Issue Position: Energy
Issue Position
Volatile fuel costs continue to have a direct impact on families, farmers, and small business owners across South Dakota. It is critical that Congress act to lower the cost of gasoline for all Americans. As part of the solution to lowering gas prices, I support increasing the use and availability of E-85 ethanol, increasing our domestic refining capacity, expanding offshore oil and gas drilling, and opening a small portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for environmentally responsible oil and gas exploration.
On December 19, 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 was signed into law. EISA increases the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), which requires the use of American made renewable fuel in our nation's fuel supply, to 36 billion gallons by 2022. South Dakota produces about one billion gallons of ethanol each year, and increasing the RFS is important to our economy and energy security.
The EISA also increased fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks by 40 percent, to 35 miles per gallon. The Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency has since called for this increase to be met by 2016.
I also believe we must pursue clean sources of electricity through incentives such as the energy production tax credit (PTC). According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, South Dakota has the best source of wind resources in the country and extending the PTC will help grow the wind industry in our state. I have also authored legislation to streamline the siting and permitting of transmission lines, which would help deliver our wind power to urban areas outside of South Dakota. Congress should also expand the use of clean nuclear power and invest in clean coal technologies.
Each day American consumers send approximately $1 billion overseas in exchange for foreign oil. This dependence endangers America's national security and threatens our economic stability. Congress must continue pursuing policies that conserve energy, promote renewable energy, and provide additional sources of traditional energy to meet our nation's growing energy needs.
Updated July 14, 2011
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