Energy & Environment As the ranking member of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, I am working to ensure that we pursue policies that both preserve the environment as well as the economy. I strongly believe that everything must be on the table as we seek to reduce carbon emissions and promote the development of clean energy—whether it be nuclear power, clean coal technologies or greater use of renewables like wind, solar and hydro. American Energy Act Will Preserve the Environment and the Economy The American Energy Act charts a new course by laying down a national goal of licensing 100 new nuclear reactors over the next 20 years. With more than 31 announced reactor applications already in the pipeline, this goal can be achieved. Renewing our commitment to nuclear power will also revitalize an entire manufacturing sector, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. Our nation must also develop more of our own domestic natural resources, such as oil and natural gas. This act opens up for exploration the Arctic Coastal Plain as well as environmentally-sound leasing for oil and natural gas in the Outer Continental Shelf and oil shale in the Mountain West. Revenues generated by the sales of leases would be deposited in a Renewable and Alternative Energy Trust Fund to encourage the development of clean, renewable and alternative energy technologies, such as wind and solar. Finally, this bill encourages personal responsibility through conservation. The commonsense American Energy Act is aimed at more energy production, cheaper fuel bills, more jobs, and greater energy independence, which will also yield a cleaner environment and a more secure nation. Expanding Nuclear Power Will Reduce Emissions and Create Jobs It is confounding that the 1,000-page climate bill that the House Democrat leadership is railroading through Congress, purportedly to reduce emissions, ignores the very source that accounts for over 70 percent of our nation’s emissions-free electricity: nuclear power. We have to get our priorities straight. We are all familiar with the benefits of nuclear power with the Cook and Palisades plants along our shorelines. Overall, the United States has 104 operating nuclear reactors, generating 20 percent of the nation’s electricity. Other developed countries rely more heavily on nuclear energy, such as France, which gets 80 percent of all its power from nuclear. Expanding Wind Energy Will Boost Local Economy and Create Jobs Several of southwest Michigan’s institutions of higher learning are launching wind energy programs to meet our region’s potential, including Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College who have partnered in the creation of a Wind Energy Center. Once it is fully operational, the state-of-the-art center will help create jobs and foster the creation of start-up businesses involved in various aspects of producing energy from wind, including manufacturers, designers, distributors, and repair companies. Earlier this year, Kalamazoo Valley Community College announced that it was moving forward with its wind energy technician curriculum, allowing students to get a jumpstart on their studies this summer. Wind turbines throughout southwest Michigan will not only power our communities, they will help power our local economic engine and create jobs. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Technologies CCS is a method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and injecting underground the carbon dioxide emitted from electricity generation plants and industrial emitters that use fossil fuels. The Carbon Capture and Storage Early Deployment Act, H.R. 1689, establishes a $1 billion grant program derived from fees on the generation of electricity from coal, oil and natural gas. We currently have advanced research being conducted locally at Western Michigan University that has the potential to revolutionize the reduction of greenhouse gases. I delivered $615,000 for WMU’s research earlier this year and is currently seeking additional funding. Developing this technology in southwest Michigan will provide a much needed boost to our local economy. These technologies exhibit great promise, and in encouraging advancements in carbon capture, we will be able to responsibly fortify our nation’s energy supply with American-made energy and protect the pocketbooks of our nation’s working families. Our nation’s vast coal reserves account for 50 percent of our electricity needs – now is not the time to turn our back on coal. Protecting Working Families and Michigan Jobs in Climate Debate A recent analysis released by the Heritage Foundation of the economic impact of the cap-and-tax climate bill projects that by 2035 the bill would reduce our economy by $9.6 trillion; destroy 1,105,000 jobs per year on average, with peak years seeing unemployment rise by over 2,479,000 jobs; increase the average per-family-of-four costs by $4,300 per year; raise electricity rates 90 percent; raise gasoline prices by 74 percent; and raise residential natural gas prices by 55 percent. Quite simply, this legislation puts the nation’s working families in the crosshairs. Our national unemployment hovers just below 10 percent, yet here we are discussing legislation that will hemorrhage jobs and wreak havoc on our economy. We have a unique opportunity and a responsibility to reduce emissions and preserve our economy – the American public is desperate for solutions, but cap-and-tax is not the answer. The stakes are too high not to get this right. Related Documents:
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POLITICO: Energy Change Isn't Easy for a Reason
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