Issue Position: Economic Competitiveness - National Energy Policy

Issue Position

Congressman Mica, how do you feel about our increasing energy needs?

On behalf of hard working Americans, we must increase the supply of safe, reliable domestic energy while promoting a clean, safe and healthy environment. Unfortunately, since the energy crisis of the late 1970's, our nation has failed to adopt a sound and comprehensive energy policy. That lack of action forced our country to become more reliant on foreign oil to maintain our energy demands. In fact, from 1990 to 2000 the United States reliance on foreign oil jumped from 52% to more than 60%.

The Energy Policy Act (H.R. 6) was approved by Congress in 2005 with my support and signed into law by the President. I voted in favor of this legislation because it includes provisions which promote greater use of clean and renewable energy sources for electricity generation - such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and hydropower resources - through tax credits and public funding.

This law also encourages greater use of high tech combined heat and power technologies, which significantly enhance energy efficiency, reduce air emissions and increase the use of renewable fuels. In addition, H.R. 6 authorizes an innovative hydrogen fuel cell technology research and development program, similar to President Bush's hydro-powered research proposal, to reduce pollution and decrease oil imports.

The Energy Policy Act establishes a nationwide electricity reliability standard for power companies to balance electricity needs in the nation's power grid. This will hopefully minimize the risk of another power outage which caused the largest blackout in U.S. history several years ago.

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