Cord Byrd: “I join with my distinguished colleagues, Senators Murkowski, Hagel, Craig, Hutchinson, Grams, and Roberts, in…”

“I join with my distinguished colleagues, Senators Murkowski, Hagel, Craig, Hutchinson, Grams, and Roberts, in cosponsoring the Energy and Climate Policy Act of 1999 which was introduced earlier today. The legislation provided in this bill is one of a number of options that the U.S. could undertake to improve energy efficiency and security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the complex issue of climate change will not be solved by a single bill or action, this legislation provides additional funding for research and development for important programs that I have long supported, like clean coal technologies, an American-developed initiative. The bill would also take steps to coordinate and implement energy efficiency research as well as begin the process of better reporting greenhouse gas reductions at the Department of Energy. If substantial steps are going to be taken globally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we must accelerate the development and commercialization of new technologies, anticipate changing conditions, and encourage public/private partnerships. Both developing and industrialized nations must find ways to tackle this complex and multi-faceted problem. There is no single answer--there is no one silver bullet to fix this issue. Any viable climate change policy must include efforts to develop cleaner and more efficient fossil fuel-based energy production in order to meet growing energy needs.”