Video of Lugar's press conference introducing his energy bill

Dick Lugar


U.S. Senator for Indiana

Date: 06/09/2010 * http://lugar.senate.gov

Mark Hayes * 202-224-8370  mark_hayes@lugar.senate.gov



U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar will hold a press conference today at 2:15 p.m. introducing his Practical Energy and Climate Plan. Broadcast quality video will be sent to Indiana television stations and the entire press conference video and audio will be posted online (coordinates/details below).

Lugar's bill is a main alternative to the divisive cap and trade approach.

The bill will focus on saving people money on their energy bills, reducing foreign oil dependency, improving industrial competitiveness, diversifying energy choices, and better using domestic fossil fuel resources.

More information, including an updated outline, two-page summary and bill text may be found at: http://lugar.senate.gov/energy/ .

Audio/Video Advisory

Television quality video will be available today at 4:00p.m. Eastern at:

AMC 3

8V

3860

C-BAND Analog

Video from the entire press conference will be available on Lugar's

YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/senatorlugar

Broadcast quality audio (.mp3 file) of the entire press conference will be available at: http://lugar.senate.gov/press/audio

As Lugar will note in his opening statement, "The most recent Congressional Connection Poll by the Pew Research Center and National Journal indicated that 81 percent of Americans believe Congress' top priority should be creating jobs. This poll has consistently indicated the lowest priority of our constituents is dealing with climate change, with just 32 percent suggesting this in the most recent poll.

"The same poll indicated that two-thirds of Americans said it was important for Congress to act on our country's energy needs."

"In short, it fixes the major leaks in our energy system."

Lugar's legislation will

* Reduce our foreign oil dependency;
* Save Americans money on their energy bills;
* Improve our industrial competitiveness;
* Invest in cleaner and more diverse energy choices; and
* Better use our domestic fossil fuel resources.

The plan reflects both Republican and Democratic proposals and will generate the following savings by 2030:

* Cut foreign oil dependence by nearly 40 percent;
* Decrease national energy consumption by 11 percent;
* Reduce average household electric bills by 15 percent; and
* Cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent, or about 1.6 billionmetric tons - the equivalent of taking more than 240 million cars off our highways.

"This practical energy and climate approach prioritizes the cheapest and easiest energy savings: to achieve efficiencies in our buildings, appliances and industrial processes."

"Energy and climate legislation must reflect the economic realities facing Americans today. Like much of America, almost 10 percent of Hoosiers are unemployed. Many more are underemployed and living paycheck-to-paycheck.

"We need enduring policies that help Americans ease their financial burdens and encourage markets with job-creating opportunities.

"This plan satisfies the concerns of two-thirds of Americans who say we should be addressing our energy needs now."

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.