[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 7 (Tuesday, February 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E87]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIPARTITE MEETING ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 5, 2002

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I recently participated in the Tripartite 
Meeting on Climate Change and Sustainable Energy, sponsored by GLOBE 
USA, the affiliate of Global Legislator's Organization for a Balanced 
Environment (GLOBE), a voluntary non-partisan educational association 
comprised of Senators and Representatives from our Congress that is 
dedicated to promoting a balanced and informed policy regarding our 
environment. I applaud the work of our distinguished colleagues 
Representatives Shays, the chairman of GLOBE USA; Jim Greenwood, 
president of GLOBE International; Mark Udall, vice president of GLOBE 
International and co-chair, House Renewable Energy and Efficiency 
Caucus, and all of our colleagues who attended and contributed to the 
informative sessions with our colleagues from Canada, the UK, and the 
EU.
  One thing we all agree upon is the important role that renewable and 
alternative sources of energy play in our national energy policy and 
debate. H.R. 4, which passed in the House on August 2, 2001, contained 
provisions for alternative and renewable sources of energy. On December 
5, 2001, the Senate Energy Committee chairman introduced S. 1766, an 
omnibus energy bill that responds to H.R. 4, which also contains 
provisions for research and development funding for alternative and 
renewable sources of energy. H.R. 4, drew much criticism as a result of 
its provisions allowing for oil exploration and drilling in ANWR and 
for not adequately increasing the CAFE Standards of light trucks and 
SUV's. It is imperative that our two legislative bodies reconcile their 
differences, so that our nation may have a comprehensive energy plan 
that makes sense for the American people. Today's meeting reemphasized 
the importance of renewable and alternative sources of energy in our 
ever evolving and dynamic global community.
  I have long advocated renewable energy and strongly believe that we 
can not continue to utilize fossil fuels at the rate of our 
consumption. It is only through research and development of renewable 
and alternative sources of energy that our Nation can be free from its 
reliance on foreign sources of oil from nations that are hostile to our 
Nation, our democratic system of government and our way of life.
  Mr. Speaker, when the price of crude oil trades at $38 a barrel, we 
hold hearings, send letters to the President, the Secretary of Energy, 
the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State seeking their 
intervention with the OPEC nations to bring the price of oil down. 
Congress threatens sanctions and passes resolutions condemning OPEC. 
Now that the price of oil is low, and where we can purchase a gallon of 
gasoline for less than $1.10, there is a tendency for all of us to 
become complacent and we fail to remember the exorbitant price of 
gasoline. The fact is, that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting 
Countries (OPEC) is a cartel, and in a very short period of time the 
price of imported crude may spike, and for the most part there is very 
little that we can do when OPEC shuts off the spigot, but watch oil 
prices soar. We can not out pump OPEC and the only way to beat them at 
their own game is to develop a robust ``portfolio'' of alternative and 
renewable sources of energy. There is an energy crisis confronting our 
Nation, and like cancer it is in temporary remission, waiting to rear 
its ugly head when we think we have defeated it and when we least 
expect it. When that occurs it is at the expense of the hard working 
people of our nation, impacting every sector of our economy.
  By incorporating renewable and alternative sources of energy such as 
wind, biomass, hydropower, geothermal, photovoltaic, fuel cells and the 
hybrid-vehicle technology, not just as part of our national energy 
plan, but as part of our national persona, we not only accomplish our 
goal of energy self-sufficiency, but we will also fulfill one of our 
national security priorities. Former CIA Director Woolsey asserts that 
our reliance on foreign oil is one of the top three national security 
threats to our nation. By adopting a comprehensive program of research 
and development in renewable and alternative sources of energy, we not 
only will reduce a major threat to our national security, but we will 
also strengthen our homeland defense initiatives, by taking a threat 
out of the equation.
  By establishing realistic goals, utilizing and harnessing the 
entrepreneurial and technological spirit, drive, creativity and 
ingenuity of the American people in developing alternative and 
renewable sources of energy; we will also reduce the catastrophic 
effects that fossil fuel has on our environment, thereby preserving our 
precious environment and our resources for generations to come.
  Moreover, I believe that the Administration should continue to be 
engaged in the Kyoto negotiations process and we should continue to use 
our leadership and consensus building to enter into an agreement that 
is both realistic and enforceable for our nation, and is amenable to 
its prospective signatories.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to make alternative and renewable 
sources of energy a national priority. By working with our colleagues 
throughout the world we can achieve our shared energy goals.

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