name removed
Dear
Thank you for contacting me about the Environmental Protection Agency's regulation of harmful pollutants. I appreciate hearing from you.
Our nation is at a crossroads when it comes to our energy security. It is unacceptable that America sends $1 billion per day overseas to buy foreign oil, with some of that money going to our oil-rich enemies. Our addiction to oil is hurting our economy, and it is endangering our national security. The United States consumes roughly 25 percent of the world's oil, but only has 3 percent of the world's oil reserves. Even if oil companies were permitted to explore and drill for oil and gas on any federal land they wish, America would still be dependent on foreign oil. In order to end our addiction to foreign oil, we must increase our renewable energy production, improve the energy efficiency of buildings and appliances, develop cleaner burning alternative fuels, and improve vehicle fuel efficiency.
As you may know, in 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision that the Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to regulate greenhouse gases as air pollutants, paving the way for EPA to regulate greenhouse gases. Following this Supreme Court case, EPA, with the Department of Transportation, has issued rules that will raise vehicles' Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards and set vehicle greenhouse gas standards as well as a rule that will regulate only the nation's largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, such as large power plants and refineries, while excluding entities such as small farms, restaurants, and commercial facilities.
On January 21, 2010, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced a joint resolution (S.J.Res. 26) disapproving the EPA endangerment finding. If passed, this resolution would increase our oil use by at least 455 million barrels, with a bonus of $50 billion extra being given to big oil companies, and probably several billion more barrels will be wasted. It would also fail to create any new American jobs. This is why I will oppose S. J. Res. 26.
I believe that the most effective way to reduce our nation's greenhouse gas emissions is through a comprehensive climate and clean energy bill, which will create strong incentives for clean energy and will put a price on carbon. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) recently released draft legislation (American Power Act) that has received the support of many of the nation's energy companies and utilities. This bill would institute a nationwide system for reducing carbon and investing in clean energy, barring the state-by-state approach that makes it difficult for utilities and energy producers to operate across state borders. It would also prevent command and control regulation of greenhouse gas emissions by the Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, it aims to protect consumers by giving at least two-thirds of all revenue that doesn't go towards reducing the deficit directly back to consumers to offset any increases in energy prices. This bill is a very good first step towards passing legislation that will help Americans take back the control of our energy economy. I hope my colleagues from both sides of the aisle will come together to work on improving and passing this bill over the coming months. Until this legislation is officially introduced, the text of the draft bill is available at Senator Kerry's website,
http://kerry.senate.gov/.
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. Please know that I will keep your thoughts in mind as the Senate continues its work on climate and clean energy legislation over the coming months. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
My best wishes to you.
Sincerely,
A
HARRY REID
United States Senator
Nevada
HR:sb