[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 11, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 6) to 
     enhance energy conservation and research and development, to 
     provide for security and diversity in the energy supply for 
     the American people, and for other purposes:
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concerns with 
H.R. 6, ``The Energy Policy Act of 2003,'' in particular, provisions to 
open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for drilling.
  I support a strong, comprehensive national energy policy that 
promotes conservation, alternative fuels, and technologies, in 
conjunction with maintaining sound environmental practices. One thing 
that every Member of this Congress agrees on is that our nation needs 
an energy plan that has a strong balance between energy production and 
energy efficiency. I was pleased to hear President Bush once again lead 
the energy section of his State of the Union address with support for 
energy efficiency, especially his initiative to accelerate research 
into hydrogen fuel cells. This kind of long-term commitment will help 
our country shift to more environmentally friendly energy sources. We 
must maintain proper levels of funding for renewable energy research, 
so renewable energy can become a greater proportion of our nation's 
energy supply in the long run.
  Although The Energy Policy Act of 2003 contained several conservation 
measures, including close to $7 billion for tax credits for the use of 
alternative fuels and conservation, the proposal also contained an 
additional $12 billion in production-related tax incentives to coal, 
oil, and gas industries. Even so, experts predict the shortage of 
natural gas supplies will continue suggesting that tax policy alone is 
not sufficient to address the crisis in natural gas. Therefore, these 
tax measures combined with the proposal to open ANWR for drilling led 
me to oppose H.R. 6
  I believe we have a responsibility to preserve and protect our 
environment. As you know, whether or not to drill for oil in ANWR has 
long been a controversial subject. I believe there are other ways to 
ensure the United States has a national energy policy other than 
disturbing a pristine wildlife refuge. Proponents of drilling for oil 
in ANWR have not made an adequate case to me, and therefore, I support 
an amendment to strike the language in H.R. 6 proposing to open ANWR to 
drilling.
  The U.S. Geological Survey reports that there are only 3.2 billion 
barrels (6 months' supply) of economically recoverable oil in ANWR. In 
contrast to ANWR's 6 month oil supply, natural gas from Alaska's North 
Slope would provide a 10 month supply. There is consensus from all 
sides that this natural gas should be piped to the lower 48 states, but 
there is disagreement on the location of the pipeline. I support 
efforts to make a final determination so this pipeline can be built 
quickly, but safely. Other sources of energy on the North Slope include 
a 13 month supply in the North Slope Reserves and a 3 year supply at 
West Sac.
  I know that energy efficiency alone will not be able to meet our 
country's current energy needs, we must begin to make a stronger 
commitment to alternative fuels and conservation as ways to improve our 
environment and boost this Nation's struggling economy. As this debate 
now moves forward, Congress must seize this opportunity to put these 
important efforts at the forefront of a comprehensive national energy 
policy.
  I am committed to finding solutions to the energy crisis that strike 
a proper balance between conservation and production. I am hopeful that 
The Energy Policy Act of 2003 will represent a balanced, more fiscally 
responsible proposal when I have the chance to vote on the House-Senate 
Conference Report on this bill later in the 108th Congress.

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