Energy and Environment Plan

Since President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, sky-high energy prices have burdened far too many New York families. Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris regime continues to blame the energy crisis on Vladimir Putin and American energy producers. In reality, the blame lies squarely at the foot of this administration, which has spent the last four years advancing failed policies that pursue unattainable green new deal goals instead of unleashing American Energy Independence. If this approach continues, costs will continue to skyrocket while our dependence on foreign energy sources increases. 

This is exactly what has happened in New York. As New Yorkers know all too well, a 2014 decision by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, codified by the state Legislature in 2021, banned safe and clean hydraulic fracturing in New York, which has been proven to lower emissions compared with other forms of oil and gas extraction. Governor Cuomo also halted the construction of numerous interstate gas pipelines and tragically closed the Indian Point nuclear plant, increasing New York City’s reliance on natural gas by 25%. Every one of these decisions, both by this administration and our state government officials, has been made while failing to provide any realistic energy alternatives. The result of these backwards, disastrous policies has been a consistent increase in energy prices across the state compared to the rest of the country. Worse, New York continues to consume vast amounts of natural gas, but now we must import it, often at higher cost.

The Biden Administration’s current strategy is straight from the Cuomo-Hochul playbook. Immediately upon taking office, President Biden did all he could to undermine the oil and gas industry and put an end to domestic production. After canceling the Keystone XL pipeline and issuing a moratorium on energy production on federal lands and waters, the administration ramped up energy imports from Russia by 34%. Abroad, its lax policies toward Russia’s Nord Stream 2 left Europe even more vulnerable to Russia’s natural gas coercion. This administration’s radical policies hindering domestic production, and the depletion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve have left American’s dependent on foreign inputs from adversaries such as China.

Energy experts predict that with the explosion of datacenters, the increasing population, and numerous other factors, U.S. energy demand will grow by a staggering 25% in the next 50 years. If this administration’s energy policies continue, our country will find itself in an even worse position, needing to meet increased demand with decreased supply. What this means for every day Americans is simple, sustained long term energy price inflation and rolling blackouts.  

The fact is, we do not have to choose between clean, affordable energy and protecting our environment. We can and must do both. In Congress, I have supported a robust package of legislative initiatives to do just that – expand safe, clean, reliable American energy while continuing to be a good steward of our environment. Over the past decade, our nation’s embrace of natural gas has allowed us to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a greater margin than any other country. Additionally, nuclear energy continues to be the most efficient, carbon-free form of energy in existence, and I am fighting to ensure it remains viable now and into the future. Technological innovations share the potential to build on this environmental success while making our energy more dependable and affordable. 

Upstate New York is home to some of our nation's most beautiful landscapes. Through commonsense conservation and pro-energy policies, we can do our part to preserve these treasures for future generations while unleashing prosperity. I encourage you to read more about the initiatives I support in Congress to deliver affordable energy and a healthy environment below. 

Unleashing American Energy Production

• Cosponsored H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act: This groundbreaking legislation would unleash American domestic energy production and lower costs for families suffering through high inflation. First, it would provide regulatory certainty for energy producers, preventing any federal ban on fracking and resuming lease sales on federal lands and waters. Second, the bill would reduce red tape for all sectors of our economy, making it cheaper to build roads, bridges, factories, and all forms of energy infrastructure.
• Cosponsored H.R. 923, the Protecting Our Wealth of Energy and Resources (POWER) Act: This bill would reverse President Biden’s job-killing and price-raising Executive Orders banning oil and gas leasing on federal lands. Prohibiting the president from issuing arbitrary moratoria on leasing federal lands will solidify American energy and mineral independence for generations to come.
• Cosponsored H.R. 6285, the Alaska’s Right to Produce Act: This bill would provide for oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and nullifies any order or action by the President or the Department of the Interior that places a moratorium on, suspends, or otherwise pauses leasing in ANWR’s 1002 Area. Further, the bill limits the authority of the President and Interior to cancel future leases issued under the program.
• Cosponsored Guarding Our Stoves (GAS) Act and STOVE Act: In February 2023, the Department of Energy proposed a rule that would limit the efficiency of gas stoves to such an extent that it would ban a vast amount of the stoves on the market. In addition, Biden’s U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stated it has a desire to also ban gas stoves. These two bills prevent the Biden Administration's attack on energy and consumer choice, protecting American’s right to cook with the energy source they choose. 
• Cosponsored Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act: The legislation would prohibit direct or indirect sales of oil from our nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to entities controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. It is outrageous President Biden has been misusing the SPR for political purposes to cover up the high costs caused by his war on American energy. However, it is vital Congress ensures this misuse of federal resources does not also enrich our adversaries. 
• Cosponsored H.R. 6089, the Energy Choice Act: This legislation would prohibit state or local governments from prohibiting the connection, reconnection, modification, installation, or expansion of an energy service based on the type or source of energy to be delivered, and for other purposes. 

