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Oil Spill Preparedness and a Comprehensive Energy Plan
July 26, 2010
Dear Friends,
Recently I hosted an oil spill preparedness meeting with representatives from lead Federal agencies charged with responding to oil spills, the head of the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management, representatives from the academic community, and local leaders. The meeting focused on the current state of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, what has been done in North Carolina to prepare for the possibility of oil affecting our shores, and lessons learned from the Gulf spill we can use to make North Carolina better prepared. This landmark meeting brought together more than 70 folks – made up of local elected leaders, emergency managers, members of the first responder’s community, and people who work in the volunteer sector so that they could discuss plans and protocol so that Southeastern North Carolina is prepared if oil reaches our coast.
Preparing for oil potentially reaching our coasts is just one part of my plan to address the oil and energy concerns facing our nation. I recently sent suggestions on methods to help conserve energy and save money while doing so. Below you will find parts of my comprehensive strategy to reduce dependency on foreign oil, drive innovation in biofuels, and support the creation of green energy jobs.
Energy Independence
Reducing our dependence on foreign oil is critical not only for American pocketbooks but also vital for our national security. I have supported legislation that works to address this dependency including:
- The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included more than $80 billion in clean energy investments including:
- $11 billion for a bigger, better, and smarter grid that will move renewable energy from the rural places it is produced to the cities where it is mostly used, as well as for 40 million smart meters to be deployed in American homes.
- $5 billion for low-income home weatherization projects.
- $4.5 billion to green federal buildings and cut our energy bill, saving taxpayers billions of dollars.
- $6.3 billion for state and local renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts.
- $2 billion in competitive grants to develop the next generation of batteries to store energy.
- The Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act, which makes new investments that will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, increase renewable electricity production, create jobs, and protect our environment. Most importantly, this legislation is fiscally responsible, does not add to the national debt and closes loopholes allowing corporations and executives to avoid U.S. taxes by shipping jobs and investment overseas.
- The New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions (NAT GAS) Act, which sets a goal of 10% of new vehicles sold in the U.S. to be powered by natural gas by 2018. It proposes a range of tax incentives for consumers to purchase natural gas vehicles (NGVs), automakers to manufacture NGVs, and gas stations to install natural gas refueling pumps.
- The Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act of 2008, which requires the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to set trading limits for all agricultural and energy commodities, in order to prevent excessive speculation of oil and keep gas prices low.
- The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act, which provides tax credits for the production of renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy. This allows the U.S. to move toward energy independence.
- Finally, the Farm Bill, which boosts homegrown biofuel production made from biomass and crop byproducts other than grain -- using new technologies. Without biofuels, gas prices could be 15% higher than they are now. It also increases oversight authority to detect and prevent manipulation of energy prices.
Biofuels
I am a strong supporter of the deployment of advanced biofuels, which utilize feedstocks that do not compete with our food supply. It is imperative that we look beyond corn-based ethanol and to the next generation of reneweable fuels sourced from crops that can be grown right here in Southeastern North Carolina. Two years ago, I visited the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado to learn more about the future of biofuels and what it could mean for North Carolina. NREL is working to support biofuels research on feedstocks that thrive in North Carolina such as algae, stover, woody biomass, switch grass and miscanthus. Some of that research is happening right here in North Carolina at NC State University and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Areas like Southeastern North Carolina – with our agriculture industry and our great resources in our universities and community colleges – are posed to make great gains from an expansion of biofuels and advanced biofuels.
We must look to increased use of nuclear power and clean coal plants to be able to continue providing affordable energy rates while also protecting our environment. Also, we must continue to harness wind and solar power while looking to other forms of renewable electricity generation such as methane gas capture in the many hog lagoons throughout the eastern part of the state.
Green Energy Jobs
Earlier this year, I hosted the Green Jobs Summit hosted in Castle Hayne at Cape Fear Community College. Green jobs are those engaged in the clean energy economy and this Summit focused on ways to help these jobs thrive and develop in Southeastern North Carolina. Clean energy businesses generate new jobs in our state and foster a healthier environment for all citizens. Engineers, scientists, landscapers, and especially our farmers can participate in the green economy and its economic success both now and in the future.
In addition to the other green energy investments made in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, significant investments were made to spur the creation of clean energy jobs in Southeastern North Carolina and around the United States. $600 million was allocated to greed job training programs, $100 million to expand line worker training programs, and $500 million for green workforce training.
I strongly believe that our country should be energy independent and not subject to foreign oil dependence. I have not only worked hard to implement short term solutions to bring down prices, but also to develop the long-term strategy we need to make our nation energy independent.
Sincerely,
U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre
Representing the 7th District of North Carolina |
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