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For Immediate Release
April 19, 2007 |
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Hinchey, Shays Reintroduce
Energy for Our Future Act
In advance of Earth Day, bipartisan bill
would reduce consumption and dependence on foreign oil
Washington, D.C – With Earth Day approaching,
Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Christopher Shays
(R-CT) today reintroduced the Energy for Our Future Act (H.R.
1945), a comprehensive bipartisan energy reform bill that
seeks to decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil, protect
the environment, build a market for renewable energy, and
promote energy conservation.
"The sooner the U.S. faces the inevitable reality that
we must turn away from oil and embrace clean alternative energy
sources, the better off our country and planet will be,"
Hinchey said. "Raising efficiency standards today, as
we work to establish a renewable energy infrastructure for
tomorrow, is absolutely critical. We are already seeing the
severe impact an oil-based energy society is having on the
world's climate and if we wait any longer then the impact
could be extraordinarily devastating. By moving in a green,
fossil fuel-free direction, we will strengthen our national
security, help stop global warming and in turn improve the
environment, while creating a massive new sector of our economy
that will be focused on creating and implementing alternative
energy solutions."
“Today we offered bipartisan legislation that lays out
a comprehensive energy policy focused on conservation, reduced
consumption and improved fuel efficiency,” Shays said.
Shays, who was designated an “environmental hero”
by the League of Conservation Voters, continued, “The
bottom line is, with 3 percent of the world’s oil and
25 percent of its use, we can never drill our way to energy
security. We will not have a world to live in if we continue
our neglectful ways.” The Congressman received the "environmental
hero" award for his work in Congress.
The bipartisan legislation:
- Saves oil by increasing corporate average fuel economy
(CAFE) standards for cars and light trucks, including vehicles
that weigh up to and above 10,000 pounds, and closing the
SUV tax loophole;
- Encourages the purchase and manufacturing of hybrid vehicles;
- Promotes the use of Public Transportation, and the building
of energy efficient modes of transport like clean buses
and light rails;
- Reduces heat and electric bills by increasing and extending
energy efficiency tax incentives to both businesses and
individuals;
- Increases funding for the research and development of
biofuels, hydrogen, solar photovoltaic, and wind technologies;
- Saves taxpayer dollars by repealing tax breaks for oil
companies; and
- Restores state authority with regards to LNG siting and
setting CAFÉ standards.
Click here for a fact sheet on
H.R. 1945.
The bill was endorsed by the Sierra Club, League of Conservation
Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Union of Concerned
Scientists, U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Connecticut
Public Interest Research Group (ConnPIRG), Environmental Action,
Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Republicans for Environmental
Protection and the Audubon Society.
“The League of Conservation Voters commends Representatives
Chris Shays and Maurice Hinchey for re-introducing the Energy
for Our Future Act. As this legislation suggests, we have
an opportunity to help secure our future by making real investments
in clean, renewable energy technologies and promoting energy
conservation. And we need to advance policies that protect
consumers from skyrocketing energy prices and help curb global
warming pollution,” said Gene Karpinski, President of
LCV. “We strongly support this legislation as an important
step toward a clean, sustainable energy future. This legislation
will help reduce our dangerous dependence on oil, protect
our environment and help create jobs through the development
of renewable energy technologies. LCV encourages Congress
to pass this important legislation.”
“The 'Energy for Our Future Act' is a forward thinking
piece of legislation that will save consumers money and reduce
our oil consumption. It creates real and significant change
by increasing auto gas mileage standards to 40 miles per gallon,
increasing renewable energy production and funding for weatherizing
homes and restoring the state's authority in siting of LNG
facilities,” said Anna Aurilio of U.S. Public Interest
Research Group. “PIRG applauds Representative Shays
for his long dedication to protecting our environment, helping
consumers, and reducing America's dependence on oil.”
“Natural Resources Defense Council applauds the introduction
of the Energy for Our Future Act (H.R.1945). This bill lays
out a comprehensive vision for a more efficient, clean and
secure energy future. It is critical that our country break
its dangerous addiction to oil. The Energy for Our Future
Act will put us on the path towards achieving this goal through
policies such as raising fuel efficiency standards for cars,
promoting public transit, and providing incentives for automakers
to retool their plants to make more fuel efficient vehicles,”
said Natural Resource Defense Council’s Legislative
Director, Karen Wayland. “The bill will also increase
the use of energy efficiency in buildings and the production
of renewable energy. Deploying these clean energy resources
will not only protect our environment, but also save consumers
and businesses money. NRDC congratulates the sponsors of the
bill for working in a bi-partisan manner. Such an approach
is essential, and we look forward - along with other allies
- to putting our shoulder to the wheel too.”
Contact: John Cardarelli, 202/225-5541
Contact:
Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
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