Energy & Environment

Energy is a hot topic in Washington, and there are more than a few ideas on the table trying to convince consumers that Congress can save them money and make us energy independent now.  The truth is this is a long term problem that requires not only a major shift in consumer behavior, bu  more importantly, marketplace penetration of revolutionary advancements in energy technology.  That's a tall order - but one that a new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, or ARPA-E, could help to fill.

Despite the very valuable research already being done at DOE and in the industry, I am not convinced that our current energy R&D system alone will get us much further down this road.  Between bureaucratic inertia in federal research, private companies rightfully protecting their corner of the markets, and the immense scale of the marketplace, any revolutionary change (and there will have to be many) in our energy paradigm will require an unprecedented effort.  I believe we should start that new effort by giving the best and brightest the flexibility and resources to approach the problem in a whole new way.

There are models that we can look to in crafting that effort into a new program at DOE.  Congress can cherry-pick the best organizational and operational ideas from examples such as DARPA at the Department of Defense and In-Q-Tel at the CIA to do business in a way that breeds new life into the existing energy research efforts.

Some ask, "Do we really need a new agency for energy research?"  I say to that, "Are we more or less dependent on foreign sources of oil than we were 6 years ago?  Is it any cheaper to drive your car and power your home and business?"  I think we all know the answer to that.  So let's think about this a little differently.  Establish ARPA-E.

It would be far more productive for Senator Nelson to talk about what he is for than what he is against. The bill that he filed provides for drilling that is only 25 miles different from the House bill. At some point, he needs to take off his campaign hat and start legislating.

My bill, H.R. 5642, is a different approach, using market pressures to reduce carbon emissions.  This is the kind of approach that could give us environhmental benefits in a cost-efficient way.

On the heels of rising gasoline and natural gas prices, the House Resources Committee passed legislation yesterday related to oil and natural gas drilling. A key provision to this legislation would transfer power to state legislatures to expand or diminish the coastal buffer zone.

Just last month, the House was close to approving a measure that would have allowed natural gas drilling three miles off the Atlantic Coast. I represent 70 miles of that coast and I am extremely relieved the measure was narrowly defeated. Last month's close vote demonstrated how Florida's bargaining position is melting like snow in August.

I believe Florida's delegation should support this new deal out of the Resources Committee so that we will not have to stare at drilling platforms three miles off of our coast. Tourism and the environment are too important to our great state to allow close coastal drilling.

This is a very good deal for Floridians and I do not see any scenario in the near future in which my former colleagues in Tallahassee would allow drilling within 100 miles of Florida.

5 million Americans already could be running their cars on E85, if only they could find a service station that sells it. Biodiesel also is poised to become a useful alternative to traditional gasoline, but again the infrastructure is not there to fuel our cars. H.R. 5534 provides targeted grants to independently owned gas stations and others so that Americans can finally have a choice in how they fuel their vehicles.

No you're not experiencing 'de ja vu', just another misguided energy proposal from House Republicans unable to craft sound energy policies.Today the House Resources Committee passed the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act, a risky proposal from Chairman Richard Pombo that would allow for new drilling off our coast. I am disappointed that the committee endorsed a failed energy policy that the Congress and the American people have repeatedly rejected over the last 25 years. Chairman Pombo's proposal is the latest in a series of fatally flawed proposals from House Republicans that rely on drilling off our coasts to solve our nation's energy needs. There is a clear consensus that offshore drilling is the slowest, dirtiest, and most expensive way to address our energy demands. Read more...

Wednesday the House Resources Committee, of which I am a member, will begin mark-up on the Deep Ocean Energy Resources (DOER) Act. While I'm pleased this bill will make us less dependent on foreign oil, I'm really excited the federal government is finally recognizing that Louisiana and other states that support offshore drilling deserve a fair share of the royalties.

Offshore drilling has created good-paying jobs for many Louisianans, but the state has also had to shoulder the burdens that result from supporting this industry, including an eroding coastline and the cost of infrastructure like ports and highways. Despite the fact that Louisiana has been a willing partner in facilitating our domestic energy production, we receive next to nothing of the $6-8 BILLION that flows into the federal treasury every year from royalties paid by companies drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Read more...

Even a small effort to improve the availability of E-85 fuel across the Nation is a step in the right direction. There are millions of vehicles on the road today capable of operating on alternative fuels, however, we need to make the fuel more readily available for consumers. This is an issue of great importance, and I hope it will be addressed in an aggressive and comprehensive manner in the near future.

This is really a fuel efficiency bill, which is very important when gas prices remain so high. Tire efficiency can greatly reduce fuel consumption, and this legislation would establish a mandatory tire fuel efficiency consumer information requirement for tires.

It is a little scary to see how close we were to losing this environmental framework. It appears that the new members of the Supreme Court have such a narrow philosophical vision that we almost lost control of major waterwarys. There are major rivers that dry-up, but based on their interpretation the federal government could not deal with them.