Adam On The Issues

Energy is critically important to our economy, and energy independence is vital to homeland security.  We currently face several challenges: preventing dramatic increases in the price of gas, using our energy more wisely, and developing new sources of energy that are environmentally safe and will decrease our dependence on foreign oil.  

In order to prevent astronomical gas price increases that hurt consumers and have crippled many businesses in the Puget Sound region, we must implement policies that will make our energy sources more reliable, diverse, and stable.

Traditional fossil fuel energy sources like natural gas, oil, and coal are limited, and that's why we need to use them wisely. In addition, we need to use more alternative and renewable energy and develop the energy technologies of the future. Wind and solar power, once thought to be hopelessly impractical, have become cost-competitive with fossil fuels. We need to encourage greater research and development, and use of these clean and renewable energy sources. Fuel cells and geothermal energy are just a few of the energy technologies that can bring us into the 21st Century.

Not only will embracing new energy technology make our economy more efficient and our environment cleaner, but it will give America the opportunity to become a world leader in energy. Instead of relying on oil from the Middle East, Mexico, or Russia, we can become net exporters of fuel cells, solar panels, and other technologies that will create good American jobs and help the rest of the world develop cleaner, healthier sources of energy. 

Record to Prove It:

• Consistently supported legislation to make renewable and alternative energies more affordable for consumers through tax credits and funding for research and development

• Consistently supported legislation to increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards, making cars more fuel-efficient

• Cosponsored legislation to develop stricter emissions standards for power plants

• Supported responsible funding increases for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, which identifies and promotes energy efficient consumer products  

• Introduced the High-Performance Buildings Act of 2005, which will improve the energy costs and health of families living in affordable housing units, by providing grants to non-profits that increase sustainable development capacity in low-income communities. 

• Voted against the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which wasted an opportunity to improve US energy policy by creating tax giveaways to the fossil fuel industry, and authorized drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. 

• Active participant of the Northwest Energy Caucus, which closely monitors electricity issues in the Northwest