Byron Dorgan: “Let me just say, as a member of the Energy Committee, I feel very strongly that this country needs a new energy policy…”

“Let me just say, as a member of the Energy Committee, I feel very strongly that this country needs a new energy policy, an Energy bill. I think it is unlikely that we will be able to finish an Energy bill by the end of next week. There are very significant issues that remain. Speaking for myself, I want this Senate to pass an Energy bill. I want it to be a good one, one that does all four things that are necessary in a good bill: One that promotes additional production of the sources of energy that we need; one that promotes increased conservation, which is a significant part of our energy needs; for a barrel of oil conserved is about the same as a barrel of oil produced. So we need production and conservation. We also need strong provisions dealing with efficiencies of all of the things we use day to day that use energy.”