Date: 2007-12-18
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank my colleague from the Rules Committee for allowing me to speak. I hav6 to admit. it is not very often I follow my colleague from Massachusetts and support a lot of what he said. The legislation before us today is the result of almost a year of hard work and negotiation to compromise by the new majority to produce an energy bill that helps address the serious concern of climate change in our Nation. For the first time in over 30 years. Democrats increase the fuel economy standards by 40 percent. as well as increase energy efficiency requirements and promote research and development of alternative sources .of energy. Speaker PELOSI. Majority Leader HOYER and Chairman DINGELL deserve special praise for- their work in crafting this historic legislation. Almost as important as what is included is what is not included. H.R. 6 omitted provisions from the previous energy bills that I feared could raise the cost of energy for consumers. including a Federal renewable electricity standard. new taxes on the energy industry outside of those carefully negotiated in the original H.R. 6 from January of this year that could tilt the competitive playing field against U.S. companies. and provisions that could hamper domestic oil and natural gas production. These changes are commendable and represent a more balanced proposal which I support. What was unfortunately omitted was the opportunity to create a balanced energy policy that invests in our energy future without ignoring Americas energy needs today. Energy security cannot be achieved by alternative energy and conservation alone. The Energy Information Administration predicts that natural gas. oil. and coal will comprise approximately the same share of our total energy supply in 2030 as they did in 2005. even with new investments in renewable sources of energy. Comprehensive energy legislation must be enacted that will increase Americas domestic energy supply. particularly cleanburning natural gas which will play a critical role in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. Whats also lacking was the debate on renewable fuel standards. RFS. a provision not moved through the regular process of the House and that lacks a clear mechanism to reduce the mandate prior to taking effect in the case of environmental challenges. technological. feasibility or supply issues. or other adverse consequences. There is no shortage of literature detailing the negative environmental impacts of cornbased ethanol. its. questionable greenhouse gas emission reductions. its reduced fuel efficiency. and its effect on food and energy prices. I hope in a few years down the road we dont find ourselves asking whether the supposed cure for our oil addiction is not worse than the disease. In closing. I believe as Democrats we can craft a sensible energy policy that actually enhances our energy security. I hope our House leadership will continue to try to work with Democrats and Republicans together to address Americas need to produce additional domestic energy. both conventional and renewable. and to ensure the reliability and affordability of our Nations critical energy supplies. [From the Houston Chronicle. Dec. 8. 2007]