Rep. Engel Questions Department of Energy Secretary Moniz on President's 2016 Budget

Statement

Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, questioned Department of Energy Secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz on President Obama's 2016 budget proposal, at the "Fiscal Year 2016 Department of Energy Budget" hearing. Congressman Engel's line of questioning hit on an array of topics, from Hurricane Sandy and Indian Point to advanced vehicles.

"I thank Secretary Moniz for joining us at our hearing, as I am pleased to hear more about the heavy emphasis being put on cleaner energy sources in the President's FY 2016 budget," Congressman Engel said. "Like the majority of Americans I recognize that climate change is real, and that we're beginning to experience its impacts. There is already enough CO2 in the atmosphere to ensure that the U.S. will endure more episodes of climate disruption, like Superstorm Sandy in my home district. Severe weather events that result in lengthy power outages, extreme fuel shortages, and the rationing of important resources are becoming the norm, and we need to take drastic action to reverse course on this fast."

Congressman Engel also spoke at the hearing about the role nuclear power will play in our energy future, including Indian Point, the nuclear facility just 24 miles from New York City.

"As the first member of Congress to call for its closing, I am concerned about Indian Point due to its close proximity to America's largest metropolitan population," Engel said. "I am convinced that a nuclear facility built on two seismic fault lines, and only 24 miles north of New York City, would never be approved if it were to be built today; yet that's exactly what we have in Buchanan, NY. If a problem were to occur at Indian Point, evacuation of the region would be virtually impossible. I have urged and will continue to urge Secretary Moniz to take a close look at whether the Indian Point reactors should remain online."

On advanced vehicles, Congressman Engel spoke about the need to reduce emissions from our vehicles if we want to reduce America's carbon footprint.

"I have long supported the diversification of vehicles and fuels in our transportation sector," Engel said. "I am co-chair of the Oil and National Security Caucus and lead sponsor of the Open Fuel Standard Act, which encourages new vehicles to operate on any fuel instead of, or in addition to, petroleum. New York, which has the most electric charging stations in the northeast, is leading the way on alternative fuel vehicles. I hope the rest of the country will follow suit, and I applaud the President's 2016 budget and Secretary Moniz for making the expansion of alternative fuel vehicles a priority."

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