Gordon Comments on OECD/IEA Assessment of Energy Policy Challenges Facing the U.S.
(Washington, DC) Today, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) released an assessment of the challenges facing the United States in energy policy. Every 4-5 years, the IEA conducts a “peer review” of the energy policies of each member country.
Chairman Gordon offered the following statement on the release of Energy Policies of IEA Countries – United States – 2007 Review:
“The IEA report correctly identifies the two key questions facing our country with regard to energy policy – how can U.S. increase energy security by reducing dependence on foreign energy sources and how do we address growing greenhouse gas emissions.”
“The report praises the passage of HR 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act (enacted in December 2007) and notes that the U.S. is the world leader in energy R&D. However, the assessment also points out there is more work to be done to promote renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and deploy energy efficiency technologies, especially in the power and transportation sectors. “
“The path forward to our energy future is lined with new technologies that will diversify our energy supply with renewable sources and clean uses of fossil fuels such as coal. On coal, the IEA assessment recommends that the U.S. continue to push forward with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology research, especially demonstration. “
“Last year, this Committee answered that call by authorizing, as part of HR 6, a significant expansion of the Department of Energy’s carbon capture and storage research and demonstration program, including authorization of up to one billion dollars for demonstrations for carbon capture and another $1.2 billion for up to 7 demonstrations for large-scale carbon dioxide injection and storage. Ensuring that these demonstrations are aggressively pursued and funded is the best way to ensure we can continue to use our vast coal supplies in a cleaner and more efficient way, and well into the future.”
More information about the IEA report, Energy Policies of IEA Countries – United States – 2007 Review, can be found at www.iea.org/ Further details on the Committee’s work on energy can be found at www.house.gov/science.
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