Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Alexa Gitler
Talk Radio News Service

“Eliminating our dependence on foreign oil would have many, many, benefits,” said Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) Monday while speaking at the Center for American Progress. Merkley emphasized the United States' need for comprehensive energy and climate reform that would target the country's dependence on expensive and unstable foreign oil.

The Democratic Senator introduced a prospective, 20 year agenda aimed at ending America’s dependence on foreign oil. Merkely believes his plan would be politically and economically feasible, and environmentally beneficial.

“The plan centers around electric vehicle deployment, which would have a 3.2 million barrels-per-day [reducing] impact, and [reducing] truck fuel economy which would have a significant 2 million barrels-per-day impact,” said Merkley.

New electronic vehicle technology is anticipated to be released in 2011 with the introduction of the new Chevrolet “Volt”, Nissan “Leaf” and the Tesla “Model S Sedan”.

Merkley said that America must require better fuel economy for vehicles. The Senator added that he supports policies to provide consumers with more energy-efficient appliances. As a result, this would help manufacturers save money by improving the efficiency in industrial process.

The development of these new electric vehicles would allow for the creation of more jobs for Americans who are currently unemployed, Merkley said.

“It’s a choice between creating jobs here in America or exporting those jobs over seas," Merkley said. "It’s time to set the goal and it is time to adopt a plan."