WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) – a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources – today applauded President Obama’s announcement of new energy security strategy, which calls for a one-third reduction of America’s oil imports by 2025 and for the continued expansion of investments in innovative clean energy technology.

“Our nation needs to be moving aggressively toward an entrepreneurial energy future less dependent on foreign oil and more reliant on an array of clean, domestic energy technologies,” Senator Coons said. “Energy security shouldn’t merely be a measure of the stability of the nations that sell us oil, but of our ability to meet America’s energy needs with our own energy resources and in a way that contributes positively to our economy. I applaud the ambitious leadership being shown by the President today and look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to implement a new energy security strategy.”

The strategy laid out by President Obama in remarks Wednesday morning included several elements that Senator Coons has strongly supported, including:

Increasing the number and diversity of domestic energy sources.

“It is critical that America’s energy portfolio not be tied up in fossil fuels,” Senator Coons said. “We need to diversify by investing in domestically produced clean energy sources like solar, biofuels, and offshore wind. Delaware has led the way in clean energy innovation and is poised to make a substantial contribution America’s clean energy future.”

Supporting American innovation in clean energy technology by investing in joint public/private research.

“The work being done by federal research programs like ARPA-E is imperative to driving innovation and keeping America globally competitive in the energy market,” Senator Coons said. “By leading and investing in critical research, the government does its part to stimulate technological innovation and encourage private-sector job creation.”

Expanding consumer markets for biofuels and commercializing new biofuel technologies.

“Instead of limiting our non-petroleum fuel focus to corn-based ethanol, we need to expand our cellulosic and advanced bio-based fuel options, which will create a tremendous economic opportunity for Delaware’s farmers and consumers,” Senator Coons said. “The rapidly growing clean-energy sector represents an opportunity to revitalize and sustain Delaware’s permanent base of manufacturing jobs.”

Focusing transportation investments in advanced vehicles and high-speed rail.

“Reducing fuel consumption by expanding the use of hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as high-speed rail and public transit is not only good for the environment, but good for the economy,” Senator Coons said. “I support the President’s plan to lead by example by make sure that by 2015, all new vehicles purchased by the federal government use alternative fuels, including hybrid and electric technology.”

Reducing electricity consumption by promoting energy-efficient homes and buildings.

“Energy efficiency and conservation continue to represent the least expensive, lowest risk, and most effective means of immediately reducing energy consumption and our dependence on fossil fuels,” Senator Coons said.

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