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Alaskan Congressman Don Young reintroduced the American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act this afternoon, the only bill which uses today’s resources to fund tomorrow’s resource technologies.  H.R. 49 (chosen by Rep. Young to celebrate Alaska as the 49^th state) will use revenues from the oil and gas production in a 2,000 acre section of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for a vast array of renewable energy programs.  Rep. Young introduced this same bill in the 110^th Congress (as H.R. 6107) where it accumulated 181 bi-partisan cosponsors, including long-time ANWR opponents.    

“I have always been in favor of alternative sources of energy, but those technologies are still a while down the road and need funding,” said Rep. Young.  “The estimated 10.4 billion barrels of oil locked up in the barren tundra in the northern plain of ANWR will provide more than one million barrels of oil each day for American consumers for the next 30 years.  Using our modern technologies and the strictest of environmental regulations, we could have ANWR online within five years.  From there, the revenues from the lease sales will fund a wide variety of 18 different renewable and alternative energy projects. 

“This is one of the most comprehensive energy bills out there, and if our Speaker will let me bring it to the floor, I know I have the votes to pass it.  Last Congress, there was a lot of politicking on the House floor but we were never allowed to vote on a clear solution.  This bill is that solution, and the Members of Congress deserve a chance to vote for a real energy bill.”

To see Rep. Young speaking on Congress’s inaction in providing a real energy solution, click here.    

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