Comprehensive Energy Plan Adopted By House
SAFE Act Seeks to Protect Nation ’s Economic Vitality and National Security
On August 2, the House of Representatives approved the Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) Act, H.R. 4, by a vote of 240-189. I voted in favor of H.R. 4. This comprehensive energy plan seeks to meet our nation’s current and long-term energy needs in an environmentally safe, affordable, and reliable manner. With nearly 60% of our Nation’s oil supplies now coming from foreign imports and a growing share of our natural gas supplies also coming from imports, our Nation’s lack of a comprehensive energy plan poses a significant threat to our economic vitality and national security. For example, Iraq is our fastest growing source of oil imports, yet the Iraqi government is vehemently hostile to our Nation and routinely fires upon our military pilots patrolling the No-Fly Zone in northern and southern Iraq.
The basics of H.R. 4
H.R. 4 takes a comprehensive approach to our energy needs. First, H.R. 4 seeks to modernize and expand our Nation’s conservation efforts by increasing funding for energy efficiency programs, by encouraging the development of fuel-efficient vehicles by requiring a reduction in sports utility vehicle (SUV) and other light truck fuel consumption by at least five billion gallons over the next six years, and by creating tax credits to encourage consumer conservation. Second, H.R. 4 proposes to modernize our energy infrastructure, such as the manner in which we transmit electricity and natural gas from region to region.
Third, H.R. 4 seeks to better diversify our energy supplies by using the latest technologies available to increase environmentally-friendly exploration and production of domestic energy resources and by promoting the advancement of alternative and renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal power. Finally, H.R. 4 proposes to protect our citizens—especially low-income individuals—from wild fluctuations in energy prices by increasing funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act and the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Two hot topics: ANWR and the fuel efficiency of SUVs
Two of the most debated provisions of H.R. 4 concern the issues of exploring for oil and natural gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and raising the fuel efficiency standard for SUVs and other light trucks to 27.5 mpg by 2007. Please allow me to address the basis for my votes pertaining to these important issues.
The total size of ANWR is approximately 19.6 million acres. In 1980, Congress set aside 1.5 million acres of this total for oil and natural gas exploration. Under H.R. 4, oil and natural gas exploration and production activities, including support facilities and airstrips, would be permitted in no more than 2,000 acres of ANWR’s 19.6 million acres. Thus, only about one one-hundredth of one percent (0.000102) of ANWR’s surface acreage may be disturbed by drilling-related activities. H.R. 4 also requires the Secretary of Interior to ensure that the oil and gas exploration and production activities in ANWR will not have a significant adverse effect on fish and wildlife, their habitat, or the environment.
Additionally, H.R. 4 mandates the use of best commercially available technology for oil and gas exploration and production in ANWR, and requires that the federal government’s share of revenues from such production must be allocated to two new permanent funds – one to promote renewable energy technology and the other to improve our National Parks and public lands. Finally, H.R. 4 prohibits the export of oil produced in ANWR to any foreign country. Conservative estimates of the amount of oil that could be recovered in the 2,000 acres permitted for production activities equals approximately 50 years worth of oil imports from Iraq. I voted with a bi-partisan majority of my House colleagues to allow for oil and natural gas exploration and production in ANWR to occur within the above-stated parameters. Regarding the issue of fuel efficiency of SUVs and other light trucks, I voted in favor of raising the mandatory fuel efficiency standard to 27.5 mpg – the current standard for passenger cars – by 2007. Unfortunately, this amendment to H.R. 4 was defeated 160-269. Although H.R. 4 mandates for SUV and other light truck fuel consumption to be reduced by a minimum of five billion gallons over the next six years, such a reduction will only result in a minimal increase in the fuel efficiency standard for these vehicles. A recent in-depth study of this issue by the National Academy of Sciences seems to warrant a much more significant increase in the fuel efficiency standard.
We need H.R. 4
In conclusion, I supported H.R. 4 because our Nation can neither conserve nor drill its way out of our pressing energy challenges. We need to adopt a balanced and comprehensive energy policy that protects our national security and promotes economic prosperity in an environmentally-safe manner. H.R. 4 is such a national energy policy.
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