The American Energy Initiative: A Focus on the Outlook for Achieving North American Energy Independence Within the Decade

CAP Action Senior Fellow Daniel J. Weiss testifies before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power. Read the full testimony (CAP Action) Chairman Whitfield, Ranking Member Rush, and members of the subcommittee, thank you very much for the opportunity to testify today. I am Daniel J. Weiss, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a tax-exempt organization dedicated to improving the lives of Americans by transforming progressive values and ideas into policy. The question posed for this hearing is “A Focus on the Outlook for Achieving North American Energy Independence Within the Decade.” Many experts are optimistic that the reduction of oil demand combined with the increase of domestic oil and natural gas production could further reduce oil imports by 2020. Citi GPS predicts that “between 2010 and 2020 … the fuel economy of the entire fleet could rise by 16 percent.” Raymond James & Associates predicts a significant oil production increase in the coming years without any expansion of drilling into protected places or weakening of public health and natural resources protections. But Congress must not ignore climate science when developing energy policies. Promoting an energy independence plan that increases carbon pollution is like setting your house on fire to stay warm.  It may work at first but the long term consequences are horrendous. CAP Action Senior Fellow Daniel J. Weiss testifies before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power. Read the full testimony (CAP Action)