Rep. Costa Announces Blue Dog Coalition Energy Principles

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced comprehensive new energy principles laid out by the Blue Dog Coalition this week. Among these principles is increasing U.S. energy security, increasing domestic supply, diversifying our energy portfolio with renewable energy sources, and encouraging research and development in new energy technologies to address climate change and conservation. These principles will be used by the Coalition to guide Congress as a new national energy policy is written.

"As the Chairman of the Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee, I look forward to working with my colleagues to help craft a forward-thinking energy bill that looks at the big picture, and admit that there is no silver bullet for solving our nation's energy challenges," said Costa. "We must increase domestic production of fossil fuels while at the same time focusing on renewables, conservation, and ensuring that we strike the proper balance of development of our nation's abundant resources and good environmental stewardship."

Costa and the Blue Dog Coalition will work with Congress over the next few weeks to craft a national energy policy which not only secures our national and economic security, but also diversifies our energy portfolio, and provides Americans with reliable and affordable energy sources. The eight energy principles drafted by the Blue Dog Coalition are Energy "PayGo", Climate Change, Fuel Diversity, Consistent and Transparent Federal Energy Policy, Affordable Energy, Electricity, Technology Development, and Energy Efficiency.

The conservative Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. Costa is one of the 47 members of the Blue Dog Coalition. More information about the Blue Dog Coalition can be found at: https://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/index.html.