Jeff Bingaman

I believe President Obama has made an excellent choice and I strongly support Mr. Strickland's nomination.

This is a hearing on legislation to strengthen two programs that are central to improving the Nation's efficient use of energy.

We thank Senators Bingaman and Murkowski for introducing this bill and for moving the discussion forward.

This provision alone is expected to save enough electricity by 2020 to serve 350,000 homes.

Notwithstanding this success energy efficiency continues to be the most cost effective strategy for enhancing economic and energy security.

17 companies or groups of companies have ordered 26 new reactors.

Nuclear power is an essential part of our energy mix.

The current generation of nuclear power plants was mostly built in the 1960s and 1970s and 1980s.

For nearly 30 years, utilities did not order a single new nuclear power plant.

As Congress considers new energy legislation and the promise of renewable energy resources, we encourage you to ensure that renewable energy development is done in a prudent manner that protects key fish and wildlife habitats.

If Congress is truly serious about energy policy, it will kill this special-interest boondoggle immediately and apologize to the American people for the harm it has caused.

The corn ethanol scam is one of the longest-running robberies of American taxpayers in this country's history.

But I do think that to me the energy question is national security.

I think that's good. I would just say to you that when the delays don't seem to have an end it causes a lot of nerve wracking.

Their management is entrusted to the Federal Government.

We need to overhaul the existing energy infrastructure on which we all depend.

I hope Secretary Salazar can share with us his vision of how we can determine the best places for energy development.

Secretary Salazar has important decisions to make.

Decisions that may prove essential to our Nation's energy security and economic well being.

Our Nation has abundant energy resources, a good portion of which are found on our onshore public lands and in the Outer Continental Shelf.

Investment in the transmission grid will stimulate economic development, reduce electricity costs for consumers, and improve grid reliability.

Senator Bingaman, your leadership here is surely welcomed and we thank you for that.

I hope we can benefit from learning from what others, including Japan are doing in this regard.

I look forward to working with others in the Administration, this Committee, and the Congress to meet the President's goal of legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy…

This legislation will put Americans back to work while laying the groundwork for a clean energy economy.