NFWL Energy, Natural Resources & Agriculture Policy Committee

(Introduced October 12, 2007)

WHEREAS, the United States of America has become excessively dependent upon foreign sources of oil, and the dependence threatens the security of the American people and economy; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the United States to become as energy independent and diversified as possible to avoid economic dislocations instigated by foreign oil interests, markets and the effects of natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, comprehensive federal energy legislation signed into law in 2005 advocates the expansion of nuclear energy for the production of electrical power and hydrogen, as well as the development of bio-energy and other alternative fuels to reduce dependence on foreign sources of oil, a truly balanced portfolio of energy options; and

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) is the federal agency that has primary responsibility for carrying out the directives of the President and the Congress relative to enabling and enhancing the energy security of the nation; and

WHEREAS, the DOE Laboratories and other Federal Laboratories are a key national research, development and demonstration resource wherein the federal government has invested significant tax dollars to establish such unique and globally important assets all of which demand continued, or even expanded, use to assure maximum return on tax dollar investment; and

WHEREAS, the Idaho National Laboratory has been designated as the lead DOE lab for nuclear energy technology and development and is expected to have a key role in an international initiative; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Technology Transfer can assist in identifying federal labs with a variety of expertise to help states, including energy, through their website;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NFWL Energy, Natural Resource & Agriculture Policy Committee supports execution of an enhanced and balanced portfolio of nuclear, bio-energy, hydropower, fuel reforming and related alternative and renewable energy research, and hereby requests the DOE, the Administration and the Congress identify, commit and sustain the funding necessary to allow continued performance of this and other multi-program energy and national security enhancing work so critical to the long-term well-being of these United States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NFWL forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Congress.