Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) is known for being a results-oriented leader who is willing to reach across the aisle to advance commonsense energy production and efficiency solutions that benefit the rapid innovation of America’s energy sector.
As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Portman introduced and secured Senate passage of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act. According to the bill’s sponsors, this bipartisan legislation “promotes the use of energy efficiency technologies in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of our economy.”
“This bill has garnered such widespread support because of a simple fact – it is good for the economy and good for the environment. It’s part of an energy plan for America that can help bring the jobs back, help fix our trade deficit, help make our manufacturers more competitive, and actually help to protect the environment,” Portman said. “And at the same time, it encourages the implementation of energy efficient techniques throughout our economy that could save taxpayers billions of dollars.”
Recently, Senator Portman joined four GOP colleagues – Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) – in support of an amendment to the 2017 appropriation for the Department of Energy. Their amendment called on Congress to advance clean energy solutions, increase federal energy R&D investments, and to support efforts to preserve our air and climate.
Polling conducted by TargetPoint Consulting and Just Win Strategies on behalf of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions has shown that producing more energy and using it wisely is an issue that voter across the country and in Ohio care about. 74% of Ohio voters – including 77% of Republicans – believe that energy policy, specifically the exploration and development of both traditional and renewable energy sources, should be a high priority for Congress. Moreover, 85% of Ohio voters, including 77% of Republicans, agree “it is in the best interest of the United States to diversity our energy sources to include renewable resources of energy like wine, solar, and hydropower.”
In his first term alone, Senator Portman has amassed a remarkable record of leadership on energy innovation. We commend his leadership in supporting legislation that strengthens America’s energy, economic, and environmental security.