Issue Position: Energy and Environment

Issue Position

I have spent my entire public life working toward a progressive energy agenda. I graduated with an engineering degree from Clarkson University and took a job with the Department of Public Service. I went on to become a New York State Assemblyman where I served as the Energy Committee Chairman for 15 years. Subsequently, I was the President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. I believe that an energy revolution is long overdue in our country and that reforming our energy policies will have an overwhelmingly positive impact on our entire economy and environment.

My previous experience has taught me about the importance of keeping an open mind when crafting energy policy. We must ensure that government policies are reflective of the most innovative ideas and projects. Government policy should also continue to encourage research, development and engineering, promote academic centers of energy advancement, and retrain and retool the workforce through local learning centers.

With these overall objectives in mind, I have supported and introduced several key pieces of legislation during my time in Congress. First, I supported H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which included over $70 billion for energy related initiatives, an amount that is the biggest federal investment in energy and the environment ever, if it were to stand on its own. Second, I supported H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act. H.R. 2454 would allow New York to continue the successful programs it currently has and would allow the state to push even further in a positive direction.

Third, I have introduced two pieces of legislation that will help guide our nation's energy policy forward and clean our environment. H.R. 3029 and H.R. 3165 both increase research and development funding for two important energy sectors. H.R. 3029 makes investments and promotes further research and development in combined cycle and simple cycle natural gas turbines which produce energy from natural gas. H.R. 3165 encourages more research and development for making wind turbines more energy efficient. Both of these bills will create jobs in America and help protect our environment. Currently, both of these bills have passed the House of Representatives and are awaiting Senate action.

I believe that top-tier investments should include updating and upgrading our energy grid, developing energy efficiency programs to reduce our growing demand-side electricity concerns, siting and building renewable energy production to address our supply-side concerns, while implementing our commitment to a cleaner and more sustainable environment. Please know that while I am in Congress I will continue to fight for these types of policies.

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