wind.
In the Senate, I have strongly supported efforts to expand
the use of renewable energies. During debate on a comprehensive
Senate energy bill in June 2007, I supported a provision to
raise the amount of the country’s fuel that must come from
renewable sources from 8.5 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion
gallons in 2022. I also endorsed a proposal to establish a
Renewable Electricity Standard requiring that 15 percent of
the country’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2020,
as well as a proposal to provide important tax incentives
for renewable energy.
It is important that our expansion of renewable energy provides
opportunities for rural communities. I was pleased the Senate
energy bill included a proposal of mine supporting local renewable
energy. My proposal, based on my Rural Opportunities Act (S.
541), ensures that funds from the Energy and Environmental
Block Grant program will be used to support local renewable
energy efforts, such as the construction of biodiesel or ethanol
facilities.
View
a letter several of my Senate colleagues and I sent to the
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee calling for
a strong renewable electricity standard.
View
a letter several of my Senate colleagues and I sent to the
Senate Appropriations Committee urging increased funding for
renewable energy research and development.
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