Byron Dorgan: “My point was this: If the Senator from Alaska is saying he has some concerns about timber, but he believes there ought…”

“My point was this: If the Senator from Alaska is saying he has some concerns about timber, but he believes there ought to be a renewable portfolio standard, that is one thing. My point is the author at the end of his presentation said: I do not think we ought to impose a mandate on the States. This should be left to the States, No. 1, so it is not a national policy to embrace. Second, let's let the free market handle this. My response to that is, the free market has gotten us to the point where over 50 percent of our oil is imported, mostly from Saudi Arabia. If you think it strengthens national security, good for you. I am not saying you believe that. No one believes we are in the position of increasing our national security by increasing the amount of oil that comes from the most unstable part of the world. That is the point and the reason we need a renewable portfolio standard.”