Investing in Clean, Affordable Energy

• Introduced H.R. 4153, the Hydrogen Permitting Simplification Reform Act: This legislation would streamline the hydrogen permitting process for federal hydrogen programs, such as the DOE-supported hydrogen production demonstration project at the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station in Oswego. It is vital we ensure a robust all of the above energy policy and allow energy sources to compete on their own merits. 
• Introduced H.R. 5820, the Technology for Energy Security Act: This bill would extend the investment tax credit (ITC) for fuel cells and linear generators, set to expire in 2025, by eight years. This bipartisan legislation will ensure continued growth of private investment in emerging energy technologies that will create resiliency in America’s energy infrastructure.
• Introduced H.R. 9343, the Federal Electric Vehicle Mandate Prohibition Act: This bill will prohibit federal, state, and local governments from enacting mandates on electric vehicles (EV’s). Under the Biden administration’s harmful anti-American energy policy, prices have skyrocketed, and American energy production has stalled, threatening our national security and economic competitiveness. Instead of working to lower energy prices, the Biden administration and Democrat-run states across the country are threatening to ban the affordable gas-powered vehicles we rely on, forcing expensive EV mandates down our throats. We must pass the Federal Electric Vehicle Mandate Prohibition Act to prohibit these foolish EV mandates
•  Cosponsored Support Permitting for Mining Needs Act: This legislation would create certainty for the mining industry, limiting frivolous litigation and cutting red tape. With the rising importance of semiconductors, batteries, and solar panels, it is more important than ever that we take advantage of our plentiful deposits of domestic minerals and are not reliant on nations such as China. 
•  Cosponsored H.R. 1713, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act: This bipartisan bill authorizes collaborative research and development activities between the Department of Energy and the United States Department of Agriculture to further advance crop science, precision agriculture technologies, carbon storage, and renewable energy. It is vital our agricultural producers and rural communities play a pivotal part in our nation’s development of new technologies and energy sources. 

Protecting our Natural Environment

• Introduced H.R. 5954, the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Act: National Heritage Areas are established by Congress to “recognize a region’s natural, cultural, or historic significance.” Unlike national parks, NHA’s are large, populated living areas that collaborate with communities to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and needs. The counties included in the legislation are Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates
• Cosponsored H.R. 6159, the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act: this bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a pilot program to improve recycling accessibility in communities where there is not more than one recycling materials recovery facility within a 75-mile radius of that community.
• Sent Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau to Protect Great Lakes Fisheries: The Great Lakes Fisheries Commission is the bi-national body created to manage cross-border fishery management in the Great Lakes along with protecting native fish species and managing invasive species. However, due to Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans refusing to pay for their half of the Commission and unwillingness to listen to pressure from Members of Parliament, the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission has not met since 2020. This is simply unacceptable, and it should be a top priority to ensure we immediately resume normal operations at the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
• Support Federal Funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund: This fund, using no taxpayer money, invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to protect the natural beauty of our lands and waterways and provide recreational opportunities to all. The fund is used both to provide grants to state and local governments and for the federal government to acquire land and waters and to assist with recreation management.
• Support Federal Funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative targets the biggest threats to the Great Lakes such as toxic substances and invasive species. The Great Lakes are one of the world’s most important water sources for drinking, transportation, recreation, and power generation. That’s why it is vitally important that we continue to protect them for generations to come. 

Your views are very important to me. I hope you will take the time to review this plan and let me know what you think. If you would like to contact me, you can write to me on my website at tenney.house.gov or call my office at 202-225-3665 with feedback, questions, or concerns.