Energy and the Environment
As stewards of our natural environment, we have an obligation to leave our children a healthy and thriving planet. To honor this environmental imperative, our national energy policy must promote the responsible use of domestic resources in a way that promises their continued existence. Crafting such a policy requires us to recognize that there is no silver bullet, and in the near term, a “Made-in-America” strategy includes a combination of improved efficiency, smarter use of fuels, and increased domestic production of oil, gas, and renewables. As a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I’m hard at work to create a brighter energy future for America while also protecting our environment for generations to come.
Energy conservation, energy efficiency, and domestic energy production will lead us to a realistic American energy policy that can create jobs and keep our energy dollars at home. Maine is well positioned to contribute to this growing clean-energy economy – we have ample hydropower, onshore wind, and biomass resources. Maine is also proud to have the first-in-the-nation tidal power turbine and soon the first floating offshore wind turbines. While we cannot yet fully rely on renewable fuels, any new developments in the fossil-fuel industry must be subject to all appropriate environmental safeguards.
An important part of building Maine’s energy future involves new technologies, like solar, wind power and battery storage, that can promote energy independence and make our energy grid more resilient and reliable. I’ve introduced legislation to support these new technologies, known as distributed energy resources, and support people in Maine and around the country who are looking for new ways to power their daily lives.
I am committed to protecting the integrity of Maine’s environment and that of the nation – and to providing access to it. Outdoor recreation is not only an important part of our cultural history, but is also a pillar of our state economy. Every year people from across the country come to visit and enjoy all that our mountains, rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways have to offer, and I am committed to preserving that.
