We support a balanced, responsible energy policy that contains the following provisions:

1. Energy conservation measures such as increased fuel efficiency standards for automobiles and light trucks. A fuel efficiency increase of a mere 2.2 percent per year would save 5.5 million barrels of oil per day, and reduce our dependence on oil by more than 50 percent.
   
   
2. Promotion of renewable sources of energy through such means as tax subsidies to manufacturers developing sustainable energy technologies. Recent advances in technology have reduced the costs of many alternative energy systems but expanding technologies such as fuel cell, photovoltaics and wind power to meet U. S. energy demands will require policy-based incentives.
   
   
3. Provisions to meet immediate oil and gas needs by maximizing extraction from existing wells rather than opening up new well in environmentally fragile areas for oil development.

We will not support an energy bill that does any of the following:

1. Allows drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or other environmentally sensitive federal lands. While a balanced energy policy may include some oil and gas development, certain federal lands including the Arctic Refuge need, and warrant extra protection. Senators and representatives of both parties have heard the American people and publicly warn that a provision in the energy bill for oil development in the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge will prevent passage of an energy bill.
   
   
2. Rolls back the protections of the Clean Air Act. Easing clean air regulations will not increase energy output, but will give producers a cost-free license to pollute our air.