Achieving Energy Independence

Energy policy impacts our national security, the strength of our economy and the health of our planet. High gas prices stretch the family budget; our addiction to Middle East oil threatens our national security; and the increased consumption of fossil fuels contributes to global warming.

These issues will dominate the 21st Century and American leadership --- at home and around the world --- is needed now more than ever. But it requires a whole new energy policy and political leadership.

One of our greatest challenges is reducing our addiction to foreign sources of oil. Approximately, 70% of the energy consumed in the United States is produced domestically. However, the United States consumes 20 million barrels of oil a day, with 60% of that coming from foreign sources with a significant amount coming from the Middle East.

Today, we spend $10 billion a month defending foreign oil in the Middle East. Instead we ought to invest that kind of money in developing domestic sources of energy in places like the Mid-West.

While we can never be completely "independent" or self sufficient, we must now start taking steps to reduce our dependency on foreign energy sources.

Like the Apollo space mission, our nation has developed the technology to meet this new challenge. It is time to put these technologies to use by adopting policies that aggressively promote energy conservation, fuel efficiency, lower energy intensity and the development of renewable fuels, including bio-diesel, corn and cellulose ethanol, and clean energy technologies such as wind, solar and ocean energy.

American scientists are now leading the way in developing technologies to make our cars, homes, and businesses far more energy efficent. Scientists have also found new ways to develop cost-effective wind and ocean energy technologies. Today’s advances in technology are making ethanol and bio-fuel more productive and affordable.

We are not alone in this challenge. In just four years, Brazil was able to cut foreign oil consumption by 40%. Today, Brazilians are no longer dependent on foreign oil and purchase new cars that use renewable fuels produced domestically. In Japan, most cars on the market will be "flex-fuel" within the next 20 years.

American leadership in developing renewable fuels and alternative energy will bring with it new economic opportunities for business, and new jobs for our workers and families.

Massachusetts can become a Center for Energy Technology. Not only does this make sense for America and the planet, but Massachusetts benefits as well. We have the scientific expertise, labor force, capital and the natural resources to make the entire New England region an international leader in renewable and ocean energy technology.

But it is important that we act now ….both in Washington and here at home. Here is how we can do it. I have been working in Congress on a package of legislative proposals that would move our country on a path towards energy independence. Here are some of the initiatives we have been working on

As always, I invite your comments.

Thinking Globally...

Biofuels Security Act of 2007 – Recently, I introduced the Biofuels Security Act of 2007, an innovative legislative proposal that is aimed at decreasing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. It would increase the production, distribution and consumption of renewable fuels, including ethanol and bio-diesel.

Specifically, the legislation proposes a new renewable fuels standard (RFS) that calls for 60 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel to be included in the United States motor vehicle fuel supply annually by the year 2030, calls for increasing the number of gasoline stations that carry blends of 85% ethanol (E85) -- a measure that would result in approximately 50% of all major brand gasoline stations nationwide offering E-85 within 10 years, and directs automakers to gradually increase flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) production, increasing in ten percentage-point increments annually, until nearly all vehicles sold in the United States are FFV's within 10 years.

• Read More
• Text of legislation - HR 559

New Apollo Act - I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 2809, the New Apollo Energy Act of 2007. Introduced by Congressman Jay Inslee, the New Apollo Energy Act bill will make sure that the United States leads the world in developing and manufacturing next generation energy technologies. The New Apollo Energy Act of 2005 would: Provide $49 billion in government loan guarantees for the construction of clean-energy generation facilities Provide $11.5 billion in tax credits for the automotive and aerospace industries to develop new fuel efficient automobiles and planes, retool existing plants, and construct new plants to manufacture energy efficient vehicles Combat Global Warming through caps on greenhouse gas emissions and $7 billion in loan guarantees for the development of clean coal power plants

• Text of Legislation - H.R. 2809

Boehlert – Markey CAFE Standards Amendment - I have been a consistent supporter of the Boehlert-Markey Amendment on Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards. The Amendment mandates an increase in the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks to 33 miles per gallon by 2016 from 23 miles per gallon today. Raising fuel economy standards is the single most important step the Congress can take to reduce the US ‘addiction to oil’ in the short run.

Renewable Fuels

In 2006, I joined with Provincetown Town Manager Keith Bergman and Cape Cod officials to form the Cape Cod Rewnewable Fuels Task Force. The Task Force is working on ways to boost demand for ethanol, bio-diesel and other renewable fuels.

