June 26, 2014 Dear Robert, Thank you for contacting me about U.S. energy policy. I am honored to hear from you and proud to represent you. Since coming to Congress, I have been working very hard to advance my policy agenda based on four key priorities - peace, prosperity for working families, environmental sustainability, and support for human and civil rights. Of all the issues that come before Congress, few affect our day-to-day lives like our energy policies. Decisions made by the federal government affect how much you pay for gas when you fill up your tank, how much it costs to heat your home during the winter, and how successfully we are able to protect our shared environment. I support policies to help our country reduce its carbon footprint and transition away from reliance on fossil fuels, while promoting a smarter and more efficient use of energy. We cannot drill our way out of our energy problems. The United States consumes 25 percent of the worlds oil, yet holds less than 3 percent of the worlds proven oil reserves. We should not be opening pristine areas to drilling, like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, for a temporary gain that will make little contribution to our overall energy needs. We also should not subsidize a dirty energy economy, which is why I introduced the End Polluter Welfare Act of 2013 (H.R. 3574), which eliminates all federal subsidies to the oil, gas, and coal industries. These industries continue to make record profits, with the five largest oil companies alone generating over $1 trillion in profits in the last decade. We should not be handing these companies $110 billion in subsidies over the next ten years, particularly while they continue to emit large amounts of greenhouse gases that cause to global warming. Fossil fuels are subsidized at nearly 6 times the rate of renewable energy, so we must also level the playing field to allow emerging clean energy companies to develop. Renewable energy has a multitude of benefits. It improves our health by reducing the emission of harmful air pollutants, it helps us avert dangerous global warming, it reduces our reliance on imported oil, and it creates thousands of good jobs. I support the continuation of the renewable energy tax credits for wind, solar, and biomass. The Production Tax Credit (PTC) in particular has been instrumental in the expansion of the wind energy industry, which employs more than 3,000 Minnesotans. In March 2014 I signed a bi-partisan letter along with over 100 of my colleagues supporting an extension of the PTC. Our buildings and appliances must be more efficient as well. I voted for the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014 (H.R. 2126) when it passed the House on March 6, 2014. This legislation would help encourage building owners and tenants to invest in energy-efficiency measures. In addition to supporting clean energy policies, I believe we must properly regulate our energy industry. That is why I am an original cosponsor of both the BREATHE and FRESHER Acts (H.R. 1154 and H.R. 1175). These bills would reverse exemptions for oil and gas exploration within the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, ensuring that oil and gas companies comply with consistent national standards. Clean energy is a win-win proposition. As Congress continues to debate our countrys energy policy, I will push for investment in additional renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Thank you again for contacting me. As always, feel free to contact me on any issue of concern. Please sign up for our e-newsletter by visiting our website at ellison.house.gov. Sincerely yours, Keith Ellison United States House of Representatives
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 23:17:41 +0000