STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD - MICHAEL C. BURGESS

ENERGY AND COMMERCE MARK-UP

THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005

April 5-7, 2005

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to thank you for holding today's mark-up, as well as the series of hearings earlier this year, on this important legislation. I have found the process to be extremely open and informative.

During the last six years, there has been a lot of debate about how to achieve energy independence. Some believe we can conserve our way into energy independence and others think that we must simply increase the supply of conventional energy sources.

I believe, however, that energy supply and demand are two sides of the same coin. We can only achieve energy independence if we encourage both conservation and production, as well as technological innovation, which can lead to the development of alternative resources.

I strongly support the conservation and energy efficiency measures included in the draft energy bill. Specifically, I believe that the expansion of the EnergyStar program and hybrid and alternative fueled vehicle provisions play an important role in a comprehensive national energy policy.

I am currently the proud owner of a hybrid vehicle. In the two short years since I bought my Prius, Toyota has already introduced the Prius II, which has better performance, greater engine efficiency, and lower emissions than the original Prius. I point this out to simply remind my colleagues that technology is constantly changing and as technology evolves, so should our approach to public policy.

I also strongly support the use of renewable energy, like wind, solar, hydrogen, biomass, etc, when it is practicable. I believe that we should put windmills off the coast of Nantucket and I'd put them in my own backyard if I could.

We must also ensure that we are maximizing production of our current resources even as we look to develop unconventional resources, like shale natural gas formations and renewable resources like biodiesel. This should include oil and gas exploration on federal lands, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

An unconventional source that has proven to increase natural gas supply is the Barnett Shale, a natural gas shale formation located in my district in North Texas; it currently produces XX,XXX Trillion Cubic Feet a year. A comprehensive energy policy should seek to encourage the development and production of unconventional resources, like the Barnett Shale.

In addition to encouraging new production, we must take full advantage of existing resources. Important natural gas resources are being lost forever as producers prematurely plug low pressure/low volume "stripper" wells. Today, these wells account for approximately 10 percent of U.S. natural gas production. I will offer an amendment that authorizes a study to examine these stripper wells and low-pressure natural gas infrastructure to determine how these resources can be captured. This will increase energy efficiency by ensuring that we fully utilize existing resources.

We must also look to renewable fuels as well as alternative energy sources to fuel our future. The world’s first renewable-energy powered biodiesel facility is located in my district at the City of Denton Landfill in Denton, Texas. The facility has an initial production capacity of three million gallons of pure biodiesel per year and is powered by renewable biogas extracted from the adjacent City of Denton Landfill. This is a powerful example of the role that local governments can play in cleaning up our environment.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to reiterate my support for a comprehensive national energy policy and thank you again for this mark-up.