This just in...
WASHINGTON, DC – With gas prices reaching $3.81 today – a full $1.48 higher than when Democrats took control of Congress, House Republicans rolled-out their comprehensive plan to reduce fuel costs by increasing American-made energy supplies in an environmentally-safe way, while encouraging greater energy conservation and efficiency. Though then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) promised a “commonsense plan” to reduce gas prices in April 2006, the Democratic Majority has yet to unveil such a plan, even as energy costs continue to soar.
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement on the agenda:
“Memorial Day is just five days away, and gas prices are higher than ever. Across the country, while families are preparing for their summer vacations and travel plans, they are doing so with the black cloud of the Pelosi Premium hanging over their heads. Americans are paying an additional $1.48 per gallon of gasoline today compared to the price they were paying when Democrats took control of Congress. That is unacceptable – and so is the Democratic Majority’s refusal to offer the ‘commonsense plan’ to lower gas prices they promised the American people in April 2006. It’s just another example of the broken promises Americans have come to expect from this Democratic Congress.
“Today, House Republicans announced that when it comes to offering real solutions to lower gas prices, we will lead where the Democrats have failed. Our plan is comprehensive, but our pledge is straightforward. We will increase the production of American-made energy in an environmentally-safe way. We will promote new, clean, and reliable sources of energy. We will cut red tape and increase the supply of American-made fuel and energy. And we will encourage greater energy efficiency by offering conservation tax incentives. By increasing energy supplies and encouraging more efficiency, House Republicans are prepared to deliver the change – and lower gas prices – America deserves.”
NOTE: Click here for more information on the House GOP agenda for lower gas prices and energy costs.
A few excerpts from the plan:
A House Republican Majority will work to deliver the change America deserves on gas prices with meaningful solutions that make our nation more energy independent. Here is how we will do it:
• We will increase the production of American-made energy in an environmentally-safe way. This includes the exploration of next generation oil, natural gas, and coal and the production of advanced alternative fuels like cellulosic and clean coal-to-liquids – all while protecting our natural resources for future generations.
• We will promote new, clean, and reliable sources of energy like advanced nuclear and next generation coal, while promoting clean power from renewable energy such as wind and hydroelectric power. Nuclear energy has proven itself as a safe, carbon-free and environmentally friendly alternative, with France relying on it for nearly 80 percent of its electricity needs, compared to just 19 percent in America.
• We will cut red tape and increase the supply of American-made fuel and energy. Limiting the construction of new oil refineries and bureaucratic regulations mandating the use of exotic fuels have decreased supply and increased the Pelosi Premium.
• We will encourage greater energy efficiency by offering conservation tax incentives to Americans who make their home, car, and business more energy efficient.
And a few more details:
The Change America Deserves: Meeting Our Energy Needs with American Made Energy.
The comprehensive House Republican plan will fund research and development of technologies and innovations which advance the use of renewable and domestically available energy sources, increase energy efficiency, and ease the environmental impacts of energy use.
1) Increasing the Production of American-Made Energy in an Environmentally-Safe Way
a. Support actions that reduce America’s dependence on energy from unstable foreign governments and dictatorships by increasing environmentally-safe production of oil and natural gas in areas such as the arctic coastal plain and in deep ocean energy resources; and
b. Promote unconventional fuels such as coal-to-liquids technology and recovering our vast oil shale reserves by:
Increasing access for environmentally responsible development of conventional and unconventional domestic oil and natural gas production;
Providing coal-to-liquids financing and tax incentives;
Advancing the commercialization of the nation’s two trillion barrel shale oil resource, 80 percent of which occurs on government-owned land in the West. This is enough to supply all of America’s needs for over two centuries.
2) Promoting New, Clean, and Reliable Sources of Energy
a. Encourage more production of environmentally-safe energy to increase the use of our vast domestic supply, reduce emissions, and keep coal-dependent communities strong; and
b. Expand emissions-free nuclear power, including long term nuclear waste storage solutions and recycling spent fuel by:
Providing production and investment tax credits for all new base-load electricity projects such as advanced nuclear power and clean coal; and
Allowing immediate expensing for new renewable or zero emission power.
3) Cutting Red Tape and Increase the Supply of American-Made Fuel and Energy
a.Expedite permitting for enhanced oil recovery projects, including CO2 delivery and injection, as well as permitting for new refining capacity;
b. Improve environmental review and permitting to encourage the deployment of technologies which increase the efficiency of existing power plants; and
c. End ill-advised policies that have led to the proliferation of unique gasoline and diesel fuel formulations known as “boutique fuels,” which have fragmented our motor fuels distribution system, choked off supply, and exacerbated the already-painful Pelosi Premium.
4) Encouraging Greater Energy Efficiency by Offering Conservation Tax Incentives
a. Support technologies to help increase energy efficiency in all sectors of the American economy, including removing bureaucratic regulatory barriers that prevent businesses from upgrading their facilities with newer, more efficient energy technologies, by:
Making home energy efficiency upgrades tax deductable;
Providing incentives for home builders and homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient;
Offering investment expensing for industrial and commercial building efficiency upgrades;
Extending the residential and business solar and fuel cell investment tax credits, with enhancements to the residential solar credit ($2,000 per ½ kw installed);
Extending the fiber-optic distributed sunlight investment tax credit; and
Increasing the energy efficiency of government-owned buildings.
