T. Boone Pickens asserts the need to become energy independent the American way (0:39).

 

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Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) says the U.S. is vulnerable without energy independence. He asserts that our nation’s energy policy is intertwined with our economic policy as well as our national security policy. (0:40)

 

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Ellen Ratner speaks with T. Boone Pickens on his energy plan. Pickens advocates switching to natural gas for many current oil consumers. (5:28)

 

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At a press conference today, President Obama signed the Executive orders on energy independence and outlined a plan for the future. The initiative provides for the creation of jobs through an effort to make buildings more energy efficient. It also provides incentives for fuel efficient cars to be designed and built in the United States. President Obama pledged to work with state governments rather than against them. In response to the 35,000 jobs lost today, the President said to not expect a quick fix. He went on to say that much work needs to be done, and these executive orders are the next step.

At a hearing to discuss possible energy measures to stimulate the economy, Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) said that a “number of important energy measures” must be “a central part of any stimulus package.” Bingaman felt that this upcoming Congress has a real opportunity to create a “comprehensive and forward-looking energy policy.”

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) said that Congress has done more to address the energy crisis in the last six years than has been accomplished in the previous 30 years. Domenici still suggested “an expedited process” in addressing energy initiatives because of the long delays that can occur due to current regulations.

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) advocated for coal-to-liquid fuel technology. According to Bunning, this type of fuel would create significant jobs, substantially reduce emissions, and reduce our dependence on Middle East oil. He is also concerned with investing in other types of energy programs considering they are unproven and inefficient.

Bracken Hendricks, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP), stated that CAP advocates for a $350 billion one-year stimulus and recovery package, part of which he called a “green stimulus.” Hendricks said that one third of that package should go directly to clean energy investments.

Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration, made specific proposals for any stimulus package in the upcoming year. Woolf wanted as much as $10 billion provided for an energy efficient buildings retrofit program, $6 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, $1 billion for the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program, and $2.5 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. He also argued for an 8 year extension on energy efficiency and renewable tax provisions that would allow for long-term job creation.

The Energy Daily and Covanta Energy hosted a media breakfast with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) to discuss the congressional outlook on energy. At the forefront of discussions was the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Moratorium. The OCS Moratorium was put in place by Congress in 1981 to protect America’s coasts from threats of oil and gas developments as well as to prevent leasing of coastal waters for fossil fuel development. (more…)

“Democrats in the House and Senate have stood in the way of more American made energy” said House minority leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). “That’s why almost 70% of our oil that we use everyday has to be imported.” Boehner and other top Republicans spoke at a press conference today to accept a petition from American Solutions signed by 1.3 million Americans. The petition calls on congress to take action now to lower gas prices. (more…)

Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis) criticizes House Democrats for voting 90% of the time against increasing America’s oil supply, while supporting Republicans who have recently voted in favor of doing so. Sensenbrenner added that he believes the Congress must act on high oil costs for the “sake of the working men and women of America and for the sake of our nations economy.” (0:33)

 

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The Senate Republican Conference met with several witnesses to discuss the solution to gaining “more American energy” and achieving “clean energy independence.” A major focus of the discussion was Sen. Lamar Alexander’s (R-Tenn.) “New Manhattan Project” in which he outlines seven steps or “Grand Challenges” which he considers essential to achieving this goal in the next five years. The Grand Challenges include making plug-in electric vehicles commonplace, making carbon capture a reality for coal-burning power plants, achieving cost-competitive solar power, creating safe storage for nuclear waste, developing cost-competitive biofuels, constructing environmentally-friendly buildings, and providing fusion energy.
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At a Brookings Institution discussion on energy challenges for the next president, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) says that energy independence doesn’t mean that the U.S. “would never buy oil from Mexico, or Canada, or Saudi Arabia” but that it would never be “held hostage” for oil supplies. (0:43)

 

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