|
Latest News
:
More News
Recognizing supply concerns, high energy costs, and our dependence on
foreign oil, Rep. Castle believes we have a responsibility to preserve
and protect our environment. He
supports improving automobile efficiency, investing in research and
development of efficiency and renewable energy, and exercising greater
conservation to help meet our energy needs.
- Corporate Automotive Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards
- Congress and the President agreed to increase fuel efficiency
standards for cars, SUVs, and some trucks for the first time in statute
since 1975. Rep. Castle supported the law, which raised the standard
to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, and believes that making our vehicles
go farther on a tank of gas will contribute greatly to reducing
emissions from transportation fuels that contribute to global warming.
- Biofuels - Rep.
Castle voted to require that 36 billion gallons of biofuels be blended
with conventional fuels by 2022. Recognizing the need to exercise
caution, that the increased production not adversely affect the food
supply, he strongly supported the new law requiring increased use of
materials other than corn, such as sweet sorghum, rice straw, and
switchgrass in producing biofuels.
- Energy-Efficiency Standards for Appliance and Buildings
- Rep. Castle supported the new law requiring better energy-efficiency
standards for appliances and buildings. Improving the efficiency of
how energy is used by appliances and buildings is one of the fastest
ways to immediately. Energy Star appliances, for example, are a great
tool for consumers who wish to improve the efficiency of household
appliances and lower their electricity bills.
- Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) - Rep. Castle
believes in requiring utilities to gradually increase the portion of
electricity produced from renewable resources such as wind, biomass,
geothermal, and solar energy. Specifically, he supports legislation to
require electric utilities to produce 20% of their power from renewable
energy sources by 2020, and he voted for an amendment to require 15% by
2020 during consideration of an energy bill in the House in August
2007. A federal RES has passed the House and Senate at various points
but has yet to be included in the new energy laws.
- Tax Incentives for Renewable Energy / Energy Efficiency Investment
- Rep. Castle has voted in favor of three similar bills to extend tax
credits to producers of renewable energy and for energy efficiency tax
credits. The debate continues over whether to shift the current tax
credits from oil and gas producers to renewable energy and energy
efficiency, however he believes this is a reasonable approach to jump
start needed technology advancements.
- Wind in Delaware - Wind energy is reliable,
clean, will not contribute to climate changes, and is cited as the
fastest growing commercial energy source in the world. All wind energy
facilities in the United States are based on land, and it's exciting to
think that Delaware could be the first to pursue offshore wind energy
development. Rep. Castle supports a long-term extension of the
Production Tax Credit (PTC), which expires at the end of 2008, which
will help with continued investment in renewable energy sources around
the country, like the offshore wind energy project in Delaware. He has
also encouraged the Minerals Management Service to act quickly in
setting the regulations for offshore alternative energy development.
|
