Energy Independence & Environment
Either we will be the agents of a green revolution, or we will hand our children a mess they will not be able to fix.
Record gas prices are on everyone’s mind these days - and rightly so. But this crisis shouldn’t have taken us by surprise. For decades, Washington saw the energy shortage looming but failed to take action. Our leaders failed to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, failed to promote innovation towards energy alternatives, and failed to increase efficiency so that we consume less energy.
After seven years of inaction, the time has come for new leadership and fresh thinking on how we consume energy. Jim Himes’ energy plan focuses on bringing immediate relief to struggling families today, while ensuring a sustainable energy future for tomorrow.
Ensuring a Sustainable Energy Future
With years of experience building green affordable housing in his non-profit career, Jim knows that green technology can lower energy bills while creating jobs.
First, Jim will promote the same green building practices - including energy-saving windows, high-tech insulation, and solar panel installations - that he has implemented in his non-profit housing work. Green building offers a rare win-win-win opportunity. In addition to dramatically cutting energy bills for families and businesses, green building both protects the environment and creates a new sector of well-paying "green collar" jobs that cannot be outsourced.
Second, Jim believes that we must transition from oil to clean, plentiful sources of energy. He will call on Congress to extend tax credits that promote wind and solar energy, and he will propose large increases in funding for alternative energy research. Through these investments, we will tackle the energy crisis by leveraging the ingenuity and innovative capacity of the American people.
Third, Jim believes that Detroit has stood by its losing bet on gas-guzzling SUVs for too long. To ensure that Connecticut families have access to the fuel-efficient cars that the price of gas demands, Jim believes it is time to significantly raise fuel-efficiency standards for both passenger cars and light trucks.
Confronting Climate Change
Jim believes that climate change poses a serious threat to our economy, our health, our national security, and our way of life. Fortunately, we know from experience how to bring our greenhouse gas emissions back down to safe levels. Jim will call on Congress to adopt a cap-and-trade system, modeled on our successful experience combating the pollutants that cause acid rain. This will put the ingenuity of the market to work, encouraging companies to reduce emissions without disrupting operations for those businesses that depend on emissions in the short term. By confronting climate change, Jim will work to ensure a livable planet for our children and grandchildren.
Protecting Our Air and Water
Jim believes that the Bush Administration’s systematic effort to undermine our environmental laws is an outrage that must be reversed next year. In Congress, Jim will work to strengthen both the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. He will also support legislation to require polluters to bear the costs of cleaning up toxic pollution, rather than passing on the burden to taxpayers.
Long Island Sound
Jim has an abiding commitment to the Long Island Sound and will work in Congress to protect it. He vigorously opposes the proposed Broadwater Liquid Natural Gas facility, which would be built in Long Island Sound, and he will do everything possible to prevent its construction.
Click to read Jim’s full energy plan (PDF)
