Nunes' Comprehensive Energy Plan

Nunes' Comprehensive Energy Plan

Today, Congressman Nunes (R-Tulare) introduced a bi-partisan bill titled the American-Made Energy Freedom Act. This bill represents a comprehensive national energy policy that addresses America's growing energy needs and our current dependence of foreign sources of energy.

"Congress has a responsibility to deal with our nation's energy demands in a bi-partisan manner that benefits all Americans. As such, we have proposed the largest investment in alternative energies in the history of the United States, and most importantly, it can all be done at no expense to the taxpayer," said Rep. Nunes.

The American-Made Energy Freedom Act would take a unique approach to funding alternative energy development. By opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil exploration, and placing the lease and royalty revenues generated into a trust fund, the next generation of home-grown energy would be incubated. All monies placed in the American-Made Energy Trust Fund can only be used for the development of new home-grown technologies that will fuel America in the future. Specifically, the fund would support the following provisions:

* Cellulosic Ethanol Tax Credit. Cellulosic Ethanol, the next generation ethanol, is a renewable fuel produced from plants and agriculture waste which can be found in all 50 states. This can be developed as a primary fuel for cars and trucks to potentially displace our dependence on foreign oil.

* Coal-to-Liquid Tax Credit. Coal liquefaction can produce a virtually sulfur-free diesel fuel which is cleaner than conventional diesel and can also produce jet fuel. At the very least, this technology could produce approximately 2.6 million barrels of fuel (109 million gallons) per day by 2025 and meet 10% of projected U.S. oil demand.

* Solar and Fuel Cell Investment Tax Credits. Extends the residential and business tax credit through 2012. In California, residential solar installations rose 53% in 2004, thanks to a generous state rebate program. This could be magnified with expanded federal incentives.

* Fund Emerging Renewable Fuels Development. Allocate funds to the Advanced Biofuel Technologies Program, the Integrated Biorefinery Demonstration and University Biodiesel Programs, the Improved Biomass Use Grant Program. All of these programs foster the production technology, facility construction, and capacity improvements for renewable fuels.

* Fund Clean and Advanced Energy Loan Guarantee Program. Provide financial commitment by investing in projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants and greenhouse gasses.

"With rising turmoil in the Middle East and other oil producing nations, we can no longer outsource our energy stability to countries that put our national security at risk. Funding future home-grown energy innovations is what has to be done to produce lower prices at the pump and increase security in America."

http://www.house.gov/nunes/energy_bill.htm