Energy
Promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency is about much more than being good stewards of our natural resources. It's about protecting our nation's security and strengthening our economy. Today, we rely heavily on oil, which means that we are at the mercy of unstable and unfriendly governments in South America, Africa and the Middle East. And it means that a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina could turn into a national energy crisis if the supply of oil were disrupted, forcing gas and heating prices to rise out of control.
Furthermore, the tragic explosion aboard British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico is another reminder that continued dependence on fossil fuels can have disastrous human and environmental consequences. While we will not end our dependence on oil for many years, this tragedy is a stark reminder that we need to transition to alternative sources of energy.
It's time to think about the future - our safety and our economy depend on it. Reducing our dependence on foreign oil and curbing the effects of climate change have been priorities of mine since I first entered Congress, and I am now working in the Senate to see that these important values are reflected in public policy. Increasing the use of renewable fuels will diversify the energy on which we depend, stabilize prices, create new jobs and make our country more secure. Renewable energy production holds huge economic potential for Colorado. Between the wind on the Eastern Plains, the sun in the San Luis Valley and the great minds at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden and our colleges and universities, Colorado can lead the world in clean energy production.
Comprehensive Energy Reform Legislation
I have fought for many years for comprehensive energy legislation that will put our country on a path toward energy independence, increased national security, economic growth, and cleaner air and water. As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I worked closely with Senators on both sides of the aisle to develop and pass a bipartisan energy bill, the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009, which will help address our economic, environmental and national security concerns. I also believe we must include other measures in a climate and energy bill that will enable us to take advantage of our country's vast renewable energy supply. For example, we want to find new ways to get the power generated from wind turbines and solar panels to your home or business; one such way is by building new transmission lines. We want to train workers so they can qualify for well-paying jobs in the renewable energy industry; advance smart grid technology, so we can deliver electricity from suppliers to consumers using cheaper, cleaner digital technology; and improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses.
In addition to investment in energy efficiency and conservation technologies and the development of renewable energy sources, I believe we need to continue to develop our traditional energy resources, like coal, oil and cleaner fuels like natural gas. To address the challenges posed by climate change, safe, secure and cost-effective nuclear power plants should be part of the mix. But if we are to truly move to a clean energy future, we must find ways to address some our greatest energy challenges - like figuring out how to store the power generated from the sun and the wind. I am working on legislation to address all of these energy challenges and opportunities, and it remains one of my top priorities.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Colorado is home to some of the top minds researching and developing new ways to produce clean energy, thanks in part to the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden. NREL is one of Colorado's crown jewels, and I have fought for years to ensure the lab has the funding and staff needed to carry out its important mission to develop viable clean energy solutions. As a Senator, and as vice-chair of the Senate Renewable Energy and Efficiency Caucus, I remain committed to these programs.
Renewable Electricity Standard
One of my top priorities for climate and energy legislation is the inclusion of a strong federal Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), like the standard we have in Colorado, which requires a percentage of electricity we use to be produced from renewable energy sources. A national standard will help us reduce our addiction to foreign oil, while increasing the demand for renewable energy, boosting the economy and creating new, well-paying jobs. Colorado and more than 20 other states already have such a standard because they know it is a key tool in the effort to diversify our energy sources, create jobs and control pollution. I was proud to play an instrumental role in helping to implement Colorado's RES. In 2004, I campaigned across the state for Amendment 37, the ballot initiative to create the RES. The standard has proven so successful that the Colorado legislature recently increased the standard to 30 percent by 2020.
While in the House of Representatives, I worked with my colleagues to pass a federal RES similar to Colorado's, which would have required 15 percent of our nation's electricity to be generated from renewable energy sources by 2020. The measure was included as a part of the 2007 energy bill - the first time an RES had ever passed the House, and a great victory. Unfortunately, the RES amendment was removed from the bill during debate in the Senate.
I am still dedicated to passing a national RES, and I am continuing to help lead this fight in the Senate. Last year, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed a national RES requiring 15 percent of our energy to be produced from renewable sources by 2021. In September 2010, I joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing a similar RES proposal. While this is lower than a bill I introduced in February 2009 with Senator Tom Udall - which would require a 25 percent RES by 2025 (S.433) - I am pleased that the concept of an RES continues to gain support from colleagues from both sides of the aisle and all parts of the country. I will continue to fight for the inclusion of a strong national RES in energy legislation when it is debated in the Senate.
State Energy Programs
I also have led the fight in the Senate to increase funding for the State Energy Programs, which will help fund energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. They are especially focused on retrofitting residential and commercial buildings to reduce their energy consumption and give them the ability to provide consumer rebates for large-scale energy efficiency investments. Currently, State Energy Programs offices have approximately $8 billion in projects in their pipelines. Our state has been actively working to use this funding to lower Coloradans' energy costs.
