A New Era for U.S. Energy Security

Bipartisan Policy Center April 12, 2011 By Byron L. Dorgan , Trent Lott, James L. Jones and William K. Reilly

An Open Letter to the American People and America’s Leaders: A New Era for U.S. Energy Security

While our new challenges are daunting, we believe our nation’s new energy opportunities are even greater. America’s ability to increase traditional domestic oil and gas supplies and use emerging technologies to create new energy sources can grow dramatically if we make increased domestic production a sustained national priority. In particular, recent advancements in shale gas production and the prospect of cleaner electricity generation, coupled with plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, could allow us to once again dramatically decrease oil intensity.

From wind and solar to advanced biofuels, modular nuclear power, geothermal energy and energy efficiency, we are only beginning to tap the power of technology to unlock our domestic resources, not to mention funding long-term breakthrough technology creation. We hope to be of assistance to President Obama, the Congress and the nation by offering a framework of the energy goals, metrics and accountability we believe are mission critical to success in this new era for U.S. energy security.

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