Contact Button

Email Updates

Voting Record

  • Voting Record

Energy & Environment

 

As a lifetime Pennsylvanian, I understand how valuable the Commonwealth’s vast natural resources are to our success. From providing affordable energy to creating high-paying jobs, Pennsylvania’s energy resources are critical to the state’s economic health. That’s why I have always fought for policies intended to spur domestic energy production, especially that of the Marcellus shale and our rich coal reserves. Please be assured that I understand the important role that coal plays in our communities and state. Unfortunately, the president and federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have led idealistic attacks on not only coal plants but also our unique way of life.

As you may know, under the Obama administration, the EPA has taken unprecedented steps to create and enforce regulations that have not only damaged our economy but also greatly overstepped the constitutional limits on executive branch authority. It is clear that EPA’s agenda, which has been guided by unelected bureaucrats who don’t have to answer to the families affected by their decisions, is harmful to American budgets and competitiveness. In order to protect hard working Pennsylvanians from EPA’s stifling regulations, I have sponsored and helped pass a number of bills this Congress that fight this federal power grab.

The EPA’s economically reckless mandates confirm that American energy policy is best left in the hands of Congress. Please be assured that I will continue to strongly support a comprehensive plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and increase our supply of affordable and clean domestic energy that will protect and create jobs here in the United States. With a combined effort, I believe we can move forward with addressing our energy needs in a sustainable manner that does not threaten American competitiveness.


All-of-the-Above Energy Plan


Rather than placing a huge energy tax on American families and restricting our energy development, I support an all-of-the-above comprehensive energy plan to reach our energy goals.

  • Domestic Exploration- We must take advantage of our rich natural resources by opening the Outer Continental Shelf and ANWR to drilling, which can be done while protecting the environment.
  • Coal- Pennsylvania is one of the nation's largest coal producers and maintains tremendous coal reserves that can be developed to create a thriving coal-to-liquid-fuel (CTL) industry. We must promote the use of our vast coal reserves by providing tax credits for the development of coal to liquid fuel technology and projects.
  •  Nuclear Energy- Nuclear energy provides an additional opportunity to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and is critical for our energy future. We must expand our nuclear capability by bringing new nuclear plants online.
  • Alternative Sources- We must invest in renewable and alternative fuels like ethanol, biodiesel and hydrogen. We need to encourage and support innovative approaches to energy production.
  • Conservation- Conservation is something each and every one of us can do every day to make an impact on our energy demand. Congress should act to make energy conservation attractive for individuals as well as corporations through economic incentives.

I believe that an all-of-the-above energy approach has the most potential for reducing our dependence on foreign oil and increasing our supply of affordable, cleaner energy while protecting our jobs at home.