Washington, D.C. — The threat of rolling blackouts in the Northeast because of bitter cold underscores the need for the Senate to halt its acrimonious filibuster on the energy bill and proceed to a vote on final passage, Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Pete V. Domenici said today. Statement by Chairman Pete V. Domenici: “The situation in the Northeast today gives us the perfect reason to stop this senseless filibuster on the energy bill and proceed to a vote on final passage next month. Right now, residents in the Northeast have been told to prepare themselves for rolling blackouts at a time when temperatures are below zero and they desperately need their heat and electricity. "The crisis in the Northeast right now means skyrocketing energy prices, hitting the elderly and poor the hardest. It means more air pollution. Emergency electricity measures such as those being implemented in the Northeast right now means burning more oil, burning more wood and firing up old diesel generators. “The energy bill before the Senate includes several long-term remedies that would help the chronic power problems that plague the Northeast. We increase production of natural gas, preventing price spikes and shortages like we are seeing now. We mandate electricity reliability standards that would have prevented the kind of blackout that paralyzed the Northeast in August and is a looming fear right now. “We diversify our nation’s energy supply, so regions like the Northeast aren’t so dependent on gas and oil for their heat and electricity. We increase production of nuclear power, clean coal, wind, solar and geothermal energy. We provides opportunities and incentives for increased conservation of energy, including tax breaks for home owners who do more to conserve energy and manufacturers who produce more energy-efficient appliances. "Every one of these provisions offers remedy and relief to the Northeast. We stand ready to assist the Northeast through this crisis, but we have an opportunity to do more than that. We can make a difference for decades to come if we pass this energy bill. I urge my colleagues to end the pointless politicking and filibustering on this bill and move to a vote on final passage.”