Washington, DC – Thomas J. Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research (IER) issued the following statement in reaction to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing entitled ‘Climate Change and National Security’:
“One of the top threats to our national security is the lack of a balanced and coherent long-term domestic energy policy. Increased energy production here at home will not only help drive down our energy dependence on foreign, and often unstable regions of the world, but through the safe development of our resources, American jobs and economic prosperity are generated.
“While it’s encouraging that Congress is assessing the national security and geopolitical implications surrounding energy policy, the focus of today’s hearing – climate change and energy rationing – is misguided. The American military is the largest consumer of efficient transportation fuels. Our service branches and our overall national security would stand to benefit if we were to advance policies that increase America’s energy production.
“Unfortunately, today’s hearing represents another missed opportunity to address our energy security. It’s time we view America’s abundant energy reserves as the security asset they are, and not a liability.”
The Institute for Energy Research (IER) is a not-for-profit organization that conducts intensive research and analysis on the functions, operations, and government regulation of global energy markets. IER maintains that freely-functioning energy markets provide the most efficient and effective solutions to today’s global energy and environmental challenges and, as such, are critical to the well-being of individuals and society.
