Congressman Pete King

Energy

We must reduce our dependence on foreign oil which threatens our economy and our national security. I strongly support offshore oil drilling and drilling in the ANWR section of Alaska. This is environmentally safe and will significantly increase our domestic oil production. We must also reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens which have prevented us from building a new oil refinery in more than 25 years. We should also increase conservation, encourage nuclear energy in areas of the country that do not have evacuation concerns and pursue alternative forms of energy such as wind, solar, hydropower and bio-fuel.

Cap and Trade:
I voted against the “cap and tax” bill (H.R. 2454) because it will increase energy costs for families and business, reduce jobs, and increase taxes.

Natural Gas:
I am cosponsor of the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act (H.R. 1835), which encourages the use of natural gas by providing tax incentives for the purchase and production of vehicles that run on natural gas. This bill creates a win-win situation that reduces our dependence on foreign oil, helps consumers save money, creates jobs, and provides a cleaner alternative to diesel fuel.

Energy Tax Credits:
I have a long standing record of supporting energy tax credits for individuals and businesses investing in alternative and renewable energy.

Affordable Energy:
Each year, I support efforts to increase the amount of federal dollars for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides assistance to low-income households in danger of losing their heating and cooling power due to unaffordable energy costs. With the skyrocketing price of oil and gas, adequate funding for LIHEAP is especially vital in the winter, when home energy costs will significantly increase.