A bipartisan group of Senators—five Republicans and five Democrats—today unveiled a compromise energy plan that would increase American production of energy to further the goal of energy independence and to help combat high prices. The plan, much of which includes a number of provisions similar to those of Senator Collins’ “10 point energy plan,” also adopts her proposal to provide additional funding to help low-income families weatherize their homes beginning this winter. In addition, it continues to prohibit any drilling in the Gulf of Maine, a policy also backed by Senator Collins.
Senator Collins described the plan as a “promising step forward in developing a bipartisan energy plan that would help address our nation’s energy crisis.” She commended her colleagues who unveiled the plan for their “hard work and cooperative efforts that led to the plan.”
The originators of the bipartisan energy plan include: Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), John Thune (R-SD), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Bob Corker (R-TN), Mark Pryor (D-AR), and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).
Senator Collins further said, “Our nation does not need a Republican energy plan, nor does it need a Democratic energy plan. Rather, we need an American energy plan. This plan follows the spirit of real solutions that leaves partisan politics by the wayside.
“This bill rightly focuses on increased production in the Gulf of Mexico where the infrastructure is already in place to ensure efficient delivery of additional oil and gas to the American marketplace. This would increase supplies of American oil and help combat sky high prices that have contributed to the energy crisis.
“I strongly oppose drilling in the Gulf of Maine because of the potential negative effect it would have on our vital fishing and tourism industries. This bill expressly leaves in place the current moratorium on drilling anywhere off New England’s coast.
“I am pleased that this plan incorporates my provision to provide additional funding to help low-income families weatherize their homes. With winter just around the corner, so many Maine families are deeply concerned about how they will keep their homes warm this winter. Weatherization assistance will help in this effort.
“This plan addresses some crucial conservation measures, many of which I have called for in my 10-point energy plan.
“Finally, implementation of this plan would be paid for in part by eliminating the needless tax breaks for big oil companies, which are reporting multi-billion dollar profits at the same time that many Americans are faced with the choice between filling their gas tanks or putting food on their tables. This is a provision that I have long supported, most recently with a bipartisan amendment to the FY 2009 Budget resolution that would eliminate these tax subsidies and redirect the money to energy efficiency and alternative energy efforts.
“This is the first major bipartisan energy bill that represents a common sense consensus. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this legislation.”
According to the ten Senators who unveiled the bipartisan energy bill, the legislation would allow drilling in the East Coast from Virginia to Georgia and on the Western side of Florida—near areas where drilling infrastructure already exits. It would create a federal-state compact system that would provide for incentives for shoreline communities where the drilling took place. It would leave in place all other currently-existing bans on drilling in the U.S. such as in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
It would also provide conservation tax incentives for the purchase of hybrid vehicles and other energy saving measures and mandatory spending of $500 million additional funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program.