Energy

One of my visions for our district is to make it a hub of renewable energy use and production, creating tens of thousands of family-wage green jobs in the process.  Already there are wind turbines on the Altamont Pass and solar photovoltaic panels on rooftops from Stockton to Morgan Hill.

But in order to wean our nation from its dependence on foreign oil, there is even more we have to do.  Fortunately, there is a great deal of innovation taking place right now to harness our natural resources and create the clean energy sources that will power our economy.  I spent over twenty years working in the renewable energy field.  In Congress I have continued to push for policies that will expand the use and production of clean, renewable energy, like tax credits for wind and solar power and research and development funds for 21st century geothermal technology.

In a long overdue step, last year we increased fuel efficiency standards for our vehicles.  I believe we need to go a step further and create a national Renewable Energy Standard, expanding on California’s successful leadership, to require a certain percentage of our energy to come from sustainable resources.  Given that buildings account for 65 percent of our nation’s electricity consumption, we need to develop national standards for building efficiency.

Expanding use and production of clean energy sources is not just good for our environment and the public health, it’s also a national security imperative.  Right now, we send billions overseas every day to purchase oil, funding hostile foreign regimes who limit the amount of oil they export, driving up the cost of a gallon of gas. 

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