Governor calls for cutting federal subsidies that perpetuate oil dependency

Jan 19,2007 00:00 by Bend Weekly News Sources

Urges Adoption of Proposal to Shift Funds to Alternative Energy Development

Earlier this week, in advance of Thursday’s floor debate, Governor Ted Kulongoski urged the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and Oregon’s Congressional delegation to adopt H.R. 6, which would reallocate $13 billion in federal oil and gas industry subsidies towards investments in renewable energy technologies.

“Last year’s Energy Bill was a handout to the oil and gas industry at a time when our country should have been focusing investment in alternative forms of energy that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create energy security, and spur economic opportunities here in this country,” wrote Governor Kulongoski. “Congress now has a chance to reverse that decision and adopt a more strategic and effective energy policy.”

The Governor’s call comes as he is pushing an aggressive legislative agenda to set the state of Oregon on a path to energy independence. This session, Governor Kulongoski looks forward to working with legislators to enact a renewable energy standard requiring 25 percent of Oregon’s energy to come from renewable sources by 2025, a biofuels package including a renewable fuels standard, an expansion of the Business Energy Tax Credit and a major increase investment in the research and development of renewable and alternative energy sources.

“Oregon is paving the way on multiple fronts from biofuels for our vehicles to a variety or renewable resources including wind, solar, biomass and now the promise of wave energy to heat and light our homes,” the Governor wrote the delegation. “With a strong partner at the federal level, I am confident we can meet our goals in Oregon and nationally.”