Energy
Addressing America’s Energy Crisis
Pete looks forward to an independent and clean energy future, for the nation and for Northwest Indiana. He knows that finding clean sources of energy that can be produced and used here in America is key to our security and to creating jobs. That is why he has consistently lent his voice to the call to wean the United States’ economy off of fossil fuels, highlighting security concerns about powering the American economy with fuels from unstable and hostile trading partners.
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Pete is the Ranking Democratic Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, which has jurisdiction over funding provided to the Department of Energy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation.
To learn more about subcommittee and Pete’s activities as Ranking Democrat, please visit the Committee on Appropriations site.
Alternative Energy
Pete believes that reducing our nation's dependence on carbon-intensive fuels is important to both our national defense and our environment. In order to transition from a carbon based economy, it is necessary to have a comprehensive approach to energy policy that emphasizes conservation first and encourages the most efficient use of a broad range of fuels. That is why Pete is committed to investing in a matrix of alternative fuels – including those derived from biomass, solar, wind, geothermal, and nuclear sources – considering the environmental impact of each fuel source and those that offer the greatest energy output per dollar spent with the least amount of energy input. As the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Pete worked to include $330 million for the Vehicle Technologies program in P.L. 112-74, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act. This program researches technology breakthroughs for automobiles and trucks of all sizes, to increase their miles per gallon and decrease our dependence on foreign oil, encouraging the development of lightweight materials, high power batteries, and hybrid-electric drive motors. Pete also included $200 million for the Biomass and Biorefinery program in P.L. 112-74, a program that researches and develops technologies that will enable conversion of cellulosic biomass to fuels.
Click here to see a letter calling for investigation of Chinese Trade Practices
Domestic Energy Production
As Senator Lugar and others have noted, fossil fuel dependence is a national security issue, as well as an environmental one. In the short-term, Pete believes we must lessen our dependence on unreliable trading partners, and that we can do so by leveraging our capacity to produce fuel here at home. That is why he supports the construction of the entire Keystone XL pipeline. The Keystone project would give U.S. refineries enhanced access crude oil from Canada. The project has the potential to create thousands of immediate construction jobs through substantial private investment. On October 19, 2011, Pete joined 21 other Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Obama in support of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Click here to read a copy of the letter.
While Pete believes that renewable energy will play a large role in a more secure energy future for the United States, given the fact that fossil fuels meet around 83 percent of U.S. energy demand, Pete is committed to increasing domestic fossil fuel supplies and to supporting technologies that can provide cleaner, low-carbon electricity generation using domestic resources of coal and natural gas.