Johnny Isakson, United States Senator

Johnny Isakson's Position Statement on Energy and the Environment

It is essential for the United States to have a balanced, comprehensive national energy policy that increases and diversifies our country’s energy supply in environmentally and economically friendly ways. As a major consumer of energy, America also should be a leader in the development of new sources of energy, the development of renewable resources and the development of our own natural resources.

I also believe that it is necessary to conserve our natural resources, and I believe that we can protect our environment while still providing for economic opportunity. In fact, the two must be linked. We have made great progress in developing time-tested, environmentally sound technologies for harvesting the resources of our lands, without degrading the environment.

Gas Prices and Our Dependence on Foreign Oil

I have concerns with the significant increase in energy costs and its effects on the American economy and the family budget. There are no quick fixes in dealing with this issue, but there are things Congress has done to address it and there are more things I believe Congress must do. I believe it is long past time for Republicans and Democrats to put aside their partisan biases on energy and join together in declaring war on spiraling gas prices and high energy costs.

I am part of a bipartisan coalition that is led by Senator Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) Other senators in the coalition include: John Thune (R-S.D.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.).

On August 1, the coalition unveiled its energy proposal to reduce gas prices, lessen our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and strengthen America’s economy. The comprehensive New Energy Reform Act of 2008 — better known as the “New Era”— calls for increased domestic production through offshore drilling, a commitment to nuclear energy, a focused effort to transition the nation’s motor vehicle fleets to fuels other than gasoline and diesel, and conservation provisions. Please click here for more information on the proposal as well as a myths vs. facts document on the proposal.

I am also a co-sponsor of legislation to address rising gas prices. Specifically, the Gas Price Reduction Act of 2008 would allow states the option to explore oil and gas resources in the Atlantic and Pacific Outer Continental Shelf at least 50 miles from the coast. It also would repeal the moratorium on Western state oil shale exploration to allow exploration to move forward. The bill would address plug-in electric cars and trucks by increasing research and development for advanced batteries and offer a Sense of Senate that the federal government should increase its purchases of these vehicles. Finally, the legislation would strengthen U.S. futures markets through increased transparency.

I have voted to explore our own reserves in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I was pleased to vote for this exploration because I believe we can be good stewards of our land while at the same time exploring for resources that lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain the 60 votes needed to end the filibuster on this legislation last congress. It is my hope that we will be able to address and pass these needed reforms in this session of Congress.

I am a co-sponsor of legislation that aims to lower the cost of energy and enhance U.S. energy security by increasing domestic supply. Specifically, the Domestic Energy Production Act of 2008 would amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to extend state boundaries seaward to the outer margin of the Outer Continental Shelf for the purpose of pre-leasing and leasing activities in new producing areas. The legislation also would establish a competitive oil and gas leasing program for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s Coastal Plain under the Mineral Leasing Act. The legislation also would amend the “Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007” to strike the definition of renewable biomass and replace it with Senate-passed definition. This is critically important to ensuring that the emerging cellulosic ethanol industry is able to take advantage of all sources of cellulosic biomass.

Energy Alternatives

The use of energy drives our country’s economy, and thus it is important to consider alternative ways in which we can provide for this need. Finding new resources that end our reliance upon foreign oil is essential for our economic and national security. Furthermore, the use of alternative fuels has a positive impact on our environment.

I have given my full support to the Advanced Energy Initiative, which focuses on decreasing our gasoline consumption. The use of alternative feed-stocks such as wood byproducts, grasses and byproducts from peanuts, cotton and municipal waste can help us achieve a positive relationship between our economic needs and our environmental conservation. We also should invest in new technologies involving ethanol, biodiesel and coal liquification to replace traditional fossil fuels.

America’s energy infrastructure should encourage using energy sources such as nuclear, natural gas, clean coal, wind, solar and geothermal energies. I am supportive of granting tax credits to those who encourage the production of these alternative energy sources to end our dependence on foreign oil and other limited energy sources.

We have a diverse country with many assets that regionally are very different. If we're going to have standards that call on us to find renewable energy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we must promote all those sources and not narrow those sources.

Water Resources

I was pleased to serve on the conference committee that crafted a compromise on the Water Resources Development Act (H.R.1495), which authorizes Army Corps of Engineers projects dealing with flood control, storm protection, environmental restoration and inland navigation.

This bi-partisan, fiscally responsible bill is a tremendous step for Georgia. It is an investment in safe drinking water. It is an investment in stormwater management. It is an investment in flood control and water resources of the United States.

I am also a co-sponsor of legislation to enhance and strengthen security at wastewater treatment facilities by providing local governments with the tools they need to make security decisions. Specifically, the Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act (S.1303) authorizes grants to conduct vulnerability assessments for entities that treat municipal wastewater as well as grants to address security needs identified in those assessments.

Protecting our nation’s water supply and the infrastructure that ensures its quality is vital to our nation’s security and our citizen’s health.This legislation will provide much needed resources, particularly for small, rural communities, to assess the vulnerability of wastewater treatment facilities and address security needs.

Air Quality

In the past 10 years, Georgia has substantially improved its air quality. We must take the next step in this positive trend towards bringing cleaner air and better health to more of our citizens. We have learned a great deal about what approaches work best, and now is the time to put those lessons to use. We should implement market-based approaches to air and water quality that guarantee results while keeping utility prices affordable for Americans.

Climate Change

In July 2007, I took a two-day trip to Greenland with members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to view the effects of climate change and to learn more about its impacts on the ice and glaciers of the world’s largest island. My visit to Greenland was informative to see firsthand what we all hear so much about. What is occurring in Greenland today began 14,700 years ago at the peak of the last ice age.

Two brilliant scientists who accompanied us, Dr. Richard Alley of Penn State and Dr. Minik Rosoing of Denmark, both confirmed that the climate has changed naturally in the past, including warming about 14,700 years ago as the last ice age ended. They told me that most scientists believe that at least some of the recent warming has been accelerated by carbon. But by how much? The answer to that question is: No one knows for sure.

With those facts as a backdrop, it is important to address the carbon issue in the context of promoting all sources of renewable energy. You cannot reduce carbon levels without reducing the burning of fossil fuels, and you cannot do that without building nuclear power plants and furthering the development of cellulose-based ethanol. My state of Georgia already enjoys the benefits of nuclear power from Plant Vogtle, and our state has the greatest supply of cellulose in our forest products industry.

Our country has responded in the past to challenges with innovation and incentives. The issue of carbon should be approached in the same way. Reducing the burning of fossil fuels without developing all our renewable resources would be a mistake.