Energy

 
 

Energy

Energy

Energy issues must be prioritized by the 111th Congress to address the current challenges facing the American people, to include moving away from dependence on foreign countries for energy, and maintaining our won energy security.  I am committed to broadening and strengthening our country’s energy portfolio as well as bolstering the American energy industry to provide Hoosier families with reliable, safe and affordable supplies of fuel.  Affordable reliable energy has distinguished the United States from other industrial powers and remains a critical component for job growth in all sectors of the economy and to maintaining the highest standard of living for all Americans.  Actions undertaken by Congress should protect American jobs by addressing our energy needs with American-made energy and taking steps to prepare our country for peak oil, by investing in our domestic energy industry, and focusing on improving our energy infrastructure.

Our current energy portfolio is critically out of balance. Across the nation, families are hurting from mounting energy costs.  As long as we are dependent on foreign sources of energy, the American economy will lack security and endurance.  I therefore support direction of funds to bolster and accelerate the development of American-made energy.  A wise energy strategy utilizes the resources and technology available in the present, while initializing and establishing the energy resources for the future.  Oil may not be the fuel of the next century, but we must continue to wisely utilize it today to bridge us to the realization of our energy goals.  I believe investments in domestic oil production on land, in the sea and from oil shale, must be made.  Likewise, clean-coal technologies utilize domestic resources to produce reliable and cost-effective energy.  Coal is vital to the United States and to Indiana – a state that depends on the fuel for 96% of our electricity.  It must remain part of our energy portfolio as we nurture cleaner and more efficient coal technology.  Incorporating these options into our energy portfolio will help bridge us to the fuels of the future. 

Cap and Trade

While the issue of climate change and carbon emissions regulation has risen to the forefront of energy issues, I approach any legislation on this matter with caution and a deep sense of responsibility to this nation to “first do no harm”.  Cap and Trade policies put a price on carbon, charging the American people for something that has so far been free.  This means that the American people will pay.  They will pay more for electricity, more for gas, and more for goods.  Putting a price on carbon emissions beyond what American industry can afford to pay or driving the emissions limits too low for our manufacturers could cost this country the economic freedoms and jobs we have worked so hard to create.  We must be careful not to make doing business within the United States so expensive that industries take their jobs and innovations elsewhere, to other countries where factories and power plants operate without regulation.  According to emission reports, China is the world’s leading carbon dioxide emitter.  India has also been emitting large amounts.  Both countries compete with the United States for manufacturing jobs.  We must not blindly disadvantage ourselves.  Driving carbon emissions out of the U.S., where we already regulate pollutants, to other countries without environmental laws, will only hurt our atmosphere and our economy.  Indiana has made significant progress over the last few years in bringing good-paying jobs to the State.  We must not pass a policy which would undo all our hard work.  If climate change is to be addressed, it must be addressed on a global level, without targeting the mid-western States such as Indiana, or unfairly burdening Hoosier families. 

Energy Saving Tips

Cars:

Locations of E85 pumps in Indiana at IN.gov

Driving More Efficiently byFuelEconomy.gov

Home Heating Fuel Information:

In anticipation of the coming winter months and the accompanying need for home heating fuels, I have provided some links below to assist constituents in reducing their energy bills.

The Department of Energy Energy Saving Tips for Homes assists with information on conserving home heating fuel.

In addition these tips, click on the web link to LIHEAP Information and Consumer Support Center if you need assistance paying energy costs. LIHEAP is an acronym for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and is a federally-funded program to help eligible low income households meet their home heating and/or cooling needs. The LIHEAP consumer information page provides assistance with a Frequenty Asked Questions page (FAQ) and information on contacting the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) project for assistance in applying for LIHEAP help. The NEAR service is free and can be contacted by e-mail, energyassistance@ncat.org (please include your city, county, and state along with your e-mail message), or by using NEAR's toll-free phone number 1-866-674-6327 (or 1-866-NRG-NEAR).