Byron Dorgan: “the market is broken. It is clearly broken. Look at what is happening in California: $7 billion was the cost of power in…”

“the market is broken. It is clearly broken. Look at what is happening in California: $7 billion was the cost of power in California 2 years ago. This year it is estimated to be $70 billion, a tenfold increase. Who are the victims? The folks in California who are going to work every day, coming home to open the bills and figure out how to pay an electric bill that has dramatically increased. That is why I say, look, we need a new energy plan. I don't disagree with that. We have not had a good energy plan for decades. We are too dependent on foreign sources. The Senator from Idaho piqued my interest on the subject. There are a lot of areas we can agree. I agree with the Senator from Idaho, that we do need to produce more oil and gas. I agree with that. We need to build more power lines and more transmission capability. I agree with that. We need to build more powerplants, I agree. We need to use more coal sources, use more clean coal technology, and do all of that while being sensitive to the needs of the environment. We can do that. I support that in a manner consistent with protecting our environment. Then I say: Support us on this. We need better conservation. More conservation. We need more effort towards renewable sources of energy. We need more effort towards greater efficiency of appliances and the rules that support that are in place. And now the administration threatens to retract on some of those rules.”