It is possible to pursue policies that protect our environment and public health, while additionally strengthening our economy. By advocating a multi-faceted and common-sense approach to our nation’s environmental and energy challenges, we can reduce harmful pollutants and lead healthier lives, lower our energy costs, and put Americans to work building clean energy equipment to sell here and export around the world, equipment stamped “Made in the U.S.A.”  

We need to take action now to move this country toward a clean energy future, not just for the sake of our environment, but also for the strength of our economy. Our dependence on fossil-fuels has tremendous costs for American families and businesses. By pursuing clean and green energy, U.S. businesses and manufacturers can reduce energy costs, be more competitive, and will create tens - and possibly hundreds - of thousands of new jobs in the process.  

As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, I have advocated for tougher clean air laws, stronger oversight of U.S. nuclear power plants, and worked to combat climate change, which stands as one of our greatest environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Clean Air

Delaware is, unfortunately, located at the end of what I call "America's tailpipe." Other states' dirty emissions from cars and power plants drift east, causing pollution that Delaware cannot regulate. This dirty air negatively impacts the health of Delawareans, for example there are over 18,000 asthmatic children living in areas of poor air quality in the First State. To ensure all states clean up their dirty air, I have worked to protect and defend the Clean Air Act and the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to pursue clean air initiatives and regulating the amount of harmful carbon dioxide emissions. The Clean Air Act and the EPA’s efforts to limit harmful pollutants have repeatedly shown huge returns for the public’s investment in terms of lives saved, reduced health care costs, and clean energy jobs.  

In addition to protecting the Clean Air Act and the EPA, I have also been very active in the effort to clean up old, dirty diesel engines. Diesel emissions from sources such as old school buses are linked to 21,000 premature deaths, millions of lost work day, and numerous other negative health impacts every year. To address this issue I co-authored the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, which the President signed into law in January 2011.

For more information on my efforts in Congress to protect clean air and strengthen public health, click here.

Climate Change

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges I may ever see come before Congress. I believe the science in support of climate change is sound, and we need to act to address the threat to public health and the environment posed by harmful air pollution. One of the ways to reduce harmful air pollutants is to curb emissions associated with our transportation sector.

Nuclear Power

In order to achieve energy security and protect public health, I believe this country has to invest in clean energy sources, including nuclear energy. Done responsibly, nuclear power can help curb our reliance on foreign oil and reduce air pollution that damages our environment and causes climate change. Just in the past twelve years, the current nuclear fleet has prevented 8.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), 47.2 million tons of sulfur dioxide (S02) and 18.9 million tons of nitrogen oxide (N0x) emissions from entering the air compared to if coal plants had been used for power instead.

As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees nuclear safety, I am responsible for providing oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and our nation's civilian nuclear operations to ensure they are protecting the public’s health and safety in addition to supplying energy. Over the years, I have worked with the NRC to create a "culture of safety" within the U.S. nuclear energy industry. Despite all the protections in place, the crisis in Japan was a clear warning that we must not become complacent when it comes to nuclear safety. Senator Boxer and I asked the NRC for a comprehensive review of our nuclear fleet, and I will continue to hold congressional oversight hearings to ensure that we have a strong, robust and safe nuclear industry.

Recycling

I was the founder and am now the co-chair of the Senate Recycling Caucus. Recycling is a priority of mine because it is one of the most visible and respected ways every American family and business can contribute to our environmental sustainability efforts. Recycling significantly diminishes the energy needed to manufacture products, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and also creates jobs.

I also worked with my colleagues to enact the Recycling Investment Saves Energy (RISE) Act in 2008, which will increase America's ability to recycle while creating new green jobs for American workers. While I continue to look for opportunities to support recycling legislation, I've additionally made sure my colleagues and I lead by example by improving our own recycling practices here on Capitol Hill.

Protecting Delaware's Wetlands

With Delaware playing a vital role in coastal ecology - serving as a rest stop for millions of migrating birds - I have been a long supporter of wetland conservation. As governor, I enacted the Inland Bays Watershed Enhancement Act, which established a center to restore and protect the three interconnected bodies of water in southeastern Delaware. I will continue to support wetland conservation in the Senate in the coming years.

Offshore Wind

I am a firm believer in the promise of offshore wind power. The development of offshore wind means reliable energy, good paying American jobs, and independence from fuels that pollute our air and drain our economy. According to the University of Delaware, the wind off our Atlantic Coast has the potential of generating 330 Giga-watts of power. That is enough clean power to support all of the energy needs of our coastal states from Maine to North Carolina, with enough power left over to support future energy demands and would replace about 300 dirty, large coal plants.

Delaware is a leader in moving this country toward an offshore wind future. The Bluewater Wind project off our shores in Rehoboth will not only be one of the first offshore wind projects in the United States, but is also expected to create up to 1,200 direct and indirect jobs during construction and 280 direct and indirect jobs for operation and maintenance. I have worked closely with the Obama Administration and my colleagues in the Senate to ensure our Delaware project will be successful and that the government is providing the right framework to foster this new industry. I will continue to support offshore wind energy for both the state of Delaware and the rest of the nation.

In July 2011, I introduced legislation to provide critical financial incentives for the investment in offshore wind energy. The Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act provides the offshore wind industry with enhanced stability by extending investment tax credits for the first 3,000 MW of offshore wind facilities placed into service – which is an estimate of 600 wind turbines.