Declaring Energy Independence

Political instability in the Middle East as well as the BP-Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico should serve as a wake up call to all of us. We must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and work seriously to become energy independent. In the future we can get our energy from the Midwest, not the Middle East.

As a leader in the Minnesota Senate, I worked to pass our nation leading renewable energy standard because I want us to be leaders in new energy markets. We’ve done a lot in our state to promote the energy sources of the future – solar, wind, biomass, hydro-power, and next generation bio-fuels – but there is more to be done if we are to protect our nation’s security, create new jobs right here at home and protect our environment for our children and our grandchildren.

America is being held hostage by an energy policy that ties us to foreign oil companies and prevents us from leading the world in new, innovative technologies. We can continue to let other countries dictate what we pay at the pump or on our electricity bill, or we can declare our energy independence. We have an incredible opportunity to create jobs, produce homegrown energy right here in Minnesota, and be leaders in one of the fastest growing parts of the global economy. This is a win-win-win energy policy, and it is what I will fight for in Congress.