Energy

“We need to produce more energy of all kinds here at home.”

Our need for energy…

Energy is not only critical for U.S. national security, economic well-being, and stability, but also to the folks who live in our part of Texas where distances between communities are significant and our agricultural economy depends on energy intensive equipment.

Texas leads the nation in the production of crude oil and natural gas, and our petroleum refineries account for more than one-fourth of our nation’s refining capacity.  The 13th district is also home to many small and independent producers that make up the back-bone of our domestic energy supply.  We also have numerous wind farms and developers of other types of energy that are an important part of the mix.

Government restrictions…

Government policies and restrictions continue to make us more dependent on unreliable foreign sources of energy.  We have made it too difficult to build refineries and new power plants, and we have put much of the country off-limits to energy development. 

Global warming tax…

There are also those in Washington who want to reduce our use of fossil fuels by any means possible, and they will certainly support higher taxes and more regulations on the energy industry making everyone’s energy bill go up.

In June of 2009, the House passed a global warming bill, also known as “cap and trade,” that will severely damage Texas’s energy industry and energy-related jobs.  I voted against it.  No one will be immune from this new global warming tax.  These costs will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher energy prices.  Additionally, most of the items we buy will be more expensive, and the costs for farmers, ranchers, and other small businesses will rise significantly.  Thankfully, the Senate has yet to take action on this bill.   

A better alternative…

Instead of punishing Americans into saving energy, I believe a better road for our energy future is to reduce our dependence on foreign energy resources and help the environment by having a sensible plan to increase production of all kinds of energy here at home.
 
Ever since I have been in Congress, I have introduced an energy bill to increase production of all kinds here at home and have done so again with the “No More Excuses Energy Act.”  This bill encourages the production of all forms of domestic energy including nuclear, alternative energy and fuels, and oil and gas.

The “No More Excuses Energy Act” includes provisions that….
 

• Open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to responsible drilling, potentially producing nearly a million barrels per day for several decades;

• Encourage new refinery construction;

• Boost alternative energy development by extending the Wind Production Tax Credit (PTC) for 10 years and extending the PTC for 5 years on other alternative energy sources;

• Support alternative fuels by making the excise tax on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and diesel comparable on an energy-equivalent basis and extending the Alternative Fuel Credit;

• Boost solar energy development by extending the Investment Tax Credit (ITC);

• Encourage investment in a much-needed industrial base for building new nuclear power plants by reducing the tax burden on that industry.