Citing The Need For Energy Independence And Environmental Protection, Sen. Menendez Voices His Support For Energy Legislation

Press Release

CITING THE NEED FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, SEN. MENENDEZ VOICES HIS SUPPORT FOR ENERGY LEGISLATION

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today lent his support to the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007. Menendez praised the bill's efforts to increase energy independence, lower gas prices, and combat global warming.

"A tremendous amount of work has been put into making this a strong energy package that will help us achieve energy self reliance, lower gasoline prices, and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions," said Menendez. "We are headed into a new cleaner, greener and more affordable energy future, one where we do not seek to treat our addiction to oil by drilling for yet more oil in the Arctic or of the East Coast. This bill represents a bold step towards an economy that is based upon energy efficiency and renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. As we work on this bill on the Senate floor we cannot forget this central value of the bill."

Menendez also touted his provision included in the legislation that would create an Energy and Environmental Block Grant program to encourage energy reform on a local level.

"In order to address our energy challenges we must keep these world-wide impacts in mind, but that does not mean we should not act locally to achieve our national goals," said Menendez. "To foster this local spirit in our cities to tackle climate change I, along with Senator Sanders, have included a provision in this bill to create an Energy and Environmental Block Grant program. This program will allow cities and counties to get federal grants to make their buildings more efficient, create new renewable energy projects and continue their leadership in reducing U.S. carbon emissions."

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