Published: April 07, 2009
New Report Charts Path for Energy Reform
Sets Stage for High-Level Energy Symposium on April 21 in Washington, DC
The nonpartisan Reform Institute today released a new report that lays a clear pathway for comprehensive energy reform. The report - Reforming American Energy: Overcoming Reliance and Ensuring Reliability - outlines the benefits and limitations of each U.S. energy sector and provides specific reform recommendations. With energy and climate legislation taking shape in Congress the timely new report outlines the energy challenges facing the nation and proposes a new direction for U.S. energy policy.
Highlighting the threats to U.S. national security, the economy, and energy and environmental sustainability posed by current energy policy, the report challenges the effectiveness of a piece-meal approach and calls for a cohesive national energy strategy.
"An enormous opportunity exists for the United States to take the requisite steps to reverse its downward energy spiral and reduce, if not eliminate, reliance on unfriendly foreign energy sources and strengthen national resilience," stated report author Ken Nahigian of Nahigian Strategies, LLC, and senior advisor to the Reform Institute's Center for Energy and Environmental Progress. "The new Administration and the 111th Congress must put all energy options on the table and set aside partisan and parochial interests for the long-term welfare of the Nation."
The report assesses numerous options for reducing reliance on foreign energy and ensuring a sustainable energy supply such as: alternative-fuel vehicles; fuel efficiency; telecommuting; the smart grid; and the major domestic energy sources, including coal; natural gas; nuclear; domestic oil; solar; wind; geothermal; and hydropower. Further, it examines three critical components of enhancing U.S. energy resilience:
Reform the transportation sector,
Mobilize "smart grid" technologies,
Utilize domestic resources sensibly.
On April 21, the Reform Institute will utilize this analysis as a discussion guide for its National Energy Symposium in Washington, DC. The Symposium will convene key policymakers, corporate leaders, and interest groups in a unique format that will allow for lively interaction between participants. Notable featured speakers will include, among others, Senate Energy Committee leaders *Senators John McCain and Lisa Murkowski*. For more information on the Symposium and online registration, visit www.ReformInstitute.org.
"This report concisely details the energy challenges before us and assesses the available options," according to Cecilia Martinez, Executive Director of the Reform Institute. "The report and symposium will serve to initiate a needed national dialogue towards comprehensive energy reform that stresses innovation, collaboration and leadership."
The new report is available at www.reforminstitute.org. To arrange to speak with Reform Institute experts, please contact Chris Dreibelbis at 703-535-6897 x 12 or via email at chris@reforminstitute.org.
The Reform Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit educational organization working to strengthen the foundations of our democracy and build a resilient society. The Institute formulates and advocates valuable, solutions-based reform in vital areas of public policy, including homeland and national security, energy and environmental progress, economic opportunity and competitiveness, immigration policy, and governance and election reform. Visit our website at www.reforminstitute.org.
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