Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

The Need for Comprehensive Energy Policy

We need a comprehensive energy policy in order to compete in the global manufacturing economy. Brian supported the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, (H.R. 2454), which would place a price on carbon emissions, not only because it is necessary to combat climate change, but because Western New York uniquely stands to benefit from such a policy.
Economic Development Potential for WNY

Such an approach creates vast potential for new business investment and job growth by encouraging demand for clean energy infrastructure. No area of the country is better positioned to attract these jobs than Western New York, a region that once had substantial manufacturing and still has the infrastructure left over for green industries to move in and replace the empty factories. One example that speaks to the possibilities is the 220 acre abandoned Brownfield site which formerly housed Republic Steel and was transformed into a staging area for windmill construction and transshipment site for windmill components. This bill will help us replicate that story vacant factory by vacant factory.

This change is long overdue. The best thing to happen to Western New York was the first alternative energy revolution 100 years ago, when we figured out how to turn our water into energy. The industry that hydropower spurred then provides us with the industrial infrastructure now to take advantage of the next alternative energy revolution and bring tremendous job growth back to Western New York. This legislation will cut our use of foreign oil by more than 5 million barrels a day in 2030. Decreasing demand and dependence on oil decreases gas prices for consumers and better positions the US on a world stage.

Gasoline Prices

One of the most important challenges facing our country is reducing our dependence on foreign oil and moving toward clean, domestic fuel sources. Until we get there, fluctuations in the price of gasoline will continue to be an issue for WNY families. In the fall of 2008 the average retail price of gasoline in Buffalo and Jamestown was 8 cents per gallon higher than in Rochester and 30 cents per gallon higher than in other upstate communities. Concerned about this disparity, Brian met with the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission and repeatedly urged the Commission to launch an investigation to determine whether our community was the victim of price gouging or whether some other issues were causing the high prices. While the FTC was investigating gasoline prices in WNY fell, and the FTC's final report concluded that while they "were unable to identify precise reasons why retail gasoline prices in some cities in Western New York… did not fall as quickly as prices in other Northeast cities… we note that prices began to fall soon after you raised public concerns about the elevated prices." One of the most effective methods to making sure WNY prices remain in line with the our region is to raise public awareness.

On the Record

"Reducing our dependence on oil is an important step toward reducing gas prices, but that's not the only benefit," said Higgins. "The high demand for oil is beneficial to rogue countries like Iran because it provides the financial capital that allows them to remain isolated from economic pressures for political reform. This bill includes concrete steps that will reduce the worldwide price of oil, and taking these steps allows us to combat these rogue countries in the most effective way possible."

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