I have proposed the establishment of an "Energy Independence Corridor" and I am working with local and state officials to create incentives for renewable fuel pumps at fuel stations along our highways. To the right is a photo of me talking about the importance of bio-fuels with Provincetown officials and State Representative Sarah Peake. This Volkswagen is owned by a Cape resident and is fueled by vegetable oil.

"There is no comprehehsive and coordinated federal regime in place to regulate offshore wind energy"... US Commission on Ocean Policy

Offshore Renewable Energy: The development of wind energy along our coast is an exciting opportunity for new sources of renewable energy. The subject became controversial in 2001, when several private companies contacted the Army Corps of Engineers seeking permits to develop projects along the east coast, including one in Nantucket Sound. At the time, most observers were unaware that the leasing and development of federal submerged lands for wind farms required a specific act of Congress and legal authorization.

Given the failure of Congress to confront the crises of global warming, many argued that waiting for Washington to act was a waste of valuable time. They urged a regulatory review of projects while Congress worked out a national policy. On the other side of this debate, many federal agencies and local officials argued that Congress needed to act first, since there was no clear process or set of standards to guide federal environmental reviews. Eventually, the United States Commission on Ocean Policy weighed in on this controversy. They criticized the Army Corps review of proposals as being woefully inadequate and agreed with my call for Congressional action and a comprehensive set of guidelines. The Environmental Protection Agency , made similar points when they submitted critical comments on the Cape Wind environmental report.

In recent months, we have made significant progress in resolving many of these underlying legal issues. The first major step occurred in August 2005, when Congress enacted into law legislation authorizing the leasing of submerged lands and the use of our oceans for renewable energy technologies such as wind, wave and tidal energy. The legislation passed by the Congress was similar to a proposal I authored in 2003 that called for an ambitious federal-state effort to specifically identify areas for appropriate renewable energy development, similar to efforts now underway in Europe. The program we recently established in Congress does not go as far as I would like, but it does call for coordination with coastal states, protection of sanctuaries and the use of a transparent and a competitive bidding process for private companies.

Today, federal agencies are working to develop these new guidelines and you can follow the progress by clicking here.

Acting Locally...

In the meantime, towns throughout my district have been active in revising zoning by-laws for wind energy and developing projects....in their own communities, in their own back yards.

The Town of Hull has actively involved the community in its planning process for wind energy. The town has its own municipal electric company and charges its local customers rates that are well below those found in neighboring towns. I have joined with the United States Department of Energy in recognizing the town of Hull as a national model.

Recently, I participated in the dedication ceremony for its newest wind turbine, the Hull Wind 2. While this new turbine will provide power for nearly 750 homes, Hull officials are now making plans to develop the state's first offshore wind farm.

Once it is completed, the town will generate almost 100% of its electricity from wind, and be well along the path to achieve energy independence. It is an approach that ought to be replicated by towns throughout Massachusetts. Click here to read more about Hull’s exciting wind energy initiative.

Today, towns all around southeastern Massachusetts are seeking to following the example of Hull and working on their own wind energy projects. Several local companies have expressed interest in the development of tidal and wave energy along our shore.

Unfortunately, the state of Massachusetts still does not have a regulatory process for developing offshore wind and ocean energy projects in state waters, nor has it established any kind of economic development strategy to nurture this industry. As a result, Municipal officials are unable to secure planning funds to build consensus on locations for projects nor the legal authority to construct them. Since state coastal zone guidelines make it very difficult to develop offshore energy in state waters, I have submitted to local legislators a proposal for creating Ocean Energy Research and Development Zones. These zones would allow local communities and companies to develop offshore renewable energy in state waters and overcome many of the legal impediments.

Deepwater Wind Energy: According to energy officials, 90% of our region's offshore wind energy potential is located in "deepwater", or coastal waters with depths greater than 50'. The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and other state agencies have determined that our state is well positioned to develop deepwater wind energy technology. In doing so we can capture significant economic development opportunties, create new businesses and thousands of jobs in this emerging industry.

However, the global competition for this important new industry has already begun. Today, European companies in Germany and Denmark are well ahead of us in developing this new industry. Government and industry are working together to fund demonstration projects, identify sites and creating a regulatory process to guide private development.

For example, in Germany over 64,000 jobs have been created in the wind energy industry. Today half of the world’s wind turbines are now manufactured by German companies. Over the next twenty years, thousands of new jobs will be created, with much of this new growth fueled by the construction of new offshore wind farms. German authorities have already approved 18 new offshore wind farms, a majority in waters that are 100 to 140 feet deep.

We have a window of opportunity to position Massachusetts to compete and win in this growing global market. But, we need to act soon.

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