Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

Volatile energy prices over the past couple of years underscore the critical need for energy independence through a more affordable, reliable, and environmentally-friendly American energy supply.

While running for President in 2008, then-Senator Barack Obama indicated that addressing climate change would be one of his top priorities as President. Since then, the Democrat leadership in Congress introduced and passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454)--which includes a cap-and-trade program. Cap-and-trade, which is better termed "cap-and-tax", creates an artificial market for greenhouse gas emissions by capping nationwide emissions at an arbitrary level and auctioning off the right to emit through credits. Unused and unneeded credits can then be traded and sold in the market.

Congressman Sessions opposed this legislation because it will be detrimental to the U.S. economy--effectively creating a national energy tax that would increase energy prices, kill jobs, and transfer wealth overseas.

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Industries that can afford to purchase credits will be forced to pass their costs onto consumers in the form of higher prices for energy and goods that are energy-intensive in production or distribution.
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Manufacturers that cannot afford to pass the costs onto consumers will be forced out of business or will move overseas to stay competitive--killing jobs in the U.S. and decreasing domestic economic output.
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Jobs, industries and wealth will transfer to countries like India and China that do not have the same environmental standards as the United States.

Congressman Sessions supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions--but not at the expense of hardworking Americans. Conservation and energy efficiency are a critical component of Congressman Sessions' energy policy principles.
For energy price stability and long-term energy independence, Congressman Sessions believes that Congress must increase supply by opening American resources to energy production and decrease demand by prioritizing energy efficiency and alternative, renewable energy development. Congressman Sessions' energy policy priorities include the following goals:

1. INCREASE PRODUCTION in an environmentally-safe way
* Expand exploration of natural gas, oil, and coal
* Promote clean coal-to-liquid and recover vast oil shale reserves
* Reduce our dependence of foreign and often unfriendly sources

2. DEVELOP NEW, CLEAN, RELIABLE SOURCES
* Clean-burning natural gas
* Renewable solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power
* Non-emission nuclear power

3. CUT RED TAPE and INCREASE SUPPLY
* Expedite the energy production permitting process
* Improve environmental review
* Remove boutique fuel blend requirements

4. ENCOURAGE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
* Increased CAFE standards so cars use fuel more efficiently
* Provide tax incentives to make homes and businesses more efficient
* Promote solar, fuel cell, and other energy efficiency tax credits

Energy independence is critical to the success of every American family, business, and community. In pursuit of the above four energy independence goals, Congressman Sessions is joining energy independence supporters in Congress to develop additional solutions through the House Republican American Energy Solutions Group.

Congressman Sessions believes that it is past time to champion American-made energy. The prosperity of the United States and its economy depends on it.

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