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Department of Defense Energy Security Act
The U.S. military is the single largest consumer of energy in the world - consuming more energy per day than 85 percent of the world's countries. Both at home and abroad, a stable and secure energy supply is a challenge for our military, since the bulk of that energy comes from fossil fuels and is transported on our fragile electric grid. By increasing the Pentagon's consumption of clean energy, we can reduce costs and increase troop safety. My bill has four broad goals: It would reduce the Pentagon's reliance on oil on the battlefield; task the Department of Defense (DOD) to plan better for its energy use; decrease electricity consumption at our military facilities around the world; and increase the self-reliance of our military bases by increasing the development of on-site renewable electricity. It would also require DOD to develop an implementation plan for accomplishing its goal of deriving 25 percent of the military's electricity from renewable sources by 2025. With our military leading the way on new energy technologies and applications, these investments can be catalyzed to support efforts in the civilian clean energy sector, creating new technological breakthroughs and new jobs.
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Udall Legislation to Prevent Oil Spills
In the past 30 years, the oil industry has made major technological advances in oil drilling and production. Unfortunately, safety technology has not kept pace and we are now paying the price, both economically and environmentally. That's why I'm taking the lead in the Senate on a bill to commit more research and development funds into safety and accident prevention for offshore and onshore exploration and production activities. The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has underscored the urgent need to change the way we develop and use energy, and we need to learn from this tragedy and be smarter about our energy production.
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Electric Consumer Right to Know Act (e-KNOW) Act (S.3487)
In today's marketplace, consumers have a clear understanding of the price of gasoline and what their car mileage means for their pocket books. They also have ready access to the number of minutes remaining on their cell phone. But they can't get the same kind of clear, timely data related to their electricity use and its price. That is why I introduced the Electric Consumer Right to Know Act, which would establish consumers' right to access their own real-time electricity data. Defining this right is an important step toward helping consumers use electricity more efficiently and save money on their electric bills. And on top of that, I am proud to say that this idea came directly from a Coloradan at my Energy Jobs Summit in February 2010.
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S. 3364 - the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2010
I introduced this bipartisan legislation, along with Senator Collins from Maine, in response to frustrations voiced by Colorado school officials who found that information about energy efficiency grants for schools is hard to find and scattered among many federal agencies. The Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act would coordinate information on all federal energy efficiency programs for schools through a central office in the Department of Energy so states and school administrators may more easily access the programs. It also connects schools together so they can learn from one another in improving the energy efficiency of our local schools. These reforms will ultimately save taxpayer dollars.
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S. 3395 - Renewable Energy Market Access Program (REMAP) Act of 2010
I introduced this bill to further develop the renewable energy industry by supporting the export of their innovative American products abroad. Specifically, the bill makes U.S. exports of renewable energy and energy efficiency products more competitive by providing technical trade assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses. The REMAP Act would strengthen the clean energy economy and create jobs here at home by finding new markets for U.S. renewable energy goods and services and making our products more competitive abroad. We must find creative and fiscally responsible ways to create new American jobs - today.
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S.3137 - Solar Uniting Neighborhoods Act of 2010
I introduced the Solar Uniting Neighborhoods Act of 2010 to support the financing of community solar projects. This imaginative idea will allow every American to take advantage of the individual 30 percent federal solar tax credit, whether the solar panel is placed on their home or is part of a community solar project.
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Letter to the President on clean energy and climate legislation to spur economic growth
On January 26, 2010, I sent a letter to the President with 16 other Senators urging him to work with Congress this year on clean energy and climate legislation that would help create new clean energy jobs and expand new clean energy industries. I believe we must act now to jumpstart the American clean energy revolution and create American jobs - before other countries beat us to the punch.
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S.2052: Nuclear Energy Research Initiative Improvement Act
I introduced S.2052, the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative Improvement Act of 2009, to explore new ways to make nuclear energy as cost-efficient, safe and secure as possible. This bipartisan bill authorizes the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct research into modular and small-scale reactors, enhanced proliferation controls, and cost-efficient manufacturing.
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Energy Storage Hearing
I believe that developing efficient and economically feasible energy storage technology is a critical step if America is to lead the world in the clean energy revolution. This technology will help us make wind and solar power more efficient and provide additional backup capability for the electric grid, reducing blackouts for homes and businesses. At my request, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a December 10, 2009, hearing on this topic. You can find information about the hearing here: http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=df36b718-e767-4437-7703-c8dfb3ea58cd
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S. 433: Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)
In February 2009, I introduced S. 433 with Senator Tom Udall, to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), similar to the statewide RES we have in Colorado, and require that 25 percent of our electricity be produced from renewable energy sources by 2025.
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S.1575: Mineral Leasing Act Amendment
I introduced S.1575 to ensure that revenues from excess oil and gas leases are distributed in accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act. This bill will ensure that Colorado receives all of the compensation it is owed under the 1997 legislation, which allowed oil and gas drilling on the Naval Oil Shale Reserve. Read the bill: S-1575.pdf