August 27 , 2008
E-MAIL FROM MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN SENATOR NORM COLEMAN

Thank you for contacting me regarding air pollution. I share your concern for the quality of air we breathe and the need to promote clean air policies.

I firmly believe that America can meet its energy needs, while protecting the environment, if the nation commits itself to research, development, and deployment of clean energy technologies. Some of the most promising technologies harness what we feel every day when we step outside: the wind and sun. That is why I have long supported a strong national Renewable Portfolio Standard to ensure a percentage of our electricity is generated by clean renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biomass. I also continue to fight for extension of production tax credit incentives for the production of renewable energy. Finally, I have proposed creating wind energy transmission corridors in order to allow Americans to derive twenty percent of their energy from the wind.

Yet, clean energy does not stop with renewable energy. Nuclear energy is safe, clean, and affordable. I continue to work to renew our nuclear energy industry by improving the incentives available to this zero-emissions technology. Furthermore, I have worked to bolster clean coal technology. I have worked to promote the development of coal-based Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology that is inherently lower polluting than the current generation of traditional coal-fired power plants for traditional pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and mercury.

Finally, I have fought for tighter regulation of pollutants to protect our air. During the 109th Congress, I voted in favor of S .J. Res. 20, introduced by Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Collins (R-ME), to enact tougher mercury standards reducing emissions 90 percent by 2009. More recently, I was proud to be a leader during the Senate's climate change debate as an original cosponsor of America's Climate Security Act, a bill introduced by Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and John Warner (R-VA). This legislation would establish a federal program to reduce U. S. greenhouse gas emissions substantially enough to avert catastrophic global warming. The greenhouse-gas emissions cap in S. 2191 covers U. S. electric power, transportation, and manufacturing sources. Though these pieces of legislation did not make it through the Senate, you can be sure I will continue to work for clean air policies.

Again, thank you for contacting me. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate