Gordon Responds to Report Outlining U.S. Barriers to Alternative Energy
Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the key challenges facing the U.S. as the country pursues development and use of the next generation of clean, reliable energy technologies.
The report, entitled Department of Energy: Key Challenges Remain for Developing and Deploying Advanced Energy Technologies to Meet Future Needs (GAO-07-106), was requested by House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA).
The GAO found that U.S. today is even more dependent on crude oil and natural gas than it was almost 30 years ago. And, "without dramatic change, the nation will become ever more reliant on imported oil and natural gas with attendant threats to national security. The nation has also become concerned about global warming, which has been linked to carbon dioxide emissions...."
Chairman Gordon issued the following comment on the GAO’s report:
"We asked the GAO to conduct this study due to the basic concern that I think is shared by many Americans - namely, 'What are doing to develop alternative energy technologies?' The answer we got from GAO is a resounding, 'Not enough!'
"We can't expect the U.S. to stay on par in alternative energy development with countries like Brazil, Japan and Germany, when R&D funding at the Department of Energy has fallen 85 percent since the Carter years. I hope this report serves as even more of an impetus for the President to present a budget request that is not just a token commitment to alternative energy and energy efficiency.
"I’m examining ways to make biofuels more accessible and compatible with our existing infrastructure. The creation of the Reserve Fund in H.R. 6 – which passed the House yesterday – will allow us to make a down payment on the next generation of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies."
#110-008
Related Subcommittees
Next Article Previous Article