U.S. Senate for Oregon: Jeff Merkley Calls For Dramatic Shift in Energy Policy

Energy policy is critical to America's future. Energy is the key to our policies for national security, the economy and our environment. But right now we are a long way from getting it right.

Three recent events--the passage of a watered down energy bill, the Environmental Protection Agency's ruling against state regulation of tailpipe emissions, and failed US leadership at the UN climate conference in Bali - show how far we have to go.

The stakes are high and there is much to be done. Driving changes in our energy policy is one of the major reasons that I'm running for the U.S. Senate in Oregon. We must have leaders who will fight to bring America's energy policy into the 21st century.

Our dependence on foreign oil is a serious threat to our national security. We have formulated our foreign policy and military strategies around access to oil. But the cost of this approach is substantial. It distorts every other foreign policy objective. And the expense of military infrastructure and engagements to support access to oil are a substantial burden on our national budget.

Buying foreign oil is a massive drain of our economic resources. Spending a billion dollars a day on foreign oil adds significantly to our trade deficit, undermining the strength of the dollar. Think about the living-wage jobs that would be created from spending a billion dollars a day on domestically-generated alternative energy and bio-fuels!

Our energy policy is contributing to environmental calamity. Most of our energy policy has been dedicated to continuing to burn fossil fuels. We must shift our effort to discontinuing the burning of fossil fuels for one simple reason - the carbon loading of the atmosphere is threatening our planet. Unless we move away from carbon in the next decade, it will be much more difficult to slow and reverse global warming. We can't wait any longer.

As Oregon House Speaker, I helped my state develop one of the most progressive energy strategies in the nation. And energy policy is a central theme in my U.S. Senate campaign in Oregon.

As U.S. Senator, the first part of my climate change plan is to make historic investments in renewable energy, which includes setting a 25% renewable energy national standard by 2025. We'll get there by investing in clean energy sources such as wind, solar and bio-fuels. We'll pay for it by closing tax loopholes for big oil companies. I also strongly support increasing the fuel economy standards for cars driven in the U.S. to 35 miles per gallon.

The second part of my plan involves a reduction in carbon emissions. This begins with my full support of the Boxer-Sanders Bill S.309 which calls for an 80% reduction in climate change causing pollutants by 2050. In addition, I will work with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to pass the "Reducing Demand through Electricity Grid Intelligence Act." This bill will encourage the development of a nationwide intelligent energy grid system through the broader use of new technologies. It will also improve energy efficiency and save customers money on their electricity bills.

Part three of my plan offers incentives to cities for the reduction of climate change emissions. Taking a cue from the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection agreement, I will push for policies and programs that meet or beat reducing global warming pollution levels to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. I will also work for clear timetables and emissions limits and flexible, market-based systems of tradable allowances among emitting industries. This part of my plan also includes incentives for cities to encourage tree planting for increased shading and to absorb CO2.

Finally, part four calls for significant investment in research for conservation, alternative energy and carbon capture/storage. My plan outlines an increase in efficiency for cooling, heating and lighting appliances by 25 percent. We must also have an investment in carbon capture storage systems which capture CO2 and store it in the ground at coal- and natural-gas-fired plants. We also need to increase solar power by 700 times current capacity, and wind power by 50 times current capacity. Investments in bio-fuel research (with an emphasis on cellulosic ethanol and crops that have a complete bio-fuel support cycle) is also a necessity.

Envision with me: 15 years from now the United States is free from dependence on foreign oil. Our national security decisions are no longer driven by our need for fossil fuels. Our economy thrives with new jobs created through the use of innovative and renewable energy sources. And our planet begins to reverse the slide to global climate change.

If you're ready for leadership that will end dependence on foreign oil, strengthen our economy by investing in bio-fuels and alternative energy, and tackle global climate change, I'd love to have you join my campaign. Get involved today by visiting JeffMerkley.com.

Comments

[oldpotsmuggler]

There is an Oregon politician named Jerry Rust. I worked on his primary campaign for Governor in 1982 and tried to talk him into campaigning on making Oregon "The Solar Energy State". A German company already had a plant there refining silicon and making wafers for chips. Oregon sorely needed to diversify its economy. Someone told him that solar energy would need to be stored in Ni/Cad batteries and that Cadmium is poisonous so he rejected the suggestion (and went on to lose to Teddy Kulongoski who went on, that time, to lose to the Republican).

In any event, it's not like we haven't known for a very long time what needs to be done. One wonders if we, as a people, finally have enough intestinal fortitude to take these matters as seriously as they deserve. (I've always believed that the easiest issue to resolve is marijuana legalization, and the rest will only come after we've demonstrated the maturity to start doing the right thing simply because it clearly is the right thing.)

[MrPopulist]

Wow. Can we really have a U.S. Senator committed to fighting global warming as you have shown you are? I've been waiting for the Democrats to lead a charge to invest in wind, solar and bio-fuels here at home. It would not only create a whole new industry and good American jobs, it would also help fight climate change. Thanks for postng here, I hope you beat Republican Gordon Smith!

[WASanford]

Ok, I envisioned with you, but my vision is considerably different than yours. I imagined myself pulling up in front of my solar powered house in my hydrogen powered car. In a future where I could live much as I do today without treading on immoral or unethical ground.
Why not? The technology is available. Honda already has a hydrogen powered car; it’s called the fcx clarity and you can see it on their website. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are working on a cell that breaks water into hydrogen and oxygen using only sunlight and a metallic catalyst. Where is the money to expedite this technology?
It’s the same conundrum that we run into when we’re trying to end the occupation of Iraq.
If we keep voting for persons who are financed by the petroleum industry and the military-industrial complex, none of this will come to pass and we can not afford to just sit by while climate change accelerates. Refuse to use your car unnecessarily; refuse to buy crap imported from China just because it’s cheap; but most importantly, refuse to vote for someone just because they're well financed. At least look to see where that money came from before you give them your vote!
Mr.Merkley I don’t live in your district and I’ve not been following your campaign, but I suspect that I would vote for you!

[RepublicanBrain]

Be very careful, friend. Planting trees in a temperate climate can actually increase global warming because trees absorb sunlight.

The most significant factor in global warming is, and always will be, the Sun. It's the only source of external heat the Earth gets.

I am a resident of Pennsylvania. I cannot help your worthwhile cause with my vote. I respect your plan. It contains the provisions I look for, namely funding.

Oil is a non-renewable resource. That alone is reason enough to attempt to look for another fuel. But be careful of some of the current bio-fuels. Some of them cause greenhouse emissions by growing them, even though they burn cleaner. Make sure you know all of this before making your final plans.

[realitytrumpsbull]

Just keep the door open so it doesn't become an extension of some oil company, when people in foreign countries can accurately manipulate pump prices in the United States by playing the futures market, there's a problem...keep individuals and small time operators in the
mix so there's no more with the energy monopoly stuff...self-powered homes and ethanol are
great next steps for all of this, mob-busting
is key...