Issue Position: Energy & Environment

Issue Position

I am greatly concerned about America's growing dependence on foreign sources of energy and the impact fossil fuels are having on our environment. Our reliance on imported energy only serves to increase our vulnerability to both external events and the actions of regimes that are, in many cases, openly hostile to the interests of the United States. One of the ways we can reduce the need for energy imports is to use our energy more efficiently. My record and legislation allows for significantly more development in energy efficient technology and ways to cut back on the use of oil to power America.

My votes and work to support Alternative Energy and the Environment have included:

* Major supporter of research and development for clean energy technologies, plug in hybrid vehicles, solar power, bio-fuels and clean coal technologies.
* Voted to Expand America's oil refining capacity to lessen our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
* Supported creating thousands of new American jobs by allowing oil exploration in the deep seas.
* Helped give states more power to protect their coastlines.
* Supported environmentally-safe energy production in Alaska which will create at least one million jobs and increase the supply of American made gasoline.
* Voted to speed up the permit process to bring new oil refineries on line and drive down gas prices.
* Author of legislation developing curriculum to teach engineers and architects to work together and build more energy efficient buildings.

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