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Issues & Legislation
Key Issues
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Energy
- Supports increasing domestic production of oil and renewable resources to reduce
U.S. reliance on foreign oil.
- Supports incentives for conservation, efficiency and use of alternative energy sources.
- Supports implementing oil savings goals, increasing vehicle fuel economy standards and efficiency standards on residential and industrial appliances, and promoting the use of green building techniques.
- Introduced legislation to apply antitrust statutes to outlaw price fixing of oil and gas products by OPEC nations.
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During my tenure in the U.S. Senate, I have sought to promote a well-balanced energy policy that encourages clean, safe, reliable and affordable forms of energy, and to appropriately weigh environmental protection with our need for economic expansion. Pennsylvania’s strong agricultural, manufacturing and other industrial sectors rely heavily on energy production, and Pennsylvania consumers deserve reliable, affordable energy. One of my top energy priorities is reducing U.S. reliance on foreign oil, particularly from OPEC. To rely on unstable regions, such as the Middle East, for our energy needs is to court disaster. Adequate domestic supplies, as well as incentives for conservation, efficiency and use of alternative energy sources are critical to a secure energy future.
In recent years, energy policy has been one of the most contentious issues in Congress, with political and geographical differences on many areas. On August 8, 2005, after more than a decade without a comprehensive energy bill, the President signed into law the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Given continued rising energy costs and gasoline price volatility, on June 21, 2007, the Senate again acted on energy legislation, passing its version of H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act by a final vote of 65-27.
I was proud to support the Senate version of H.R. 6 which promotes biofuels, energy efficiency, vehicle fuel economy and carbon storage. The bill expands upon the ethanol requirements enacted in 2005 and also sets requirements for the use of 3 billion gallons of advanced biofuel (fuel derived from renewable biomass other than corn starch) by 2016, increasing to 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuel by 2022. In relation to efficiency and conservation measures, H.R. 6 mandates new and revised federal efficiency standards on residential appliances such as: clothes washers, dishwashers, and boilers, and on industrial appliances as well. The bill also includes a directive to reduce energy use in new buildings by 30% in 2010 and 50% in 2020, and a new program designed to promote green federal and commercial buildings. I was also pleased that the Senate passed an amendment to H.R. 6 to increase our national average vehicle fuel economy. The bill requires automakers to raise the average fuel economy standard for cars and light trucks to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, an increase of 10 mpg over current standards. This provision is similar to other measures I have cosponsored to increase our vehicle fuel efficiency in a manner that provides flexibility to domestic automakers.
Additionally, I was successful in helping the Kohl-Specter amendment be added to H.R. 6 in the Senate. This amendment, based on the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act, would make it possible for an OPEC member to be sued for violating United States antitrust laws when they conspire to fix the price of oil. Gasoline price volatility has had significant effects on our economy and is a major concern for American businesses, consumers and Congress. Along similar lines, as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I held two hearings in February and March of 2006 to consider the effects of consolidation in the energy industry and whether such concentration had resulted in increased prices of gasoline, other petroleum-based fuels and natural gas. Those hearings prompted me to introduce the Oil and Gas Industry Act of 2006 which would have required the appropriate antitrust agencies to further consider whether mergers within the oil and gas industry have violated antitrust laws and if such mergers and information sharing among companies should receive further scrutiny. Additionally, this legislation would have addressed the industry’s record high profits and high prices by prohibiting oil and gas companies from diverting, exporting or refusing to sell existing supplies with the specific intention of raising prices or creating a shortage.
Our nation also needs to maintain a diverse energy supply in electricity production. This should include a major increase in the use of renewable resources, including wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, and geothermal energy. A renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) that would require 10% of U.S. electricity come from renewable sources by 2020 has previously passed the Senate. I supported this provision in 2005, but it was dropped from the law due to House opposition. I was considering a similar amendment for 15% renewable electricity production by 2020, but it never received a vote during the recent energy bill debate. In the past, I have supported up to 20% renewable production by 2020. Renewable sources currently account for just over 2% of U.S. electricity production and I believe such a portfolio standard is necessary to help spur development of renewable resources. Pennsylvania is currently implementing a new Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard with an 18 % goal by 2020 of electricity production from renewable and other alternative energy sources. I applaud the Commonwealth’s recognition that increased use of renewable energy can help improve the environment while utilizing sustainable resources.
Pennsylvania ’s coal mining heritage, the Commonwealth’s Alternative Energy Porfolio Standard includes clean coal technology as an eligible alternative energy source. I am also a strong advocate for research and commercial application of clean coal technologies which could help alleviate pressure on the oil and natural gas markets. These technologies are proven to greatly reduce pollution from power plants while providing much greater efficiency in coal use. As our most abundant domestic energy supply, coal is projected to play a key role in energy production well into the future and we must use it more cleanly and efficiently. I have supported a unique project in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, that will transform waste coal into ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel or similar products–the first plant of its kind in the U.S. I helped secure a $100 million U.S. Department of Energy grant for this plant, which holds the promise of reducing our dependence on foreign oil, while at the same time cleaning the air, using coal waste, and improving water quality by reducing acid mine drainage. I supported an amendment to H.R. 6 aimed at launching the coal-to-liquids industry in the United States and was disappointed it was not included in the final Senate version. However, the bill did include significant benefits for the research and development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. CCS is a critical component to developing clean coal technology and ensuring coal maintains its role in domestic energy production.
While the Senate passage of H.R. 6 was a major step toward diversifying our fuel supply and using it more cleanly and efficiently, it could have done more to increase our domestic production. Our current natural gas imbalance has driven prices to unacceptably high levels and created price volatility. This affects not only energy production, but already-struggling U.S. manufacturing, such as the chemical and fertilizer industries which rely on natural gas as a feedstock (ingredient) and energy source. Additionally, natural gas is a basic source of heating for millions of Americans, including low-income families. I will continue to support efforts such as the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act which the President signed on December 20, 2006 and will allow oil and gas development in a limited portion of the offshore Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico with appropriate environmental protections. As that Act did not contain conservation and energy efficiency measures, I am pleased the Senate followed with H.R. 6 which sets oil savings goals of an average of 2.5 million barrels per day (Mbd) of oil in 2016; 7 Mbd in 2026 and 10 Mbd in 2031. I was also disappointed that the Energy Policy Act of 2005 did not include a similar oil savings goal which would have required the administration to identify and implement policies reducing domestic oil consumption by 1 million barrels per day from projections by 2013. This provision was based on the Carper-Specter amendment from 2002 and the Landrieu-Specter amendment in 2003, the latter of which passed by a vote of 99-1. These are modest oil savings goals, but ones which could help focus the Federal Government's attention on reducing oil imports in support of energy independence, national security and lower trade deficits, and I will continue to support such measures.
Securing a reliable national energy plan is vital to ensuring the stability of our country. This important issue deserves Congress’ consideration so that we may best serve the interests of the environment, national security, taxpayers and consumers. I assure you that I will continue to work in the best interests of Pennsylvania to ensure a secure, responsible energy future.
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