Energy and the Environment
Increasing Energy Independence and Developing a Cleaner, Greener Economy
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our generation. It is an issue of national security, economic prosperity, and public health. It is imperative that we act. As part of my commitment to the safety and security of our nation, I will push for balanced energy conservation policies that increase our energy independence and create new jobs.
Democrats and Republicans came together this January to pass an energy bill that environmental groups like the Sierra Club and League of Conservation Voters supported as an incomplete but positive “first step” compromise to BEGIN to address the severity of the challenges we face.
Unfortunately, even that step was too far for Garrett, as the Bergen Record editorialized:
“Republican Rep. Scott Garrett of Wantage, who represents parts of Bergen and Passaic counties, was the lone New Jersey congressman to vote against the bill — one sign that the legislation was well within the mainstream, and that Garrett is not.”
Representative Scott Garrett has also voted to give huge tax breaks and increase taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil making record profits, rather than work to ease consumers’ pain at the pump.
I believe that efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil do not have to come at the expense of our domestic resources. I, like every New Jersey representative except Scott Garrett, strongly oppose oil drilling off the New Jersey shore.
The choice Congressman Garrett offers between oil from home or oil from abroad is a false one. I believe in responsible drilling – the oil companies have many options to expand offshore drilling without endangering sacred places like our New Jersey shore. We cannot drill our way to energy independence any more than we can drill our way to China.
I support common sense regulations to increase refinery capacity so that oil companies cannot conspire to keep prices high. But I want those rules to be written by independent experts, not by Exxon-Mobil.
I commit myself to making the decisions that are best for New Jersey, and I pledge that I will never be so beholden to special interests as to risk despoiling our environment. I support efforts to research and develop cleaner renewable energy sources like wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass through the use of public-private funding mechanisms that make smart clean energy investments without straining our budgets or raising taxes.
New Jersey is in a strong position to attract environmentally-sound industry and build a green collar workforce. The creation of green jobs will bolster the economy, reduce pollution, and improve the quality of life for all citizens. As one of 23 states committed to increasing the use of renewable energy and one of six states committed to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, New Jersey is taking a leadership role in mitigating the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change. Our members of Congress should be doing the same in Washington, DC.
We all have an opportunity and responsibility to protect our natural resources, preserve open spaces, and be better stewards of our land. I am committed to strengthening the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act and forging an environmental legacy with and for all citizens of New Jersey and for generations to come.
