Energy Independence

Energy Independence and a Clean Energy Economy

America is currently facing a significant choice when it comes to the future of our economy and national security.

It’s a choice between spending a billion dollars a day on red, white, and blue American clean energy jobs or spending a billion dollars a day buying oil from countries who all too often don’t share our interests.

It’s a choice between a strong, secure, energy-independent America and a weaker, oil-addicted America.

It’s a choice between American technological leadership, selling American technologies and services overseas, or losing the clean energy race and buying technology from other countries.

The success of America’s economic future rests on our ability to transform our energy strategies and create jobs in the next great growth industry: the clean energy economy. 

Senator Merkley supports the passage of a clean energy jobs bill to begin the work of replacing the millions of jobs lost in manufacturing and other sectors in recent years. 

Oregon is already a national leader in wind power generation, energy efficiency, and solar technology manufacturing. Our state is therefore uniquely positioned to be a world leader in the development of wave, geothermal, and biomass energy.

Senator Merkley has long been a leader in Oregon on clean energy issues.  As Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, Merkley led one of the greenest sessions in the nation, shepherding legislation to require the state's largest utilities to get one-quarter of their electricity by 2025 from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. Merkley also championed legislation to create a Renewable Fuel Standard and promote investment in renewable energy and fought for the expansion of Oregon's landmark bottle bill, which increases recycling and saves on energy and materials used to manufacture cans and bottles.

Senator Merkley is working to create jobs and protect our environment as a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, which has jurisdiction over environmental issues including clean air and water, superfund sites and wildlife protection – as well as global warming. 

Creating Jobs and Saving Money

Promoting Energy-Saving Renovations

Energy-efficient renovations to homes and businesses can put Oregonians to work today while reducing energy costs.  In 2009, Senator Merkley introduced the Clean Energy for Homes and Buildings Act to help families and business owners receive low-interest loans for energy-efficient renovations that they can pay back out of the savings they get on their energy bill.

Senator Merkley has also proposed the “Home Star” and “Building Star” programs to provide homeowners and business owners with additional rebates and financing options for energy-efficient renovations.

Investing in an Efficient Future

Senator Merkley fought for increased federal investment in energy efficiency programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which provided $40 billion to help put people to work increasing energy efficiency in homes, schools, and businesses.

Senator Merkley supports an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard requiring utilities to invest in energy efficiency to reduce electricity needs 15 percent by 2020. He also believes we should require better fuel economy for vehicles as we encourage production of hybrid and electric cars and supports policies to provide consumers with more energy-efficiency appliances, encourage builders to make homes and office buildings more energy-efficient, and help manufacturers save money by improving efficiency in industrial processes.

Merkley also supports modernizing the nation’s electricity grid, including the implementation of “smart grid” technology that helps move electricity consumption to non-peak hours and helps consumers identify ways to cut their own energy usage.

Renewable Energy: Home-Grown Energy, Home-Grown Jobs

Senator Merkley supports a national Renewable Electricity Standard, similar to Oregon’s standard, which would require utilities to generate 25 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2025. He also supports financial incentives to help families and businesses choose to use renewable energy.  In addition, Senator Merkley is working to expand transmission capacity for renewable electricity sources like wind, solar, and biomass, where the best resources are often concentrated away from population centers where the energy is needed. 

A 21^st Century Transportation System: Better Options, Less Pollution

Senator Merkley is proud of Oregon’s role as a leader in public transportation and believes all Americans should have better access to transit options, including streetcars, light rail, high-speed rail, and communities where biking and walking are safe and practical options.  Less dependence on driving alone means reduced global warming and reduced dependence on foreign oil.  As a member of the two Senate committees that will be working to overhaul our nation’s primary transportation legislation this year, Senator Merkley is working to ensure that there is adequate federal funding available for transit and highway projects.

Last year, he joined Congressman Blumenauer and Senator Wyden to push the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to reverse Bush Administration policies that blocked funding for the expansion of the Portland streetcar.  As a result, DOT contributed $75 million toward the project.

In 2009, Senator Merkley co-sponsored the Livable Communities Act to help increase coordination between transportation, housing, and economic development entities at the local level.  The legislation offers grants for communities to develop and implement integrated planning.

Senator Merkley also wants to clean up cars and trucks. He believes American manufacturers can get to the point where all new cars can go their first 40 miles on electricity.

Generating Power from Oregon Biomass

Senator Merkley believes the sustainable biomass from our forest and from agriculture waste can be a new source of renewable energy to replace foreign oil, as well as an economic engine to create jobs in rural Oregon. During the Environment and Public Works Committee’s work on a clean energy jobs bill in 2009, Senator Merkley included several provisions to encourage the development and deployment of biomass energy.  Included in the bill was dedicated funding for renewable heating energy, including biomass heating projects, and financial incentives for forest landowners and farmers to manage land in ways that reduce emissions or increase sequestration of carbon pollution.

Senator Merkley has also proposed legislation to allow biomass from public lands to qualify for the current Renewable Fuels program and make sure that biomass is eligible for renewable electricity and climate change programs. 

A Mandatory Cap on Global Warming Pollution

One of Senator Merkley’s top priorities as a member of the Senate EPW Committee is working to pass legislation that will reduce global warming pollution. Merkley is working with his colleagues to develop legislation that places a cap on global warming emissions and develops a cost effective program to help industry and consumers meet that cap.  A cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide successfully reduced acid rain and it can do the same for curbing carbon emissions, while promoting cost-savings and innovation.