CRES Praises Formation of Senate Energy & Environmental Working Group

Senate Republicans Will Work to Address Common Sense Energy Reforms That Grow the Economy, Achieve Cleaner Energy Production, and Ensure a Clean Air Legacy.

Washington, D.C. – This morning, U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced the formation of the Senate Energy and Environmental Working Group.

In launching the group Senator Ayotte said, “Preserving and protecting our precious natural resources continues to be a top priority for me, so I’m launching a wider effort focused on environmental issues in the Senate. The Energy and Environmental Working Group will be a way for us to bring together members of our party and start an ongoing conversation about these topics – like how we can best protect our environment and climate, pursue common sense and market-based reforms to grow our economy, and promote cleaner energy production.”

Senator Kirk added, “We can protect our environment without hurting the economy and this group is crucial for striking the balance that the American people expect. In Illinois, my priority is keeping the Great Lakes clean for our tourism industry and for the more than 40 million people who rely on it for safe drinking water.”

“The United States has a better energy policy than we’re given credit for because we rely on government-sponsored research, private property, access to capital, entrepreneurship and the advantages of a huge marketplace,” said Senator Alexander. “We need to end our obsession with taxpayer subsidies and strategies for expensive energy and instead focus on doubling research and allowing innovative marketplace solutions to create an abundance of clean, cheap, reliable energy.”

“I’m tired of sending hundreds of billions of dollars to buy oil from people who hate us,” Said Senator Graham. “We must have energy independence. And in the process, I believe it is possible to produce a safe, clean environment, and create new well-paying jobs for Americans of all generations.”

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), a 501(c)4 advocacy group dedicated to engaging Republicans to become public leaders for smart, free-market clean energy solutions, released the following statement today in response to this important development:

“It is vitally important that we have Members of Congress actively engaging in efforts to advance market-based approaches that bring newer, cleaner energy technologies to market that can grow our economy, make America energy independent, and help preserve our climate. Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions enthusiastically applauds and thanks these Senate champions for launching the Energy and Environmental Working Group and their commitment to an environmentally secure energy future for America,” CRES Executive Director James Dozier said.

Dozier continued, “This working group is made up of long-time Republican allies who understand the importance of innovation in new technologies that create jobs here at home, while also protecting our air, water, and climate. Americans believe there is a middle ground between extreme regulation and doing nothing, and CRES looks forward to working with these senators to ensure market-based solutions are part of that conversation.”

A recent survey sponsored by Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions showed 68% of registered voters strongly agreed that the U.S. should diversify its energy sources to include renewables. Since Republicans seized control of the Senate in January of 2015, a number of GOP senators have played key roles in advancing legislation in support of a clean energy agenda.

  • In one of the first votes after assuming the majority, 15 Senate Republicans (Alexander, Ayotte, Collins, Corker, Flake, Graham, Hatch, Heller, Kirk, McCain, Murkowski, Paul, Portman, Rounds, and Toomey) voted to acknowledge that climate change is occurring.
  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (AK) has introduced 17 bills to modernize renewable energy development.
  • Sen. Richard Burr (NC) has led the charge on renewing the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
  • Sen. Rob Portman (OH) has sought to build bipartisan consensus on energy efficiency legislation.
  • Sen. Susan Collins (ME), a longtime champion, recently introduced bipartisan legislation that would require the U.S. Secretary of State to work to advance the goals of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, an innovative public-private partnership that was created to reduce carbon pollution and protect public health domestically and abroad.

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization advocating for comprehensive and responsible solutions to our nation’s energy issues. The organization is comprised of citizens from around the country who believe it is time for politicians in Washington to stop arguing, and start working on ways to solve our nation’s energy crisis.

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