Sen. Bingaman on Passage of SENATE ENERGY BILL

“This legislation is a step forward in helping our nation meet its energy challenges.  It does not go as far as I would have liked, or others would have liked, to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, to improve vehicle fuel efficiency or to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  But it makes a good start."

“The bill puts the Senate on record, for the first time, as saying that global warming is a problem that we need to take seriously.  The bill calls for increasing the amount of renewable energy that we use to make our electricity and power our cars and trucks.  It also promotes the development and deployment of new energy technologies, improves energy efficiency and modernizes our electricity laws.  It was a good bill coming out of committee and was made even better on the Senate floor."

“Our task now is to keep our bipartisan bill from being undermined in conference.  Twice before, the Senate has sent an energy bill to conference, only to see it fail in conference or on the floor.  But I am confident that we may yet succeed, and I know that we will continue to work to ensure that the progress we have made is brought to completion.”

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Bill Wicker

Democratic Communications Director

Senate Energy & Natural Resources

202.224.5243