Issued by Senator Barrasso –Energy & Natural Resources Committee

As we saw last summer when gasoline hit $4 a gallon, high energy prices impact the American consumer, American families and American business.  

High prices of energy and their contribution to inflation across our economy is not simply a matter of energy policy.  It is a matter of energy security, economic security, and national security.

For nearly 80 years, the focus of our policy has been to make energy for America affordable, dependable, and domestic.  I am concerned that the incoming Administration’s fears about climate change override other policy concerns, including affordability and reliability.  

America’s coal is vital to our nation’s economic prosperity and security.  It provides the foundation for a competitive economy, a secure future, and a prosperous information technology sector.  

Dr. Chu has been quoted as saying that coal is his worst nightmare.  In my opinion, eliminating development of our nation’s coal resources and refusing to invest in new coal technologies would result in “America’s worst nightmare.”  

I am satisfied with Dr. Chu putting into context his comments but will continue to reiterate with him the important role coal does and must play in providing reliable, affordable and domestic energy to our nation.

Coal provides more than half of all electricity generated in the United States, and we have a lot of it – enough in fact to power the country for a couple of centuries.   

Coal is the most available, affordable, reliable and secure form of energy in America.

The bottom line is we need all sources of energy and we need to be energy smart – we need renewable energy, we need fossil fuel energy and we need nuclear energy– we need it all.