Issue Position: Energy Independence

Issue Position

Pete Sessions Plan for Energy Independence

Energy plays a key role in the Texas economy and creates jobs in the 32nd Congressional District. I strongly support a "all-of-the-above" energy policy that would allow the free market to unleash America's vast natural resources, create new jobs at home, and lead the way to energy independence

The oil and natural gas industry supports millions of jobs throughout the state of Texas and the United States. In order to grow our economy and increase America's energy independence, we need to responsibly develop both our onshore and offshore oil and natural resources. I support increasing America's energy supply by moving forward with leasing and permitting on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and ending the Administration's de facto drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico. I also support increasing American supplies of gasoline and diesel by encouraging greater refinery capacity, and streamlining and accelerating the refinery permitting process.

Expanding Opportunities for Renewable Energy Production
Expanding opportunities for renewable energy production, such as wind, geothermal and solar, on both onshore and offshore federal lands will create new jobs and provide new opportunities for American-made energy. Hydropower, the original "green" energy, is a clean, renewable, non-emitting source of energy that provides low-cost electricity and reduces carbon emissions. My Republican colleagues and I support expanding the use of hydropower and are working to make all hydropower officially recognized as a renewable energy source by any legal or regulatory standard established by the federal government. I also support expanding the use of nuclear energy -- a clean, reliable energy source -- and building new nuclear reactors. The 104 nuclear reactors in America today provide the U.S. with 20 percent of its electricity and 73 percent of its carbon-free electricity, yet no new reactors have been ordered since 1978.

Keystone XL Pipeline
For more than five years this Administration has continued to obstruct the approval process of the Keystone XL pipeline. President Obama and Democrats have chosen to let liberal, environmentalist steer the way on this issue, instead moving forward on the pipeline to unleash our energy potential, create thousands of jobs, and inject billions of dollars into our economy. I have always fully supported the Keystone XL Pipeline and I have voted more than eight separate times to allow for construction of the pipeline, most recently in February of 2015. While this landmark shovel-ready project passed the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support, the President chose to use his veto power to kill the legislation. Regardless of the President's plans, I remain committed to finding a solution to ensure the pipeline is built so that we can strengthen our energy security and put Americans back to work.

Rein in the EPA
The Obama Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has constantly overreached into our economy in unprecedented and unconstitutional ways. The EPA's onslaught of expensive new rules and regulations drive up energy costs and destroy jobs. Instead of burdening our economy, the EPA should encourage domestic energy production and work with private-sector companies to promote safe and effective means for securing our nation's vast energy resources. I am committed to fighting against the EPA's destructive policies that harm Texans and all Americans.

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