Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

Murphy is working to bring down the cost of gas and home heating oil. With everything from gas prices at the pump to food on supermarket shelves, Connecticut families are feeling the brunt of high energy prices. Murphy supported and helped pass legislation to suspend contributions to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) for the remainder of 2008 in order to ease upward pressure of the price of gas. Murphy also supports efforts to crack down excessive speculation in energy commodities markets that is driving up the cost of energy. Murphy supported legislation that would authorize the Justice Department to take legal action against OPEC state-controlled entities that conspire to fix the price of oil, and create a Department of Justice Petroleum Industry Antitrust Task Force. For the long term, Murphy worked to secure passage of legislation to increase fuel efficiency standards for cars for the first time since 1975 (HR 6074, Roll Call 332. HR 6022, Roll Call 307. HR 6377, Roll Call 468).

* Murphy has pushed for the expansion of renewable energy sources and technologies. Murphy has voted to renew tax incentives for the production of energy from wind, biomass, geothermal, solar, and other sources, as well as business and residential tax credits to encourage the use of renewable and energy efficient heating, cooling, and insulation technologies. Murphy also supported legislation to require utilities to produce 15 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. Leading the way in building the "green economy," Murphy supported the provision of $8 billion for research programs on sustainable energy sources and alternative fuels, including programs designed to spur new jobs and promote growth in alternative energy fields (H.R. 6049, Roll Call 344. H.Amdt. 748 to H.R. 3221, Roll Call 827).

* Murphy successfully advocated for Connecticut communities by requiring that federal energy regulation respect the wishes of local communities. After the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) signaled it would approve a flawed Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) for Lakes Candlewood, Lillinonah, and Zoar, Murphy successfully appealed the FERC decision, convincing the agency to take the unprecedented step of holding a public meeting with affected residents on September 24 in New Fairfield, and then to withdraw the plan entirely. Because of Congressman Murphy's advocacy, FERC is now drafting the SMP with a far more robust appreciation for the needs and issues raised by community members.

* Murphy is working to help Connecticut residents cope with the high costs of home heating oil this winter. With home heating oil prices skyrocketing, Murphy has been pushing the leadership of the House to expand funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Currently, only 16% of eligible LIHEAP beneficiaries participate in the program, and demand is expected to grow significantly this winter for the 70% of Connecticut households that use heating oil. Murphy is also pushing for additional weatherization assistance to help consumers save money on their energy bills.

* Murphy supports the responsible development of domestic energy resources. Murphy has supported legislation which would compel the oil industry to start drilling or lose permits on the 68 million acres of undeveloped federal oil reserves which they are currently holding. Murphy has also supported efforts to speed up the development of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) by requiring the Secretary of Interior to offer at least one lease sale annually in the NPR-A, as well as reinstate a ban on the foreign export of Alaskan oil (HR 6515, Roll Call 511).

* Murphy supported the expansion of Connecticut public transit to help consumers save money. Murphy authored and passed legislation to expand commuter rail service on the New Haven - Hartford - Springfield rail line, mandating that Amtrak assist ConnDOT with infrastructure data needed to move forward with the project. Murphy also voted for a bill that would provide Connecticut with $19 million in new funding to help lower rail and bus fares and broadly invest in expanded transit service (H.R. 6052, Roll Call 467, HR 6003, Roll Call 400).

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