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Rep. David Dreier: A better, bipartisan approach to energy solutions

We don't need gasoline to reach $5 a gallon again to know that developing alternative energy sources and reducing our dependence on foreign oil is a critical issue for our country. It's a challenge that affects our economy, our environment and our national security, and it demands a comprehensive approach.

We need a national energy policy that considers all domestic energy solutions, while creating the necessary incentives and flexibility to not only make existing technologies and alternatives more affordable, but encourage new innovations as well.

So far, we have not yet had the opportunity in Congress to consider this kind of comprehensive solution. The energy bill that passed the House earlier this month, unfortunately, would only serve to drive up energy costs for families and businesses. Our current economic challenges call for innovation, not new taxes that will burden working families. But I remain optimistic that we can reach a bipartisan consensus on a constructive and effective way forward. Last week my Democratic colleague Dennis Kucinich joined me in sponsoring a resolution calling for a global effort to tear down the barriers that have been imposed around the world on green technologies. Our engineers, researchers and high-tech manufacturers have long been developing the solutions to our energy crisis, yet their products and services face steep tariff and non-tariff barriers. Eliminating these barriers would not only boost our economy and help create more "green-tech" jobs here at home, but would help develop new technologies and solutions to energy and environmental challenges.

This resolution addresses just one part of a more complicated issue, but it demonstrates that Republicans and Democrats can come together to find workable solutions. The key is unleashing the power of American innovation and entrepreneurship.

I will work for energy legislation that will spur clean, domestic energy production, create jobs and encourage advancements in green technology.

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